TopShelf - Summer 2018

2016 Sales Catalog - 1

JUNE2018 ™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

magazine

TopShelf Authors & Books!

STEENA HOLMES talks about her latest thriller The Forgotten Ones Pg 19

A NOVEL APPROACH

Pg 7

Setting and Time Period

FORGOTTEN TOMES

Pg 9

Morris’s Breeder

THE INSIDE SCOOP

Pg 11

Characters Readers Love Plus Exclusive Author Interviews, Reviews, Marketing Advice, Award Winners, and more...

TopShelf Review on Pg 27

When you’re the best hostage negotiator in the business, there’s always a target on your back.

“Starts at 600 mph (literally) and never slows down.”

—Lee Child, #1 internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

“High stakes, up-to-the-minute realism . . . Whip-smart.”

—Karen Dionne, author of the international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter

“Thea Paris kicks some serious ass in this action-packed thrill ride.”

—Karin Slaughter, internationally bestselling author of The Good Daughter

Available April 10 The next kidnap-and-ransom thriller from the Barry Award–nominated author of The Freedom Broker

TOPShelf

JUNE2018

magazine

™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

TopShelf Authors & Books!

table of contents

masthead

columns

CEO & Publisher

7

A NOVEL APPROACH Setting & Time Period

Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

FORGOTTEN TOMES Morris’s Breeder

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing

THE INSIDE SCOOP Characters Readers Love

becky@topshelfmagazine.net

TOPSHELF MARKETING World-Class Customer Service

Kris Miller

9 11 15

interviews 17 19 23 25

Eileen Cook Steena Holmes Sheri Levy Kathryn Le Veque

Rebecca Katsikas

Lead Editor kris@topshelfmagazine.net

Assistant Editor Rosemary Fifield editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Creative Director Kyle Magnus

reviews 27 27 27 29 29 29 31 31 31

keith@topshelfmagazine.net

creative@topshelfmagazine.net

Date with Murder The Forgotten Ones The Hanging Girl The Key to Survival The Madonna of the Mountains Nerve Damage A Wolfe Among Dragons Skyjack Starting Over

Contributors & Reviewers J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Kris Miller Tim Sunderland

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

subscriptions TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a nominal fee to cover the cost of shipping.

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JUNE2018 3

spotlights

K.J. Howe

“Starts at 600 MPH (literally) and never slows down.” ~Lee Child, #1 Internationally Bestselling Author of the Jack Reacher series

Quercus $26.99 - Hardcover - 375 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1681443010

4

When you’re the best hostage negotiator in the business, there’s always a target on your back. www.kjhowe.com

by J. H. Bográn Rebel ePublishers $12.99 - 242 Pages Suspense Thriller ISBN: 978-1944077198

by John Evans TopShelf Publishing $16.99 - 218 Pages Thriller, Paranormal ISBN: 978-1946865052

by Allan Leverone Rock Bottom Books $13.95 - 256 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-0998416175

by Jon Land Berkley $24.00 - 304 Pages Amateur Sleuths ISBN: 978-0451489272

by Sarah Noffke One-Twenty-Six Press $11.99 - 314 Pages Fantasy, Magic ISBN: 978-0986208003

by Tricia Stewart Shiu Human Being Publishing $12.95 - 148 Pages Contemporary Women ISBN: 978-0996881609

by Hoot N. Holler CreateSpace $5.99 - 124 Pages Children’s Action & Adventure ISBN: 978-1984190154

by M. R. Morgan Black Opal Books $15.99 - 364 Pages Romantic Suspense ISBN: 978-1626947856

by Ken Stark Severed Press $11.95 - 216 Pages Post-Apocalyptic ISBN: 978-1925493085

by Brad Meltzer Grand Central Publishing $28.00 - 434 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1538746783

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

Every person with that little voice in their head―the one that tells them to write everyday―must own this book. ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times and #1 Internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat

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columns

by Paul Hollis (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @HollowManSeries | TheHollowManSeries.com

A setting has two components––place and time. Together, they are considered a fundamental ingredient of fiction along with plot, character, theme, point-of-view, and style.

The setting of a novel gives readers a mental picture of the world your characters live in. It affects our perceptions of a story through visualization of the main backdrop and provides the foundation for underlying mood.

Place inevitably drives characters’ lives in your novel. Their actions are often reactions to their environment. For example, a character living in a depressed rural area may be presented very different options and opportunities compared to a character living in a big city. By the way, neither of these matters much in writing except in how you want to shape your plot and characters.

Whether the place you choose is your childhood neighborhood or the seventh moon of Bazinga, you’ll want to enter your first draft with a firm idea of where your prominent scenes will take place and what your environment looks like. Incorporate skills they’ve developed to survive, tools, and presumptions your characters bring into the story. These will all help paint a clear picture of the place where your characters exist.

Try not to choose a setting just because it sounds cool or because you’re familiar with it. Not that you can’t or shouldn’t but do look for settings that inherently drive your www.TopShelfMagazine.net

JUNE2018

SETTING AND TIME PERIOD

particulars will, some won’t. Most importantly, your readers need to feel like they are right there “in” the scene with you. A good technique is to use the senses (smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound) in your descriptions to help reflect the timeperiod. Whether writing in first or third person, use the senses from your characters’ points of view for full impact.

Pay attention to the manners, social conditions, religious beliefs, politics, nationalism, architectures, foods, farmlands, and so on because works of historical fiction, especially, are sometimes criticized for lack of authenticity due to reader or genre expectations regarding accurate period details.

Having said that, I’ll add that there’s a fine line between enough authenticity and too much detailed description. Time-period details are important but do not include all you find on the internet, or all you can make up if you’re creating futuristic or alternate universe environments. Allow readers to imagine aspects of the place and time-period by alluding to some details or point them out in dialogue, for example.

Let me say a final word about multiple time periods. If your main character is a time traveler or you use flashbacks or flash-forwards extensively involving a number of time periods, then be prepared to do a lot more research on time periods not familiar to you.

To summarize, create a believable setting for your novel by consciously planning each element of setting. Locale: ranging...

magazine

A NOVEL APPROACH

plot forward. Ask yourself questions like: Will my story take place on Earth or some other realm of the imagination?

