C.A. Milson's Blog
October 14, 2025
PLAYING ROUGH
PLAYING ROUGH
by Beth Pellino-Dudzic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Love. Lies. And the Road to Redemption.
After five months in rehab, Trevor McNaughton is finally sober—and ready to rebuild his life with Gina, the woman who never stopped believing in him. A road trip is meant to be their fresh start, but their plans are quickly derailed when their former publicist, Paul Ryan, emerges with explosive claims: an affair with Gina, dark secrets about their band Perfection, and vicious speculation about their marriage.
As the couple races to contain the fallout, the pressure mounts. Trevor must protect his fragile sobriety while defending the truth. Gina, fierce and unshakable, refuses to let their love be hijacked by lies. All the while, Gina’s cousin and bandmate Rio begs them to return home and help shape the next album—while wannabe rock star Brian Mayfield looms as another potential threat to the narrow threshold they already straddle.
With careers and reputations on the line, Trevor and Gina must confront the ghosts of their past and the chaos of their present. Can love outlast betrayal, and can anything silence a man set on destruction?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Trevor and Gina McNaughton weathered the storm in their marriage. Their life was back on track. Gina understood Trevor’s desire to get away, recognizing that he was still frail after months of intensive rehab. She would follow his lead. His stay at Turquoise Skye brought up deep emotions that Trevor buried after his mother died. Whatever lay ahead, Gina was determined to help Trevor with his demons.
Rio let himself into the McNaughtons’ Montecito house. Gina and Trevor were on their outside deck taking in the view of the Pacific Ocean. Rio knew he was intruding on a quiet moment. Rio said, “Hey, how are you, family? I have been trying to give you two space, I know you need your alone time. We miss you at the studio. We have been listening to the music we have in the vault. Trev, your guitar work is killer. I was wondering if you two would be interested in coming down and just listening to the music? No recording, no rewriting, getting reacquainted with music we already wrote. What do you think, Trevor, Gina? Any attention you could give to Perfection?”
Gina looked at Trevor, she wanted him to voice his opinion first. Trevor stared into space, then looked at Rio, “Rio, I got the message you want to get Perfection moving. I actually agree, music needs to be worked on. Gina and I could give you a few hours a day. I won’t promise anything more. I still have some rough edges, bro. Adjusting being back home with my wife. Gina, what are you thinking, babe?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Beth Pellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx and grew up in Westchester County, New York. She earned a BA in Business Administration and worked at IBM. She has three adult daughters and a new Granddaughter. She currently lives in Alabama with her husband and their miniature dachshund, Truffle. Although The Perfection Saga is fictional, many of the stories hark back to Beth’s time in the Rock ‘n’ Roll world. Beth’s favorite pastime is football, everything football. She also is an excellent cook and baker.
Links:
Website: https://perfectionsaga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558439816678
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bpellinodudzic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethandperfection1
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FP9H6LQQ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Beth Pellino-Dudzic will be awarding one set of the three books in the series – Playing Hard, Playing High and Playing Rough (international giveaway).
Enter to win a set of the series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Goes Around
A relentless thriller that explores the unbreakable bonds
that transcend time.
What Goes Around
by Michael Wendroff
Genre: Thriller
‘Relentless and gritty, Wendroff
expertly weaves a narrative that begs, “just one more page”.’ J.D. Barker, New York Times bestselling
author
EVIL HAS MANY FACES
Chilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face
the hardest tasks of their lives. Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get
things done, is now paired with his archenemy, Jill Jarred, a brilliant
investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels
and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI
rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.
Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will
the detectives’ clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to
stop the killer before they kill each other?
What Goes Around is a
dynamic thriller that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and the
unbreakable bonds that transcend time. With its pulse-pounding pace,
captivating characters, and a revelatory twist that challenges the boundaries
of life and death, this novel will keep you hooked from the first page to the
last, and thinking long afterwards.
‘Starts off at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its
unexpected conclusion.’ Lisa Black, New
York Times bestselling author of the Locard Institute thrillers
‘An adrenaline-fueled novel, the action breathlessly driven by two
detectives relentlessly pursuing the bloody trails left by a serial killer with
a dark sense of justice, deadly groups of white supremacists, and one lonely,
alienated boy caught up in the violence.’ Kathleen Kent, New York Times bestselling author
‘Fast-paced propulsive thriller that doesn’t let up – highly
recommended!’ Lori Brand, author
‘I could barely put this book down! The
twists and turns. The references to current political climate and the
unanswered “who dun it” questions kept me engaged until the last page. Great
read. Fast paced and an unexpected ending. Kudos for Wendroff’s debut novel!’ –
Amazon review
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story
keeps you on the edge of your seat. He is a colorful writer and the characters
just come to life. They become very real, and the interplay between them is
really intriguing. I highly recommend this book.’ – Amazon review
**Paperback
edition just released Oct 7, 2025 – Get it now!**
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads
Michael Wendroff
is the author of What Goes Around, a
debut thriller published by Bloomsbury, which bestselling author Eric Rickstad
calls a “brilliant debut,” and bestselling author Lisa Black says, “starts off
at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its unexpected
conclusion.” Plus, #1 bestselling author J.D. Black says, “Relentless and
gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…’”
The book was
inspired by what his mother said to him the second he was born: “Oh! How nice
to see you–Again!”