Will it be centered in a neighborhood, a city, or expanded to a range of locations?

What kind of society will surround your characters? Working class? The poor? A kids’ summer camp? The filthy rich? And so on.

Will the world be cast in shadows or will it inspire optimism?

Just like a character, a place in your novel should have its own ‘voice’. Write place like you would write any character. How do characters’ actions and choices affect their surrounds and vice versa? Will the setting itself cause hardships for the characters?

Meaning, will the location create demands on the characters such as the wilds of Alaskan winter or the ghettos of an inner city? Will the environment play a key role in the plot?

Place and time-period are almost inseparable, but they are different. It is a question of where vs. when your novel takes place. Will it span over the course of a month, a year, or decades? The element of time in setting includes era, the passage of time, changing seasons, and jumps in time back and forward.

Etiquette, attitude, manners, morals, customs, science, medicine, etc. will all be bound to the time-period you choose.

Pick a period of time then log onto the internet to start researching. Yes, you’ll need to study even today’s modern era, especially if your characters are particularly younger or older than you because they will see and experience the time-period in ways you will not.

Dialogue, plot, and characters can all be affected by when your novel occurs.

Focus on details that matter––some

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JUNE2018 7

"Brilliantly conceived… wondrously realized.”

- Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day

“It’s slick, slippery, and deadly.”

- Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown and Pacific Burn

“Delivers a slow burn. Stay with it, and you might end up with blisters.”

- Raymond Benson, author of The Black Stiletto series

“A first class roller-coaster ride…

I highly recommend this book!”

- Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling co-author of the Pendergast series

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columns

One of the least successful films from Bruce Willis is Hudson Hawk. People expected a story in the vein of Die Hard. Instead, they got a black comedy, heavy on cynicism and even self-deprecation. It didn’t help that the Studio had marketed it as an action film when they should have appealed to the fans of The Naked Gun franchise instead.

While not the same case, Jim Morris’ novel from 1988 titled Breeder released by Tor, judged by the cover, people might think the tale would mix action, a bit of sci-fi and, why not, some sex. It would not be a lie, because the plot does deliver on those points, with spades. However, the unknown element not considered by the publisher was that readers found the story hilarious.

A group of men and women are genetically enhanced to be stronger, faster and with quicker reflexes. Although brought up in the Soviet Union, they were conditioned to think they were indeed American. They were also sterile. The evil plans involved deploying them to the US and affect the next generations of Americans, substantially reducing their number due to sterility.

Jeff Clendenning is the quintessential man, broad-shouldered, a 28-inch waist and the washboard abs that belong in a gym commercial. Jeff is one of those men who can have any woman he desires by just snapping his fingers. Unlike James Bond, Jeff gets women pregnant, all of them, with only one encounter. He’s also the accident www.TopShelfMagazine.net

JUNE2018

by J. H. Bográn (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @JHBogran | jhbogran@gmail.com

“It ain’t Saturday,” he said. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“What does?” I asked. “To fight and win. You been kickin’ yourself all around the block over that bullshit with Hardwick. Forget it. You just beat me fair and square, and I can whip Hardwick any time I want to.”

I knew then what he’d done, and felt thrilled that I had such a friend, and proud that I had beaten the toughest kid in school fair and square. Once in fifteen tries.

The excerpt above describes the beginning of a beautiful friendship that spanned years. There’s nothing sadder when a friend becomes the enemy, and that’s precisely the story Jim Morris presented us within Breeder. The novel was re-released recently, and the change in an advertisement is evident with the style of the new cover.

The author knows his weapons and tactics as he served with The Green Berets in Vietnam for three tours.

Upon retiring with the rank of major, he took to writing. The film Operation Dumbo Drop was based on one of his novels. He’s also produced documentaries about Vietnam. Breeder was one of his first novels, and as one review from Goodreads on 2014 summed it like this: Very funny and enjoyable action novel spoof. The publisher didn't seem to be in on the joke. Worth seeking out.

Visit the author’s website at jimmorriswarstory.com.

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FORGOTTEN TOMES MORRIS’S BREEDER

part of the experiment as he’s able to reproduce.

Please read the following excerpt from the opening chapter: So that was it, I thought. More humiliation. Even as I was thinking this, he got me in a headlock, threw me to the floor, squooshing all the air out of my chest, and twisted my arm up behind my back so that I was in extreme pain.

“You gonna make my bed or not?”

“F*** you, asshole! Make your own ***dam—aw-ow-ow! All right, all right, I’ll make your f***ing bed.”

So I made it. But the next day it was the same thing. Some smidgen of remaining pride made me fight him every day. I couldn’t just give in. And every day the fight took a little longer.

Finally one day I got him trapped under the bed where he couldn’t get on top of me. We had wrestled around for over twenty minutes, but now I had him.

He was trapped under there, and this time I had him in a chokehold. I laughed. “Say, uncle!” I demanded.

“F*** you!” he squealed.

“Say uncle, and say you’ll never make me make the bed again, or I’ll pop your eyes out, just like shelling a pea.”

“Awright, awright!

I’ll say uncle, and I’ll make my own bed.”

I let him up, and he made his own bed for the first time in two weeks.

“You got a wrinkle down towards the foot,” I pointed out. “That’ll pass today’s inspection, but it would never pass a Saturday room inspection.”

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“A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS, PACKED WITH STAGGERING TWISTS AND TURNS, ROCKETING TOWARD A CATACLYSMIC CLIMAX THAT WILL SHOCK YOU!” -TopShelf Reviews

DARK LIGHT: DAWN “A fantastic, incredible, can’t-putit-down book... A terrific read!” ~Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Has everything––mystery, action, sex, violence, widescreen apocalypse and close-up chills, along with the creepiest little girl you'll never want to meet. 'I couldn't put it down' has become such a cliche but... I couldn't put it down.” ~Paul Wilson, New York Times bestselling author

"Combining the supernatural conspiracies of The X-Files with the pandemic panic of Contagion and World War Z, Dark Light Dawn is an addicting, intense, nail-biting big budget summer movie brought to the page by creator Fabrizio Boccardi and author Jon Land. Hopefully, we’ll see the return of Max Younger sooner than later." ~Forces of Geek Magazine

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

Copyright@2017 J.C. Brennan - TopShelf Indie - ISBN: 978-1946865137

www.eternalbloodlines.com

ISBN: 978-0765328724

columns

CHARACTERS READERS LOVE

by Sarah Noffke (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @RealSarahNoffke | SarahNoffke.com

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

like me. Yes, I’ll say it, I’m flawed. And readers have loved that about my characters, but I think some of the most successful books have characters that are less flawed. The protagonist has the worst luck, a bad hand dealt to him, major disadvantages and yet, he smiles while pushing back his gorgeous hair. If you don’t believe me, study the characters from your favorite books and movies. What do they all have in common? There’s always the exception, but if you notice they usually start off similarly.

So write the character who is in your heart, because we should never

rewarded for their good behavior.

For me, it’s tough to write these kinds of characters because I tend to be a bit edgy myself. I say what I think and when things are hard. I make a sarcastic remark. I’m friendly to strangers but sometimes say words under my breath when they’re not looking. In the past, I’ve written characters

sell out. But consider knocking them down a peg at first and ensure that they’re whistling while the masses are walking all over them. Then give your character their letter to Hogwarts or make them the Tribute. You get the idea. Happy writing.

JUNE2018

In my last article, I discussed how we, as writers, shouldn’t have off limit characters.

We should, technically, be able to write the anti-hero who’s a jerk or the whiny protagonist. Technically that’s true. I’ve done it in a few series because guess what?

A girl at sixteen who is told she has to risk her life to save the world will act a little grumpy. Well, I’d throw a gigantic tantrum.

That’s reality. We’re not all perfect.

However, in this article, I’m flipping the coin over and discussing the more practical business decision for writers, which is to write characters who readers love. They may not be us, realistic and flawed. They’ve probably never had a bad hair day or a sour mood, but it’s for that reason that readers do fall for them. It took me a while to learn this as a writer: readers don’t completely want characters that are realistic or even that they can relate to. They want ones who they can vicariously live through. They want to slip on the character’s shoes and prance around and enjoy the experience.

Does all that mean that the characters can’t be realistic? Absolutely not. I’ve learned that starting the protagonist off as relatable is precisely how what readers want. They should have a bad job and angry parents, or even dead parents, that’s how the best start, right? The thing is that Billy Protagonist might be down on his

luck, but he’s still smiling. That’s where the other side of this comes in, I believe.

Readers don’t like complainers. They like heroes and those who shoulder the storm with a “can do” spirit.

We should start the main character off with a bit of drama. He’s poor, working hard, unnoticed and always coming up short. That’s the underdog, right? But this character still keeps his chin up no matter what. And then he gets his letter to Hogwarts. Or the dream job.

Or an invitation to the ball. And he’s always humble about the honor. I’ve found that readers want characters that are likable and over time they are

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THE INSIDE SCOOP

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spotlights

Steve Snyder

Sea Breeze Publishing LLC $21.55 - 376 Pages History, Military ISBN: 978-0986076008

Steve began his quest to learn about the World War II experiences of his father, pilot Howard Snyder, and his crew of the B-17, Susan Ruth, named after his older sister. It became his passion, and after 4 1/2 years of dedicated research, resulted in his book, SHOT DOWN which has received over 20 national book awards.

SteveSnyderOnline.com

by Rik Stone CreateSpace $12.75 - 430 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1484088647

by Armand Rosamilia CreateSpace $12.99 - 206 Pages Crime Thriller ISBN: 978-1523692149

by Shellie Blum Shellie Blum, LLC $16.79 - 238 Pages Biographies, Memoirs ISBN: 978-0996366908

by Chris Leibig Lightning Source Inc $15.95 - Paperback - 235 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1633931794

by Debra Ruh G3ict Global Initiative $19.95 - 135 Pages Business, Money ISBN: 978-0578177533

by Micah Richards TopShelf Publishing $28.99 - 140 Pages Teens, Dark Fantasy ISBN: 978-1946865014

by J.C. Brennan TopShelf Indie $28.99 - Hardcover - 356 Pages Supernatural, Horror ISBN: 978-1946865113

by Jon Land Forge Books $26.99 - 368 Pages Mystery, Thriller ISBN: 978-0765384645

by Adriene Law WestBowPress $17.95 - 206 Pages Christian Living ISBN: 978-1512780321

by A. Gavazzoni Independently Published $14.99 - Paperback - 520 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1520386171

12

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

“A thrilling adventure that spans decades.

STRONG TO THE BONE combines compelling history and cutting-edge technology, creating a death-grip read that refuses to let go.”

~TopShelf Reviews

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“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF INTRIGUE, ACTION, AND ADVENTURE.” THE LIAHONA EFFECT THE LIAHONA EFFECT ~STEVE BERRY, New York Times “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL and #1 Internationally Bestselling Author RIDE FEATURING LOVE, FAITH, MYSTERY, AND REDEMPTION. OPEN UP TO PAGE “NOTONE TO BEAND MISSED. THEFOR BESTDEAR BOOK OF HANG ON LIFE.” ~ ALLAN LEVERONE NY Times & USA TODAY ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, ~JONincluding LAND, USA Bestselling Author the TODAY acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

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Copyright Copyright©©2017 2017--TopShelf TopShelfPublishing Publishing

and #1 Internationally Author AND REDEMPTION. OPEN Bestselling UP TO PAGE ONE AND HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.” ~ALLAN LEVERONE, NY Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, including the acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT

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The ultimate bookseller guide to indie authors and books

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columns

by Keith Katsikas (CEO & Publisher, TopShelf)

NEVER STALK Don't act like a car salesman and stalk your customers the moment they walk into your business or follow them around like they are thieves.

A known thief loitering about your store is one thing; however, don’t watch every move a customer makes if there's no reason to believe they are trouble. Your customers will most likely leave and never come back, and advise everyone they know to do the same.

LOCAL EXPERTS Engage your community’s local experts for book suggestions. Ask therapists for their favorite self-help books, business owners for the business section, veterinarians for pet books, local chefs for the cookbook section, and so on, and post the lists in the relevant sections of the store. Also, ask local teachers and professors to recommend books to help your bookstore become a better curator for student customers. Most public school teachers have yearly “summer book lists” from which students are encouraged to read two books during the summer.