Michael has an MBA
in marketing from NYU, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is a global
marketing consultant. He shares his time between New York City, Sarasota,
Florida, and Lake Garda, Italy. He is married and has three wonderful children.
His mother was an
editor (watching his mother scribbling in red ink on manuscript pages at home
on weekends prepared him for his own editor’s comments!). She remarried a
literary agent, so Michael was friendly with many authors, and even spent a
vacation with Robert Ludlum. Watching Ludlum hand-write his 450 page novels on
yellow legal pads didn’t dissuade Michael from trying to write a novel (though
he’s thankful for his PC).
What Goes Around was launched in the USA, UK, and Australia,
and foreign language rights have been sold in Italian, Japanese, and Hungarian.
The hardcover went through 3 printings, and now the trade paperback is
available (along with audio book and e-book).
Fun fact:
Michael’s great-grandfather was brought over by Thomas Edison from the
University of Copenhagen to work with him. He holds a number of patents,
including for plastic buttons. Michael proudly wears button- down shirts
whenever he can.
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour
HERE
for special content and a $30 giveaway!
A GILDED CITY TRILOGY
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jane Loeb Rubin will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In the Hands of Women, (June 2023) takes the reader on an electrifying ride through the dawn of the 20th century, delving into the restrictive state of women’s rights, backroom abortions, the plight of immigrants to the Lower East Side of NYC and the prison system at Blackwell’s Island, all through the voice of a young OB/Gyn, Tillie’s younger sister, Hannah.
Threadbare, (June 2024) is a historical novel written as a tribute to Jane Rubin’s great-grandmother, Mathilda (Tillie), who died from a ‘woman’s disease’ in the early years of the twentieth century. It explores the ultra-conservative late Victorian era through a Jewish female character living among the poor, struggling to build a garment company and pushing back against antisemitic and misogynistic values dominating the time. She acquired wealth, only to have life upended by a cruel, unexpected challenge.
Over There (June 2025) brings four family members of Threadbare and In the Hands of Women, all doctors and nurses, into The Great War, each facing down authentic challenges of the period. Meticulously researched and crafted on four stages, the reader experiences the jarring reality of trench warfare, magnificent rise of the American Hospital in Paris, unimagined medical innovations owed to the dedication of healthcare workers, and the universal, frightening impact war has on children.
Read an Excerpt from IN THE HANDS OF WOMEN
I glanced at Nurse Hammond. Her head was bent to the wood floor, hands squeezed so tightly, I could see the white in her knuckles. The navy muslin dress worn beneath her white apron matched the dark circles under her eyes. I held back from the pack of students as they left the ward.
Nurse Hammond was at the end of her night shift, little time left to hear the full story.
“Nurse, were you in delivery during the twins’ births?” I whispered.
“I was.” She straightened her back, darting her eyes to the nursery.
I took a step closer to her. “Did anything unusual happen?”
After a lengthy pause, she rubbed her fingers, eyes downcast.
“Nurse Hammond, what happened?” I persisted.
“You know Adams, always impatient.” She turned her eyes from the floor then to mine. “He couldn’t stand the mother’s screaming and knocked her out cold with ether. Then he went in deep with the forceps, taking forever. I think he would have had more luck if he kept her awake and changed her position.” She took in a sharp breath. “But who am I to say? You can’t utter a word. I need my job. I’ve four children at home.”
I nodded, understanding. “You can trust me. Go home and get some rest.” I scurried down the hall to the nursery.
“Where’ve you been, Isaacson?” Dr. Adams barked as I walked through the doorway.
“My apology doctor, lavatory.”
Dr. Adams crossed his arms on his chest, haughtily shaking his head at the ring of men standing around the twins’ bassinettes. “See there, gentlemen? That’s what happens when women are allowed into the profession. Always needing to fix their hair.”
Blood shot to my face. How long would he get away with his negligence? I stifled my annoyance, while studying the infants. The smaller baby’s hand began to tremor.
About the Author: Author, Jane Loeb Rubin has won numerous awards including the Historical Novel Society’s First Chapters short list for Over There, released May, 2025 by Level Best Books. She will be speaking at numerous Florida events as listed on her website.
With an extensive healthcare background Ms. Rubin began writing in 2009 after a serious cancer diagnosis. She now has a four-book deal with Level Best Books (Threadbare-2024, In the Hands of Women-2023, Over There-2025, The Hat Trick-2026), following the fictional life of her great-grandmother’s family.
In the Hands of Women, (June 2023) takes the reader on an electrifying ride through the dawn of the 20th century, delving into the restrictive state of women’s rights, backroom abortions, the plight of immigrants to the Lower East Side of NYC and the prison system at Blackwell’s Island, all through the voice of a young OB/Gyn, Tillie’s younger sister, Hannah.
Threadbare, (June 2024) is a historical novel written as a tribute to Jane Rubin’s great-grandmother, Mathilda (Tillie), who died from a ‘woman’s disease’ in the early years of the twentieth century. It explores the ultra-conservative late Victorian era through a Jewish female character living among the poor, struggling to build a garment company and pushing back against antisemitic and misogynistic values dominating the time. She acquired wealth, only to have life upended by a cruel, unexpected challenge.
Over There (June 2025) brings four family members of Threadbare and In the Hands of Women, all doctors and nurses, into The Great War, each facing down authentic challenges of the period. Meticulously researched and crafted on four stages, the reader experiences the jarring reality of trench warfare, magnificent rise of the American Hospital in Paris, unimagined medical innovations owed to the dedication of healthcare workers, and the universal, frightening impact war has on children.
The Hat Trick, Ms. Rubin’s work in process (May 2026) transports her family characters into the mid-1920’s in the years before the Borscht Belt in Sullivan County, NY.
Ms. Rubin, a graduate of the University of Michigan (BS, MS) and Washington University (MBA), retired from a 30-year career as a healthcare executive to begin writing full-time. She lives with her husband, David, an attorney, in Northern New Jersey. Between them, they have five adult children and seven grandchildren. Ms. Rubin’s work is available at all on-line retailers, Indigo Books, select Barnes and Noble Book stores and upon request from Level Best Books.
Readers Favorite Review: http://www.readersfavorite.com/book-review/over-there
Website: http://www.janeloebrubin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janeloebrubinauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeloebrubin
October 13, 2025
ACCIDENTAL PARADISE
ACCIDENTAL PARADISE
by Eric Grandy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Coming of Age
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
“Make me a promise, Shaundra. Promise me we will always be best friends.”
“I promise, Peaches.”
LaVern stood up and said she had better head back. “Are you coming over tomorrow?”
“Hell yeah.”
Both girls had a hardy laugh at that one.
As Freeman and Jackie watched their daughter recross the street, they noticed a more delighted and relieved child than the one who left a few minutes earlier.
The girls resumed their old routine of talking and gossiping in LaVern’s bedroom. Shaundra asked more questions about her new school; how did she like going to school with White kids? Did she hang out with the other Black students? How was she treated? LaVern did her best to answer; No, she wasn’t completely accepted by everyone, she wasn’t friends with all the Black kids, she still felt very self-conscious being one of a few Black students in an all-White school, sometimes she felt very alone but she had made a few friends.
“My daddy said it would take a little while, that I would get used to it. He said I would get a better education.”
“Well, you’re already smart Peaches. You’ll be smart no matter what school you go to.”
“Well, it is harder than 139, but I’m doing OK.
“I know you, Peaches. If you say you doing OK, I know you killin’ it.”
LaVern looked down at her feet. “Well, I’m doing alright.”
But the Big Dog was right. She was killing it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.
Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Eric Grandy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qand A With …
Tell us about you as a person.