MEMBERSHIPS Offer customers free memberships. Memberships make people feel connected, engaging them in what you are doing, and discounts encourage members to shop more at your store. However, beware: customers hate being charged for memberships and will often opt out.

SMARTPHONES Bookstores that have a “no smartphone” policy are hurting themselves. By not allowing customers to use their phone to look up books and reviews, even if they could use the information they find to shop elsewhere, you are succeeding at only one thing–– giving customers a bad feeling about your store. You cannot stop customers from purchasing a book on Amazon; however, giving them a reason to buy from Amazon, and likely never return to your store, is just bad business.

KNOWLEDGABLE STAFF Knowledgeable and friendly employees are one of the benefits of bookstores. Use them wisely. Have an “Employee Corner” in your monthly newsletter, have employees make a list of their favorite books and print them on bookmarks, have shelf hangers under employees’ favorite books with the

EASIER THE BETTER Many customers come to your store because they want to support a local business rather than a big box store. However, at the first sight of difficulty they will almost certainly run to the big box store. Customers want their questions answered quickly, so computerize your inventory and have someone on hand

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CUSTOM ORDERS It is important to make customers orders simple. If all you are doing is placing an order on Amazon and having it ready to be picked up in a week, a customer will appreciate that service, and if you can order books at wholesale and have them available quickly, offer that as a service to your customers. Hang large signs that tell customers the service is available. Wave the shipping costs if you must, or you could offer 99¢ shipping for all orders over $15.

JUNE2018

Customer service defines your business and ultimately determines its level of success. You may have a rare item that someone would like to purchase; however, because of a poor experience, or the poor experience of a friend, that customer may decide to purchase online instead of through your venue. Not sure how you can offer world-class customer service? TopShelf Magazine is here to help.

who understands the computer system or smartphone app, so that customers have their questions answered instantly. Also, no one enjoys waiting in line to make a purchase. Speed up the checkout process by ringing up purchases without having to go to a register, using a square reader or smartphone.

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TOPSHELF MARKETING 101: TIPS TO ACHIEVING WORLDCLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE

reason why it is a favorite. Also, meet with your employees often and brainstorm ideas and feedback regarding marketing campaigns, or use Survey Monkey as a tool for staff to offer ideas or to give feedback.

Visit stores for business ideas, not only bookstores, and take pictures and notes of what the other establishments are doing right or wrong. Engage your employees with specific responsibilities to implement your ideas in the store.

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STORE WEBSITE A simple, welldesigned website allows customers to find information and place orders easily. The process of placing an order should be easy, with clearly defined policies. Also, if a customer finds a book in the inventory, they should be given the option to place the order over the phone. The customer should be able to track the progress of their delivery. The shipping policy must be clear to the customer. Offer fixed rates and a reasonable delivery time. Staff need to ensure that orders are delivered within the predetermined amount of time to maintain customer satisfaction. There should be several payment options available including credit card, debit card, or cash on delivery.

Providing these options will likely result in increased sales and improve the customer’s buying experience.

REALLY LISTEN Have a “Customer Suggestion Box” and ask your...

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APRIL2017 15

#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL AND #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS

A deranged killer is threatening the very lifeblood of the city that never sleeps. Special Agent SHOT DOWN Pendergast must match wits with his most dangerous foe— and survive the endless night.

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“A consistently exciting and never predictable series.”

—ASSOCIATED PRESS

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER, EBOOK, LARGE PRINT, AND AUDIO

PrestonChild.com Photograph of city by Getty Images Photograph of cemetery by Scott Nobles

interviews

What was your inspiration behind it?

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in eight languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her newest book, THE HANGING GIRL, came out in October 2017. She’s an instructor/mentor with The Creative Academy and Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program.

Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two very naughty dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Please, tell us about your latest book!

The Hanging Girl tells the story of Skye Thorn. She’s given tarot card readings for years in her small Michigan town squirreling away money in a hope to escape to NYC after graduation. When the town’s golden girl goes missing, she tells the police about a psychic vision she’s had that helps with the investigation. It’s no challenge—her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge about the abduction. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy—no one would get hurt and she’d get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, www.TopShelfMagazine.net

If you could go back in time, what is the best piece of writing advice you would give your younger self?

The best advice is one that I would have loved to have gotten at that age! Read. I truly believe that the best way to learn how to write is by reading voraciously. And reading with an eye to the craft- asking yourself how, and why, writers made the choices they did. Secondly, in life in general, as well as with writing, I tell myself to relax and enjoy the journey. There will always be rejection, and things that don’t go well in any pursuit, the secret is to persist and celebrate the small wins along the way.

In your experience traveling from bookstore to bookstore, doing signings and other events, what have to discovered are some of the best ways to captivate readers and get people in to your bookstore events?

I see two prongs to planning any bookstore

JUNE2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH EILEEN COOK

The initial inspiration came after I went to a conference put on by The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. They’re a group of people who use science to investigate various topicsincluding psychics. The session I went to covered how easy it is to fool someone into believing you have psychic ability. I found that fascinating and filed away the information knowing it would be useful for a character. The second bit of inspiration came after talking to a good friend about lies. I started to think about a character who tells a lie (for a good reason) and how that leads to more lies, until she is in so deep that she has no idea how to get free. I think many people have told a lie to try and make a situation better, that ended up leading to more trouble.

(Hopefully not as much trouble as it got the main character, Skye, into!)

events. The first is trying to leverage any existing fans, or readers, I may have who may come out. I use social media to try and make sure that people are aware there is an event and encourage them to attend (and hopefully bring a friend!) To work well, I think it’s so important to be authentic and genuinely interested in the audience versus trying to do a hard sell. I typically do a short reading but find the most interesting portion of the event tends to be the question and answer, where can have a discussion about anything from the book to writing in general. The second prong to a success signing is to encourage people who don’t already know me or my books to attend. This means attempting to make it more of an event. I’ve seen this done a few different ways. One was having a panel of writers versus just one- so that people had a chance to hear from a wide range of writers. Another example of a signing being leveraged into a larger event was- a group of romance writers do an event where the local singles groups were contacted to come out.