My name is Eric Grandy, and I live in Baltimore, Maryland with my wife of thirty-five years, Rhonda. I have one daughter, Marti. In addition to my novel, I write short stories. I’m an avid reader of fiction and historical non-fiction. My wife and I like to travel, and we always stay where we can get a sense of the local community.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I’m a huge Muhammad Ali fan. I feel as though I know every aspect of his life from birth to death. At one time in America, Black athletes were expected to be docile and deeply appreciative of the rare opportunity for wealth and fame that professional sports provided them. Things not available to the average Black person. He chose not to be silent and spoke out about the injustices suffered by his fellow Blacks. His outspokenness cost him his career. He’s one of the select few athletes who sacrificed their career for a principle. A rare person indeed.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Accidental Paradise tells of the journey of a Baltimore girl, LaVern Whitaker, who defies the odds and becomes a major movie star. Timid and secretive by nature, stardom’s spotlight brings an end to her highly valued privacy. She and childhood friend, Shaundra, find a small, under-the-radar, seaside town where she can relax and mingle unrecognized. The town offers more than solitude. It has an extensive historical legacy beginning with its founding in 1870 by newly freed slaves, some of whose descendants still live and farm there. It is a thriving and prosperous Black run municipality that proudly clings to its legacy of self-reliance and ownership of land and businesses. This place becomes their yearly go-to vacation spot. A shady land developer appears and threatens to ruin her adopted town and the lives of those citizens she has come to love. Because she now considers herself one of them, LaVern joins with her friends in the fight to save the town, her paradise.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
You can’t do it by yourself. You need people who know about publishing and marketing. I am fortunate to have a publisher, Austin Camacho, who goes beyond in setting up live events and blog podcasts for me. I have Marianne Judy from goddessfish promotions to promote my book. I could never do those things on my own. Thank you, guys.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Stay healthyContinue to travelMeet Barack ObamaWrite a bestsellerMeet interesting people
Any final thoughts?
Always try to do the right thing. The world as it is doesn’t make that easy. In the long run, it’s always the best thing.
Against the Red Sky: Mission X
Two missions, one conspiracy, zero room for mistakes- or
feelings.
Against the Red Sky:
Mission X
by Kristen Illarmo
Genre: YA Science Fiction Thriller
Enzo Cruz knows
sacrifice. After a failed
mission to assassinate the billionaire behind the Mars colony—and the loss of
his grandfather—he’s ready for redemption. His new target? The Mars Ascendance
Academy shuttle. His orders: infiltrate, sabotage, escape.
As the youngest
operative in Terra Primera, Enzo’s talent with explosives could tip the balance
in Earth’s fight for survival. But inside the Academy, nothing goes to
plan—especially when Maddie Westing enters the picture.
Maddie has dreamed
of joining her mother on Mars since she was ten. Now she has her shot: one of
thirty elite students in the Academy’s inaugural class. But being the niece of
the colony’s powerful founder comes with strings—and shadows.
When Enzo’s
mission collides with Maddie’s quest for truth, both teens are thrust into a
conspiracy that threatens Earth and Mars alike. Loyalties will be tested.
Secrets will be exposed. And the greatest danger may not come from the skies—it
may lie in their hearts.
In this
heart-pounding YA thriller, survival means risking everything—including the
people you thought you hated most.
For fans of The Hunger Games, Red Rising, and Aurora
Rising—Against the Red Sky delivers explosive tension,
star-crossed loyalty, and a high-stakes rebellion that could destroy two
worlds.
What readers are saying:
“This YA novel is one long dopamine hit, an insightful
saga with crush-worthy protagonists. Enzo, pulled between his ecoterrorism
world and a gnawing realization that there may be flaws to his organization’s
methods, is a vibrant, well-executed character. Maddie’s journey parallels his
in many ways, and her resolve, spirit, and appealing energy make her equally
entertaining. Their two paths collide, and Illarmo delivers a twisty
examination of greed, loyalty, and the dark motives that drive people when pushed
to their limits.” Rated 10 out of 10.
-The BookLifePrize
“This is one of the best books I’ve read this year and I
have read over a hundred so far! This is a nail biting, page turning
masterpiece that will completely have you mesmerized and under its spell by the
first few chapters!” ARC reviewer
“Great, fast-paced fun story with lots of twists and turns
that kept me turning the pages. It has elements of academy, romance, scifi, and
thriller that kept me up late reading.” ARC reviewer
**Order from the author and get extra goodies!**
Author’s
Store *
Amazon
*
Bookbub
*
Goodreads
Kristen Illarmo is a New Orleans-based author of young adult
science fiction and fantasy. Her action packed, character-driven stories
explore the ripple effects of real-world choices, set in decaying societies and
with tangled family dynamics. Her debut duology, Kirasu Rising, was featured at
the 2023 Louisiana Book Festival.
Website * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour
HERE
for special content
and a giveaway!
Against the Red Sky: Mission X
SCENES FROM A SONG
SCENES FROM THE SONG
Susan Sloate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Drama
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
On Halloween Eve, 1961, in his dingy Bronx walkup apartment, seventeen-year-old Jimmy Welton hears the opening notes of a song in his head. Jimmy’s still mourning his firefighter father, who taught him to play the guitar but recently died in a house fire, leaving his family destitute. Jimmy takes this song, about all he misses from his life now, to the New York amusement park where he works after school. There, he meets Mark Morgan, a rebellious teen with his own band, who eventually invites Jimmy to join them. And the rest is rock’n roll history…
Their band, The GooseBumps, become a worldwide phenomenon, and the songs they write and sing together become the backbone of rock musical history. And the song Jimmy first heard on Halloween, “Wrapped in Gauze”, becomes the song that not only comforts him in that terrible time but also comforts others: Victoria, recently divorced and dealing with an out-of-nowhere family tragedy; Carolyn, whose final flippant words to someone in pain can’t be taken back; and Jack, battling back from unimaginable loss with the help of his cheeky therapist and a song he thinks he hates.