There was wine, discussion of romance-and book sales. People who didn’t know the writers came because it was a fun night out.

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and Skye realizes the people she’s involved with are willing to kill to get what they want, and she must discover their true identity before it’s too late.

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INTERVIEWS

What are some of the coolest things you’ve seen at bookstores that you feel other booksellers should try and replicate?

I love when stores are able to create events out of simple signings. I’ve seen a summer book club with a range of authors talking about their books, a writing workshop for people writing in a particular genre, blind date with a book events where people are matched up with books they may not have picked up on their own, and as I mentioned above, moving the talk from being strictly about a book/author and more into the topics the book deals with which may bring in a larger audience.

Read this and other interviews at:

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JUNE2018 17

interviews

I only knew the ending as I was writing it, which is something completely new for me, but also exciting. I love to write books that keep me on my toes. So, to answer your question, the ending basically wrote itself.

With her passion for storytelling, Steena Holmes took her dream of being a full-time writer and made it a reality, writing her first novel while working as a receptionist. Her novels have won awards, such as 2012 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE BOOK Award for her bestselling novel Finding Emma, 2015 USA BOOK NEWS Award for The Word Game, 2015 USA BOOK NEWS finalist for The Memory Child.

Now both a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, with over a million copies sold, Steena continues to write stories that touch every parents heart in one way or another.

Your newest book, The Forgotten Ones, is a deeply suspenseful psychological thriller. What can you tell us about it?

The main focus is about the secrets we tend to bury amongst families and the damage they often create, even to the point of death.

It deals with mental illness and its impact on a family. How much research went into this book?

More than I imagined there would be!

There were many days when I would split my screen so I could have articles, websites, responses by doctors and therapists available for me look at. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

You’re a huge supporter of other writers versus seeing them as competition. Can You are a NY Times and Amazon Bestseller releasing your twenty-sixth book since 2012. you talk to us about why it is important To say that you are a successful author is an to support other authors?

It’s such a small community and I had so understatement. What were some of the many authors help support me when I roadblocks, if any, that you hit when was starting and still to do this day, so it releasing your first book?

Wow, there were so many roadblocks. I started out as an indie author and back then, there was a lot of stigma toward my choice of publication. I was also a new author who didn’t know what I didn’t know and had to learn along the way. I didn’t understand the huge divide between indie authors and traditional authors and naively believed we were all the same. Not everyone agreed with me, to say it nicely.

JUNE2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STEENA HOLMES

was sucker punched by a comment from a reader. They pointed out that my writing felt stagnant and old and she’d read better from others. Since then, I have made it a focus to make each book stronger, to go deeper with the emotional impact and to bring my readers along on a journey that will leave an impression.

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The book also has quite a few twists and turns right up until the very end. Did you know at the beginning of writing it, how it was going to end, or did the ending write itself?

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INTERVIEWS

comes naturally that I want to help others. This isn’t a competition. There are so many readers who love to lose themselves within the pages of a book – if we can keep our readers forefront in our mind, then everyone wins.

As a hybrid author, you publish both independently and under Amazon’s Lake House. What do you find to be the biggest benefits for you personally in being able to What are some of the most important things that publish independently? you have learned since the release of your first I love being able to respond directly to readers when it comes to indie publishing. I book that you would be willing to share with can write shorter stories (novellas for other authors?

I have a few that I share with new authors.

These are things that I wish I had known and understood when I first started. The first piece of advice would be to not rush your writing - your readers are going to know and they’ll be less likely to pick up your next book. Don’t feel the pressure to release a new story every month or feel like your book must be released now or your going to miss out.

The next thing I would strongly recommend would be to learn your craft – your writing needs to improve with every book or you’re going to lose your readership. If you don’t make the craft of writing important, it will be noticeable. For years I only focused on the promo/marketing aspect of my career until I

instance) about characters that wouldn’t always get a novel with my publisher. I love being able to give them free stories, or place books on sale, things I typically wouldn’t be able to do with my publisher.

On the other end of the spectrum, what are some of the biggest perks of working with a publishing house?

I love the team I have at Lake Union. Their support is amazing. Regarding perks – the biggest one is being promoted via the Amazon website. My books have been introduced to so many readers, which if you haven’t noticed by now, is my main focus when it comes to how I market and how I write.

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JUNE2018 19

spotlights

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~Steve Berry, NY Times and # 1 Internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

interviews

I tend to think that anytime we are on social media, we are marketing ourselves, which is why I feel having a brand is so important to authors. I like to be on social media in the mornings (when my brain is

Along those same lines, an author’s name is their brand. You teach courses to authors about how to build their very own brand. What can you tell us about this and how does an author go about learning more?

JUNE2018

trying to wake up and I’m working on my first pot of coffee). You really don’t have to spend much time on marketing, not if you’re doing it right.

The best website right now to help in creating physical marketing graphics is Canva – www.canva.com - plus, it’s free and easy to use. Get involved in different groups on Facebook where you can interact with readers and set up a newsletter where you can have direct communication with your readers on a regular basis.

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Let’s talk about marketing. We all know that it’s important to an author to market themselves.

How much time do you devote to marketing and do you have any tips for authors trying to develop a marketing plan?

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INTERVIEWS

To me, an author’s brand is a promise they’ve made to their readers – a promise of what to expect when they read their books, when they find them online and when they communicate one on one with each other (via newsletters or blog posts).

This promise is so important but it can be so easy to break that promise as well, and when you break a promise with a reader, they tend to stop reading your books. I’ve heard so many newer and established authors say they are confused by branding and tend to ignore it even though they realize how important it is, which is why I decided to offer help. I love to speak on branding, on how to use our branding to reach and keep readers and often speak at conferences. I decided to start a service called Branding with Intent. I offer a free 5 day email course to creating a brand as well as online courses and one-on-one coaching. http://www.steenaholmes.com/ branding-with-intent/ to find out more.

Read this and other interviews at:

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interviews

Please, tell us about your heartwarming coming-of-age story, ‘Starting Over.’

Starting Over, is the second novel in my Trina Ryan series. After readers started sending in their reviews, I learned about the story’s impact. The easiest way for me to describe this story comes from a review submitted by Peggy Jo Shaw, an award-winning journalist, PR specialist and book author and editor.