SCENES FROM A SONG is the story of a song that makes us smile, that breaks our hearts, that stays with us forever, and the very special band that started it all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
“Jimmy Welton, meet my good friend, Mark Morgan.”
“Hi,” Jimmy said, extending his hand to the newcomer.
Mark looked at his hand as though he didn’t know what to do with it, then reached out and pumped it with his own. Jimmy noticed his own hand felt bruised when he let it drop.
Mark looked at him, his eyes narrowing. “So what’s your job here—you’re the handsome prince at the park? So all the girls can swoon over you?” His voice, a normal baritone, escalated suddenly almost to falsetto. He batted his eyelashes girlishly at Jimmy.
Jimmy grimaced. He hated being teased about his costume, and now he liked this guy even less.
Luke went on eagerly. “Mark goes to high school downtown, Jimmy. He came out tonight to scout the park.”
“What for?” Jimmy asked, not really interested in the answer. The guy struck him as a bad imitation of James Dean. Jimmy had met plenty like him, and they were all bad news.
“For my band to play here,” Mark answered, his voice cutting through the windy evening.
Jimmy, who had been ready to walk away, stopped dead. “You have a band?”
“Sure as hell do. I play guitar and sing.”
Jimmy had never met anyone, boy or girl, who was in a band. Suddenly he wasn’t mad about being teased anymore; he was starting to get excited. He tried to seem nonchalant as he asked, “Is it a dance band or country-western, or—”
Mark looked amused. “No, Pretty Boy. It’s rock `n roll. Ever hear of it?”
Rock ‘n roll! Jimmy would kill to hear a live rock ‘n roll band.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
SUSAN SLOATE is the author or co-author of more than 25 published books. This includes 3 editions of Forward to Camelot, a time-travel thriller about the JFK assassination that became a #6 Amazon bestseller, was honored in 3 literary competitions and was optioned by a Hollywood company for film production. She also wrote the autobiographical Broadway novel Stealing Fire, which became a #2 Amazon bestseller and Hot New Release, and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre: the self-help novel.
Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’s biography Ray Charles: Find Another Way, which won the silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led to her 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest for The History Channel. She has also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, edited the popular Kyle & Corey young-adult book series, man-aged two political campaigns and founded an author’s festival to promote student literacy in her hometown outside Charleston, SC. She has appeared in multiple volumes of WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT and WHO’S WHO AMONG AMERICAN WOMEN.
Visit her online at https://susansloate.com
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanSloateAuthor
X.com: @Susan_Sloate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_sloate/
The book will be $0.99 during the tour: https://amzn.to/3JGG198
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Susan Sloate will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q & A With Susan Sloate
Tell us about you as a person.
As a person, I’m a passionate reader who wants my readers to experience my stories as transformational, the way certain books transformed me as a person. I’m crazy about American history and have written a number of historical books, including a time-travel thriller about the JFK assassination, FORWARD TO CAMELOT (co-authored with Kevin Finn), that was enormous fun. The research alone took years, but I loved finding stuff no one else had ever used and then using it. It was great!
I’m pretty stubborn about persisting with my writing projects, which is how I’ve started a book and not finished it for years after that. I don’t give up on projects, though I really love it if the finish line is relatively close to the starting line. I’d like to do more of those!
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Oooh… so many options… but I think I’d choose Amelia Earhart. I wrote a biography of her years ago and spent a LOT of time on the events around her disappearance in 1937, and of course what I’d want to know is what happened to her and how she happens to be around right now, so we can hang out together! Alternatively, I’d want to meet the Grand Duchess Anastasia and find out if she really did survive her family’s massacre in Ekaterinberg, and if so, what happened to her and how she got along in the world afterward. I know the story would be worthwhile! (Notice the people I’m choosing have mysteries associated with them? Not a surprise, given my personality… )
What’s the story behind your latest book?
A few years ago, I went looking for YouTube clips of my favorite Beatles song, “Please Please Me”, one of their earliest hits. I’ve always loved it, and I found a great YouTube clip of Paul McCartney singing the song to close a concert with his band.