“Levy is on sure ground in this enjoyable pageturner for young adults. Readers see the world through the eyes of Trina Ryan, a freckle-faced redhead with a big heart for horses, service dogs, and people in need. Trina learns some of life’s most important lessons: that people are not always what they seem, growing up involves tough choices, and a first crush can be more exciting than she ever dreamed. Poignant, fun and adventuresome.”

This is the sequel to your novel, ‘Seven Days to Goodbye,’ with Trina Ryan. What inspired this sequel?

After Trina returns her first trained service dog, she must make a decision. Is she strong enough to train another dog and say goodbye again? Trina loves helping others and after seeing the magic that happens between her service dog and his companion, she knows service dogs truly change lives. In each story, a www.TopShelfMagazine.net

You’re a staunch supporter of PAALS, remarkably giving your proceeds of your books to their cause. How did you first hear about them and what is your story behind getting involved with them?

Before I wrote, ‘Seven Days to Goodbye’ and became involved with PAALS, I had taught special needs children. When I retired from teaching, I researched service dogs for my stories. One afternoon, I met a young boy in the grocery store with a dog wearing a vest with the words,“Please do not pet me, I’m working.”

After his mother gave me permission What is up next for you? Can we expect another to speak with him, I asked, “Are you a Trina Ryan novel in the near future? puppy raiser?”

Thank you for asking!

He answered. “No Mam. This here is my I am having so much fun writing the third Diabetic Alert Dog. People raised money for novel, “For Keeps.” “Seven Days to me to get my service dog. He lets me know Goodbye,” takes place on Edisto Beach, when my blood sugar drops or goes too South Carolina. “Starting Over,” takes place high.” After interviewing him, I called his in Greenville, South Carolina. And the service dog organization to get more third novel, “For Keeps,” is set in a... information, but they had been disbanded.

Club House Magazine had been looking Read more of this and other interviews at: for an article about a young person with a www.TopShelfMagazine.net service dog and contacted me. After the story had been printed, I entered, ‘Scent with Love’ in the Special Needs Category of The Sheri S. Levy Dog Writers of America Association writing See the world through the eyes of contest, and we won!

Trina Ryan, a freckle-faced This gave me the redhead with a big heart for horses, confidence to continue service dogs, and people in need. writing.

Trina learns some of life’s most important lessons: that people are Needing more not always what they seem, information, I called Barking Rain Press growing up involves tough choices, service dog organizations $13.99 - 206 Pages and a first crush can be more throughout the U.S. and exciting than she ever dreamed.

Coming of Age, Friendship accidently found PAALS, www.sherislevy.com ISBN: 978-1935460770 (Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services) which

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JUNE2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, SHERI LEVY

turned-out to be close to my home.

Four years passed and the family discovered the boy’s service dog had been trained by an unqualified organization. The dog had received a great home, but he had never had any health exams or x-rays. Sometime in the dog’s young life, he had been hit by a car and his painful hip interfered with his important job. The dog could no longer work as a service dog.

After working with PAALS, people ask me questions about how to get a service dog. I inform people about the dangers of working with an unqualified service dog organization and before any money is paid, please verify the dog’s health.

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service dog is involved, but I wanted a new character to draw-out Trina’s desire to help others. Since I write for teens, I like to include issues that may impact their decisions, setting goals, and the importance of being kind.

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INTERVIEWS

JUNE2018 23

columns

Everything you want in a sprawling epic romance! ~TopShelf Reviews

Medieval Romance just doesn't get any better than this.

~Uncaged Book Reviews

Full Page Full Page Ad Ad

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Hailed as Hailed as the the ‘Queen ‘Queen of of Medieval Medieval Romance’––with Romance’––with good reason––Kathryn good reason––Kathryn le le Veque Veque has has returned returned with with her impressive her impressive newest newest installment installment in in the the de de Wolfe Wolfe series. It’s series.

It’s June June of of 1282 1282 and and William William de de Wolfe, Wolfe, England’s greatest England’s greatest warrior, warrior, is is led led deep deep into into southern southern WalesЬ right WalesЬ right into into aa trap trap laid laid by by their their enemy, enemy, the the Welsh. Hundreds Welsh.

Hundreds of of men men have have died, died, including including his his beloved son, beloved son, James.

James. Overrun Overrun with with the the enemy enemy on on all all sides and sides and three three other other sons sons to to think think of, of, William William must must leave the leave the body body of of James James behind. behind. Several Several years years later, later, aa Welsh Welsh warrior warrior named named Blayth Blayth the the Strong, Strong, is is defeating the defeating the English English in in battle battle after after battle. battle. Fighting Fighting

by Blayth’s by Blayth’s side side is is aa woman woman he he is is deeply deeply falling falling for; for; Asmara ap Asmara ap Cader, Cader, aa fierce fierce warrior warrior called called the the ‘Dragon ‘Dragon Princess’. Rumored Princess’.

Rumored to to be be the the bastard bastard son son of of the the last last Prince of Prince of Wales, Wales, Blayth Blayth has has no no memory memory of of his his past past beyond five-years, beyond five-years, due due to to torture torture at at the the hands hands of of the the English. He’s English.

He’s only only aware aware of of his his past past because because the the man man who saved who saved him him has has told told him him so. so. But But when when aa captured English captured English knight knight looks looks upon upon him him and and calls calls him by him by aa different different name––James name––James de de Wolfe––Blayth Wolfe––Blayth begins to begins to question question everything. everything.

A Wolfe A Wolfe Among Among Dragons Dragons is is book book 8 8 in in the the de de Wolfe Wolfe Pack series Pack series of of 13 13 novels. novels.

www.kathrynleveque.com Available at these and other fine booksellers and distributors:

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interviews

Talk to us about your newest, sprawling, epic romance “A Wolfe Among Dragons.”

So, tell us a little about the real Kathryn Le Veque, something you haven’t shared in other interviews.

I love this question––who is the ‘real me?’

Driven, generous to a fault, a lover of animals and my family. Oddly enough, I’m a bit of an introvert. I can ‘turn it on’ when I need to, and I love meeting new people or experiencing new things, but at heart, I’m an introvert who wants to sit in her office and write books. I’m also an arm chair archaeologist––my love for history and archaeology is a passion I’ve had my entire life, so instead of digging up history, I make up my own and write about it. Great gig! www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Quite a bit of research went into this book, actually, because it’s mostly set in Medieval Wales, so I really had to research locations and the histories of those locations. I also do what I call ground-level research; since I live in California and can’t fly to the United Kingdom every time I want to write a book, I use Google maps quite a lot. I go to the street level view so that I can see these castles I’m writing about, and the historic lay out of the building, and literally put myself right in the middle of the action. Technology has made researching very easy––and very fascinating.

It’s definitely one of the best parts of my job.

You tried to break into the traditional publishing world for twenty-five-years before going into self-publishing. Talk us through your inspirational experience of becoming one of today’s hottest indie authors.

The path to Indie success for me wasn’t overnight. When I published for the first time in May 2012, I had a backlist of 25 novels, books I’d been seriously writing since 1992. I was lucky enough to have so many, but my

JUNE2018

KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a critically acclaimed USA Today Bestselling author, a charter Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Contemporary Romance. Kathryn was the winner of Uncaged Book Reviews Magazine “Raven Award” for Favorite Medieval Romance (Vestiges of Valor) and Favorite Cover, all Genres (Queen of Lost Stars) for 2017, and she is considered one of the top Indie authors in the world with over a million copies in circulation. Her novels have been translated into several languages.

This series is set in the thirteenth century.

How much and what kind of research went into writing these books?

road to publication was a bumpy one. I don’t write conventionally, and I write very big books most of the time, and I realized early on that those two factors were something traditional publishers weren’t looking for. But for me, it was more about staying true to my story than the publication of it, conforming to what traditional publishers expect or want, so I simply wrote what I wanted to write.

For years, I wrote big books, big adventures, and vivid worlds. I wrote about unconventional things (for example, an African knight in England, or lesbian characters, or a knight seeking a divorce so he could marry the woman he loved). I wrote from the heart, but it still wasn’t something traditional publishers wanted to see after twenty years of submitting. Finally, I decided to independently publish the books as sort of a last-ditch effort. I signed up for KDP and just started publishing, never dreaming of where it would actually take me. I didn’t expect much in the beginning, but when it started taking off, I could hardly believe it. Twentyodd years of rejection made me think my books just weren’t any good, so you can imagine my surprise when I started selling thousands. I kept my day job for an entire year after I first published, just because I was sure all of this was a fluke. Thankfully, it wasn’t––and exactly one year after I published my first book on KDP, I walked out of my day job and I’ve never looked back. Because of my journey, my message to new authors is this––never, ever give up.

Believe in what you’re doing, understand the business, and produce a quality product. Stay true to this philosophy and readers will find you. I’m so grateful that technology has allowed authors like me to find their voice.

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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR KATHRYN LE VEQUE

A Wolfe Among Dragons was probably one of the more difficult books I’ve ever had to write.

It’s the 12th book I’ve written in my de Wolfe Pack series, but it’s chronologically Book 8. It was difficult because it’s about discovering a son who was thought to be dead, and the main hero of the series is quite beloved, so it was difficult not to turn the book into “A father finds his dead son” instead of what it needed to be––a romance. It’s also a little different because it takes place in Wales, and culturally, Wales was much different that England or even Scotland in the High Middle Ages. It’s such a fascinating locale to set a story, and in this case, it made a perfectly plausible setting for a character to ‘return’ from the dead.

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INTERVIEWS

And then in just three months, you became a #1 Bestseller. What was that like for you...

Read more of this and other interviews at:

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TOPShelf magazine

JUNE2018 25

“Engaging legal tale.” ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

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JUNE2018

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In Cabot Cove, murder follows our favorite mystery writer everywhere. During Babs and Hal Wirth’s annual Labor Day party, Jessica Fletcher enters the kitchen to find Hal has suffered what appears to be a massive heart attack. While helping Babs prepare for the funeral, Jess discovers a threatening letter addressed to Hal from his ex-partner, who turns up dead soon after. A startling discovery is uncovered about Hal’s business affairs that leads to a shady dating service, and an even more mysterious conspiracy. Whatever this was, it was no accident, or natural causes, despite what the medical evidence may show.

Jon Land has upped the stakes as Jessica Fletcher places herself in physical danger to solve the most personal case of her life. Filled with all the beloved characters of the series, A Date with Murder has all the ingredients of a great cozy-mystery––a snappily-plotted storyline, fast-paced scenes, loads of suspense, and good old-fashioned justice. Longtime fans of the Murder, She Wrote mystery series will most certainly revel in this newest installment.

Elle is a pediatric nurse who has grown up in a family of two––her mother and herself.

Living with her mother’s mental illness has left Elle with an inexplicable dread, never knowing who her mother will be that day.

Her world is tuned upside down when she finds out that her dead grandfather is actually alive and is a patient at the hospital she works at. David Walker, an eighty-yearold-man riddled with cancer, is at death’s door. But he has one last story to tell––a story full of pain and regret. As David shares his unbelievable story, Elle’s mother insists it’s a lie. In a home built on secrets, Elle finds herself questioning her own sanity.

Brilliantly drawn, nearly broken characters center this story, weaving a deeply heartbreaking tale of love, agony, and remorse.

Often distressing, this tear-jerker evokes the pain of living with severe mental illness and the the casualties left in its wake. Nostalgic, tense, and packed with twists and turns, The Forgotten Ones is an epically well-written read.

Skye Thorn is a lower class high school senior whose future is fast-approaching but still sees no way out of her small town. Pretending to be a psychic like her crazy mom, by giving tarot card readings to people at school, has yet to earn her enough money to move away after graduation. She needs to take drastic measures if she is ever going to get away. So, when she’s approached with a kidnapping scheme, where all she needs to do to earn a massive payday is tell the police that she is having psychic visions and guide them, she’s convinced it will be easy money. But when plans go awry, Skye lands herself in serious danger. Unlike most books in the YA genre, the protagonist is not a morally perfect heroine ready to save the day, in fact, she’s not a heroine at all. Often jaded, Skye looks out for ‘number one’ and makes no excuses for it, creating a deliciously intriguing character. Layered with mystery and suspense, hidden amongst a plethora of secrets and lies, The Hanging Girl a deviously good dark and twisted YA psychological thriller.