McCartney turned that concert tour into a film, so he had cameras filming the audience, and I watched their reactions as he sang. They sang right along—knew every word—and literally danced in the aisles at times. And toward the end, people were crying. And I thought, Why would people cry at such an upbeat song? And then I realized they were remembering other times in their lives, and the song was evoking deep emotions in them.
I loved that clip—watched it more than 100 times—and a few months later, I was planning for Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month), the insane November marathon to write 50,000 words of an original novel in one month. I had done Nano many times before, hit 50,000 words most of the time, but this November I wanted to do something different. So I decided to write about a song that brings out that kind of emotion in people—and when I started, as you often do with Nano, I didn’t really know how the book would evolve. But it became the story of a band and then the individual stories of other people affected by that song. And yes, I did make 50,000 words that November, and I finished the first draft of the book just before the end of that year.
When I found out that reading the book was making my beta readers literally cry, I knew I had something special.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
I probably did more different things to promote this book than I’ve ever tried before, but what I think did the most good was getting on a podcast devoted to a subject I had a lot of experience with (in this case, talking about my novel FORWARD TO CAMELOT and the JFK assassination—not SCENES FROM A SONG). The host was really into the topic and asked some great questions, and she posted the interview right away and then took a 3-minute clip from it and posted that on TikTok, where it got 16,000 views and hundreds of shares in nine hours. Not only did viewers immediately buy FORWARD TO CAMELOT, but since I also talked about SCENES, they bought that as well! So SCENES became an Amazon bestseller and remained one for more than four weeks—and we hadn’t even launched the paperback edition yet!
So I could highly recommend trying to become a guest on a podcast where you can discuss something you’re passionate about and that other people are also passionate about (and if it relates to your book, so much the better–if you’ve written a book about gardening, get on a gardening podcast and talk away! You never know who might be listening!)
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Cruise to Alaska! (Hoping to do that next year.)Finish the musical I’m adapting and writing the script and lyrics for, find a composer, get it produced—maybe to Broadway?Finish several Y/A book series I’ve begun—three, at last count!Build my readership base to Agatha Christie levels!Become a grandmother (not something in my control, but I can hope… )
Any final thoughts?
Thanks for hosting me today and for asking questions that made me think hard about the answers! Hoping your readers will love SCENES FROM A SONG and want to read a novel that makes them cry!
LOVE IGNITES PEACE
LOVE IGNITES PEACE
Paige Farrington
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GENRE: Nonfiction Self-Help
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BLURB:
Are you ready to move beyond turbulent times into peace?
Nineteen years ago, Paige Farrington received a message that would alter the course of her life: Love Ignites Peace. That message sparked a profound transformation—one that awakened the power of her self-awareness, taught her the essence of unconditional love, and revealed that peace is not only possible, but accessible.
Now, she invites you to begin your own journey rooted in the message Love Ignites Peace.
Through heartfelt storytelling, practical tools, and deeply human insights, Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution offers a roadmap to help you identify what’s holding you back, shift the self-beliefs that keep you stuck, and see life through an expanded lens. No matter what you’re navigating, this book provides universal tools to help you reconnect with your true essence.
With vulnerability and compassion, Paige guides readers through personal stories and self-discovery—offering clear, actionable ways to bring Love Ignites Peace to life in their own experience.
This is more than a book—it’s an invitation to align with the energy of your unlimited potential and become an agent of love in a world ready to evolve.
You are the ignition. Love is the way. Peace is the outcome.
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EXCERPT
So why love? Because love is the master builder that architects all things good both for you and our human community. Love encourages you to shine your light as bright as you can make it glow. You are never too much or not enough, you are just right. Love generates happiness. You have the ability to love yourself so much that it feels like you are growing sunshine in your heart and a prolific garden of goodness in your life. Love transforms the opposite of love (not-love) into healthy and empowered relationships. It creates prosperity and harmony. It sets healthy boundaries with unhealthy people. Love says that you matter, that you are important as a person, and that you are safe. Within all of your relationships, love unifies and brings people together. Love is the most powerful energy source on the planet. Love always triumphs over not-love because love, in her purest of forms, supports and nurtures life.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Thirty-three years ago life transplanted Paige from her rural Iowa roots 5,280 feet closer to the bluest skies she’d ever seen. Now calling Castle Rock and Grand Lake, CO, home, she finds inspiration in nature’s peaceful grandeur, which provides the backdrop for both her work and play. Paige’s life took an unexpected turn in 2008 when, out of thin air, the words Love Ignites Peace landed in her conscious mind. This profound moment became a catalyst, shifting her path from successful business owner to student of love—the root of human potential. Mastering the deep meaning and embodying the wisdom in the statement Love Ignites Peace now guides her daily life. Paige’s insights in Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution invite you to return to the love that you truly are – awakening your highest potential and transforming the way you experience life. Paige is also the author of Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution, The Companion Journal. You can listen to Paige and her daughter Ashlyn on their podcast Love Ignites Peace #Bathtub chats. More information can be found at LoveIgnitesPeace.com/podcast.
Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution has won the International Impact Book Award in the Self-Help, Emotional Resilience category.
Website: http://www.LoveIgnitesPeace.com
Social:
@LoveIgnitesPeace
Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Ignites-Peace-Next-Evolution/dp/B0CLMXTCCP/ref=sr_1_1
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Paige Farrington will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN gift card.
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Q & A With …
Tell us about you as a person.
I like to think of myself as a late bloomer. For years, I was busy raising my family and building a business, never imagining I’d one day become an author. Then the words Love Ignites Peace came into my life, setting me on a journey that not only reshaped me but also inspired my first books, Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution and its Companion Journal.
Prior to that, I had never considered myself a writer. But as my experiences from the last 18 years of decoding the message Love Ignites Peace flowed from my mind through my fingers, I fell in love with the writing process. Writing showed me how important quality is, especially as a non-fiction author, and my deepest hope is that readers not only connect with the stories but also see themselves reflected in the narratives.
As a young adult, I thought I wanted to be a radio and television broadcaster, but I’m grateful I didn’t take that path. My heart was always meant to tell stories of hope, not report on unceasing hardship and drama.
Today, I find joy in sharing the message of Love Ignites Peace. My daughter and I co-host the podcast Love Ignites Peace #Bathtub Chats, we’re preparing to launch an online course on the 6 Conflict Styles, and we’re both stepping into the world of public speaking. It’s an exciting season of growth, and I’m grateful to be doing work that aligns with my soul.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., hands down. His message of love as the greatest force for personal and collective transformation mirrors the heart of my own work in Love Ignites Peace. He showed the world that hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that, and he embodied the courage to live that truth even in the face of unimaginable opposition.
I would ask him how he nurtured his own inner peace while standing in the storm of conflict, and how he held onto love when anger would have been easier. Our conversation would center on love, forgiveness, and the ripple effect of one person’s choice to speak and act with love. Spending even a single day in his presence would remind me that choosing love is not only a personal act but also a powerful and courageous step toward shaping the world we all share.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Have you ever felt weighed down by the challenges of life, or even by the heaviness of the world itself? I know I have. Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution was born from the belief that there is another way forward — one that begins not with politics or conflict, but within each of us.
The story began when three simple words, Love Ignites Peace, arrived in my mind nearly two decades ago. At first, I didn’t know what they meant. But as I lived with them, they became a guiding mantra. They pushed me to look inward, uncover the self-beliefs that kept me small, and choose love not as something to chase, but as something to embody.
That personal journey became the blueprint for this book. At its heart, it offers both hope and a framework for change. Hope that life doesn’t have to feel like endless struggle. And a framework — Love’s 6 Actions — that helps loosen old patterns, expand self-awareness, and create more loving relationships with yourself and others.
This book is more than ideas. It is a practical “how-to” for choosing love in everyday interactions. When you choose love, you ignite peace — in your own life and in the world around you. Like a single candle lighting thousands without ever losing its flame, your words and actions have the power to spread endlessly.
My hope is that as you step into this work, you’ll discover your own spark — and add it to a growing movement of change. Choose love. Ignite Peace.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
Promote, promote, promote. As a first-time non-fiction author, I’m still learning what this really looks like, and I welcome the wisdom of those who’ve walked this path. What I do know is this: sharing your book is really about sharing your heart. It helps to approach promotion not as a chore but as an extension of the message you’ve poured into the pages.
For me, that has meant saying yes to opportunities I might once have shied away from, whether podcasts, blog features, or speaking events, and seeing each one as a chance to connect with even a single new reader. Building genuine relationships and conversations feels far more sustainable than trying to “sell.”
So my advice is to stay curious, keep showing up, and let your passion for your message guide the way you promote it. The world needs your voice, but it can’t be heard if you don’t share it.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
I have lived a wonderful life, and as a late bloomer, my bucket list might look a little different from many my age. It is less about chasing adventure and more about living and sharing my purpose.
1. Speak to thousands and inspire them to choose love and ignite peace in their own lives
2. Share the message of Love Ignites Peace on international stages, building bridges across cultures and communities
3. Help others realize their potential to create a meaningful life by living as love in action every day
4. Bring joy into each and every day, no matter how ordinary it may seem
Any final thoughts?