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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JUNE2018 27

spotlights

Kathryn Le Veque USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Charter Amazon All-Star Author, #1 multi-published Historical Romance Bestselling Author, #1 ranked English Medieval Romance Author on Amazon

www.kathrynleveque.com

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"Vivid world-building, pitchperfect prose... Kathryn Le Veque has made a fan of me." ~TopShelf Reviews

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JUNE2018

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FAST-PACED & RIVETING

A TALE OF SURVIVAL

BLOCKBUSTER IN THE MAKING

Jake Hollywood didn’t want to go to school.

He was going to be tested on the sinking of the Titanic. However, he was unprepared.

How boring to study something over a hundred years ago. On the way to the bus he spots a manila envelope. He’s mysteriously drawn to it. inside is a newspaper clipping with a headline about the doomed ship. In a binding burst of light, Jake is transported back in time, a passenger of the ill-fated voyager.

Only hours left until the iceberg hits, will Jake be able to change history. and even if he can, will he ever return home? Jake Hollywood is utterly convincing as a youth caught up in unexplainable circumstances, while superb descriptive prose brings this tragic piece of history to life. Fast-paced, riveting storyline, and a shocking twist, makes for a captivating history lesson that will leave eager young minds yearning for more.

The setting is Northern Italy 1923 and Maria Vittoria, a young woman is about to begin an arranged marriage. We travel with her through the next two decades as Fascism and Mussolini take over the country and “Trust no one” becomes her mantra. She is raises five children, endures an abusive marriage, and does what she believes she must to feed her family and keep them safe. This is a tale of a loveless marriage, misplaced pride, religious dominance, and the devaluing of women, not only by their fathers and brothers but also by their husbands and sons.

She is a traditionalist willing to impose the same fate on her daughters. This is the story of a survivor, a woman who perseveres. It is a tale of the sort of hardships that drove many of our ancestors to seek a better life in a different country.

It’s impossible to sleep when you have Nerve Damage! This masterfully written medical drama follows three ER doctors,

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Reviews

Dr. Drake Cody, Dr. Jon Malar, and Dr. Michael Rizzini, as they research a breakthrough treatment to regenerate damaged spinal cords––a therapy that could be worth millions to whoever holds the secrets. Author, Tom Combs, grabs hold of your jugular right from page one and refuses to let go until the shocking conclusion. Nerve Damage is a lightningfast read packed with twists and turns that will keep readers fully engaged and continually guessing. This is the stuff blockbusters are made of !

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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JUNE2018

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ACTION-PACKED SUSPENSE

A SWEET COMING-OF-AGE

It’s June 1282 and William de Wolfe, England’s greatest warrior, is led deep into southern Wales into a trap laid by their enemy, the Welsh. Hundreds have died, including his son, James. Overrun, William is forced to leave his son’s body behind.

Years later, a Welsh warrior named Blayth the Strong, is defeating the English in battle after battle. Fighting by his side is a woman he is deeply falling for––a fierce warrior known as the ‘Dragon Princess’. Rumored to be the bastard son of the last Prince of Wales, Blayth has no memory of his past due to torture at the hands of the English.

But when a captured English knight calls him by a different name, Blayth questions everything. This emotionally-charged pageturner has everything you want in a sprawling epic romance: vivid world-building, pitchperfect prose, tender romance, actionpacked battles, and most importantly–– richly drawn characters. Kathryn le Veque has made a real fan of me.

K.J. Howe once again takes us behind the scenes of the kidnap and rescue industry with her much-anticipated sequel to the highly successful debut, The Freedom Broker.

Committed to carrying on the legacy that her late brother, kidnap and ransom expert, Thea Paris, is escorting two former child-soldiers to London, when the flight is suddenly diverted.

The pilot locks himself in the cockpit and flies to a deserted airstrip in Libya, where Thea reunites with a nemesis from her past. His instructions are clear: if you want to see the boys alive again, you must hijack and deliver a truckload of weapons to a particular destination. Thea finds herself not only attempting to save the boys, but the entire world, as she discovers that a genetically targeted bioweapon is on the loose.

Thea Paris is the modern-day action-hero readers would be begging for in a real-life K&R negotiation. Howe’s diligent research pays off. Her writing is sharp, authentic, and on point. Action-packed, full of suspense, Skyjack races along at break-neck speed.

After completing the training of her first service dog, thirteen-year-old Trina Ryan decides to take on another, this time an eightweek-old puppy named Colton. With her abundant love for animals, she also works at the neighboring barn, so she can ride Chancy, one of the horses. It’s her dream to one day become a proficient rider and receive a prestigious scholarship. It’s at the barn where she meets the mean-spirited Morgan. A young teen skilled at riding and seemingly has everything––money, skills, even her own horse––so what could she possible be unhappy about? When Trina learns Morgan’s secrets, she chooses to help. Starting Over navigates life’s ups and downs through the eyes of a teenage girl. With superb insight and research, the author shows the dedication, patience, and skills required to train a service dog, along with the rewards these wonderful animals offer the lives of those who receive them. A sweet coming-ofage story perfect for middle-school age girls.

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

JUNE2018 31

Your ThrillerFest team is looking forward to a fun and memorable year. We’re excited to announce the following staff members will be returning: Full Page Ad Sandra Brannan as PitchFest Director; Christopher ThrillerFest Graham XII as Art Director; Elizabeth Berry as ITW’s Executive Director; D.P. Lyle, M.D. as CraftFest We’re excited to present a blockbuster line-up featuring: Director; Dennis Kennett as Registrar; Kimberley Howe as ThrillerFest’s Executive Director; Jessica • 2018 ThrillerMaster George R.R. Martin Johns as Conference Coordinator; and Jillian Stein • 2018 Silver Bullet Award recipient James Rollins as Social Media Director. If we can answer • 2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child questions or help out in any way, please touch • 2017 Silver Bullet recipient Lisa Gardner 2018 Spotlight Guest Megan Abbott base anytime: KimberleyHowe@thrillerwriters.org.

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