Choose love. Ignite peace. And when you’re ready for the how-to, read Love Ignites Peace: Our Next Evolution.
October 12, 2025
Old Flames
Two high school
sweet hearts,
one charming small town,
and flames of chemistry that are hard to
deny…
Old Flames
A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 2
by Libby Kay
Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Firefighter Romance
Best-selling author Libby Kay romances hearts with her
sweet stories about family, friends, and love. Fans of Sherryl Woods’ Sweet
Magnolias series are finding all the feels with Old Flames,
the latest amazing story set in small town America. Don’t miss this enduring
sweet romance!
Two high school sweet hearts, one
charming small town, and flames of chemistry that are hard to deny…
Jessie “JJ” Mays has seen it all. Her job in the Peace Corps has put the world
at her feet, with adventure calling with every new assignment. Yet after a
decade of traveling, she’s become a little lonely—and unable to get over her
first love. Soon an emergency phone call from home has her on the next plane,
but will her heart survive this visit?
Malcolm “Smithy” Smith loves his smalltown life. His career as a fireman and
EMT is fulfilling, his soap opera starlet mother keeps him on his toes, and
he’s got a great group of friends. The only thing he doesn’t have—the love of
his life by his side. No matter the distractions, he still misses JJ with a
fierceness that consumes him.
When a call to a warehouse fire goes from routine to catastrophic, Malcolm is
injured and unable to perform the job he loves. The only upside of having a
building fall on him? His girl is back in Pinegrove ready to nurse him back to
health. And hopefully, this visit is for good…
With some help from the residents of
Pinegrove, JJ and Smithy will discover that sometimes, first love burns
brightest.
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**Don’t miss Book 1 – When Sparks
Fly!**
When Sparks Fly
A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 1
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Libby Kay lives in the city in
the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves
reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish
her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily
ever after—she’s in love!
When not surrounded by books,
Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the
road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.
Libby cohosts the Romance
Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and
interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly
dose of romance!
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October 9, 2025
Switched
What would you do if you woke up a different age and gender?
Switched
by Angela Lam
Genre: Dystopian Cyberpunk SciFi Fantasy
A global phenomenon is rewriting the laws of biology,
causing men over fifty-five and women between eighteen and forty to suddenly
and inexplicably switch their ages and genders. No one understands it, and no
one can stop it.
Maxine thinks she can stay on the sidelines, supporting her brilliant
boyfriend-turned-girlfriend Jo—an audacious biotech pioneer, who’s breaking new
ground with brain-to-brain communication. But when the transformation strikes
Maxine, her reality is flipped upside down.
Now facing an unexpected future, Max must grapple with their identity,
struggling to align who they were with who they have become. Can they reclaim
control over a life that’s no longer theirs, or will they be swept away by the
changes they never asked for?
Angela Lam writes across all genres, from romance (The Women
of the Crush series) to memoir (Red Eggs and Good Luck) to thrillers (No
Amends) and science fiction (Switched). Sometimes, she writes under a pen name
to keep things interesting (The Heroic Adventures of Madame X). The rest of the
time, she is busy exploring mixed-media art and teaching others what she knows.
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October 8, 2025
The Sixth Serum
As the intense conflict nears its conclusion, what will Rion
and the Clairvoyants be prepared to give up for their freedom? Don’t miss the
dramatic conclusion of the Clairvoyants series.
The Sixth Serum
Clairvoyants Book 3
by Brady Moore
Genre: YA Fantasy
Eighteen-year-old Rion Grean finds himself isolated and
vulnerable behind enemy lines. His understanding of his identity, his missing
mother, and the other Clairvoyants is about to be challenged. Even with
newfound allies and abilities, he won’t be fully ready for the looming danger.
The future has changed course.
The Clairvoyants are no longer hidden, and the world is watching them closely.
Felix Bard and the relentless leaders of PSYRIIN are stepping out of the
shadows, armed with their most perilous weapons yet. Harsh truths will test
loyalties, and sacrifices will be inevitable.
As the intense conflict nears its conclusion, what will Rion and the
Clairvoyants be prepared to give up for their freedom?
**NEW RELEASE!**
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**Don’t miss
the first two books in the series!**
The Fourth Kinetic
Clairvoyants Book 1
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The Fifth Strain
Clairvoyants Book 2
Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads
Brady Moore was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He began writing stories and drawing his own comic books at the age of ten and
never looked back. After graduating high school he attended the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in
Media Studies. Heavily influenced by film and television, his writing includes
elements from multiple genres and multimedia styles. He currently resides in
Charlotte, NC where he enjoys writing everything from poetry to movie scripts.
His ultimate goal is to see one of his works adapted for the screen.
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