#Excerpt “El Gringo: A Novel” by Edmond Salus

March 12, 2020February 21, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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Fiction

Date Published: January 2018

Sonny Galas is an only child being raised by his mother-a widow—and the loving help of his grandfather, also widowed. Living in a Santa Monica apartment complex owned by ‘Grandpa’ all is well and average for this close-knit family until a certain French family come into the picture, in need of a place to rent. They soon show their colors in various ways, topping it off by slapping a suit on their patient, kind landlord. Sonny’s family sees no better option than selling their only asset-the apartments-and getting far away from their Lawyer-packing tenants. Far, as in ‘leaving the country’, and this is where their true adventure begins. South of the border becomes their new home.

From their journey through third-world narrow roads, small towns where no English is spoken, to long, hot unending desert roads and through humid coastal towns they continue toward their big city destination, Guadalajara, where their life begins and they encounter everything and everyone from kind helpers to con-artists and crazies and from strangers to good friends, both Mexican and American. From young boy to teenager, as the years pass, Sonny sees it all: his family’s ups and downs, the country’s ups and downs with its own political third-world corruption, and his own transformation from a simple boy in a new country to a growing youth, fully fluent in Spanish; a devilish yet fun-loving teenager now with roots firmly planted and sprouting happily in his new home, his new country. From the adventures and joys of boyhood with his friends and pals to the wild days through grade school, junior high and high school with the opportunities given him as a bi-lingual kid to living through the set-backs that could trouble any family-Mexican or American-even scare of the faint of heart, he takes it all in; after all, now he’s Mexican. The fiestas, the friends, the awesome busy modern streets of Guadalajara in the early Seventies to the early Eighties, Guadalajara, the country’s capital of Mariachis.

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EXCERPTS

“I sat in the backseat, staring behind at the apartments as we took off in that little lemon of a car we had–a 1970 Ford Pinto–that gave my mother trouble at least once every other week, to the point that even the mechanics had given up on it. In any case, we puttered off southbound toward the international border…” (chapter 3)

“At nine o’clock the very next day they came by the house, picked up Mamma, and headed straight to Peraza’s office… Peraza was Lawyer, businessman, consultant, and Godfather, all wrapped in one.” (chapter 11)

“On any given weekend they’d be playing the clubs. Little did I know they would become famous on an international scale, as the top Latin American Rock band, whose name later became Mana`!” (chapter 20)

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Edmond Salus

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#BookTour “A Season to Love” by Rebecca Heflin

March 12, 2020March 8, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ 2 Comments

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Seasons of Northridge, Book 2

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: March 12, 2020

Publisher: Rebecca Heflin Books, LLC

Kristen McKay and Tyler Kincaide have a past—one that has left her with a bone-deep animosity for him. And a secret.

After seventeen years away, Tyler has returned to his hometown of Northridge, complicating Kristen’s life and dredging up conflicting emotions she’d rather not confront: the shame of that night so many years ago, coupled with the confounding and unwelcome physical attraction she has for him; the desire to keep her secret and the guilt over doing just that.

For his part, Tyler tries to renew his once-casual friendship with Kristen, but is greeted with open hostility for his efforts. He can’t understand why she feels about him the way he feels about Brussels sprouts and kale—intense loathing. What did he do that was so unforgivable? And what can he do to make her view him with less distaste than she would gum on the bottom of her shoe?

When they’re roped into working on a project together for the town’s Economic Development Council, there is no denying their chemistry. The heat between them grows into something more than sexual attraction, leaving Kristen no other alternative. She must confess her secret, even though she knows it will tear them apart. In an ironic twist, she finds she must seek forgiveness from the very man she swore never to forgive.

Purchase Links

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Other Books in the Seasons of Northridge Series:

A Season to Dance

Seasons of Northridge, Book 1

Publisher: Rebecca Heflin Books, LLC

Release Date: December 13, 2018

Olivia James and Zach Ryder were high school sweethearts, but at age eighteen, she left small-town Georgia for the bright lights and satin pointe shoes of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s come home for her mother’s funeral, nursing an injury that could likely end her meteoric dance career. Being back home stirs up old heartache, and seeing Zach again is not on her to-do list. Her best bet is get in, get out—a week at most. Then she’ll return to Chicago to rehabilitate her injury and salvage her career. But best laid plans often go astray . . .

Zach has never really recovered from Olivia’s departure, even though he always knew she was destined for fame, while he was destined for small-town life. Now Olivia’s back and he’s determined to protect his heart. But when he learns she’s staying in town longer than originally planned, Zach knows they are going to have to face the past to move on. He’s just not prepared for the beautiful woman she’s become or the effect she still has on his heart.

Small towns being what they are, Zach and Olivia are constantly thrown into one another’s paths, and it soon becomes apparent they still love each other. Will they give in to their rekindled desire and seize a second chance at happiness?

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Author Bio

Rebecca Heflin is a bestselling, award-winning author who has dreamed of writing romantic fiction since she was fifteen and her older sister sneaked a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna to her and told her to read it. Rebecca writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy with her day-job at a large state university.

Rebecca is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Florida Romance Writers, and Florida Writers Association. She and her mountain-climbing husband live at sea level in sunny Florida.

Contact Links

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#BookTour “Diana: The Voice of Change” by Stewart Pearce

March 12, 2020February 20, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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Non-Fiction / Self-Help

Date Published: Jan 10th, 2019

Publisher: Fitzrovia Press (Imprint: Shimran)

DIANA – THE VOICE OF CHANGE ……isn’t just another biographical account of Diana’s life, but rather it is a deeper exploration of the unique idiosyncrasies, extraordinary events, and changes of destiny that created a flow of force by which Diana evolved, transmuting from being the Peoples Princess into the Queen of Everybody’s Heart, and so to beyond her death………

It is written by the legendary Voice Coach: Stewart Pearce, who confidentially coached Diana during the last two years of her life, adding both a physical and metaphysical support to Diana’s vast transformation. This we palpably saw, as she moved from the demure and pained young woman, seen in the Martin Bashir interview, to the assured, powerful humanitarian leader witnessed in July 1997. For Diana’s voice revolutionized both the African Landmine issue, and the face of the Global Aids epidemic, and irrespective of her HRH title being removed, Diana acquired such public support that her voice of freedom almost toppled Queen Elizabeth and exposed the anachronisms of the Windsor Household!

The book answers volatile questions such as:

Why was the marriage of a century known as a Fairy Tale?

Why was Diana the most photographed woman in recorded history?

Was Diana murdered?

Why did her incandescent love affect so many, and where did it come from?

What was the extraordinary energy that affected 5.9 billion people during August 31st and September 6th, 1997?

What has happened to Diana’s voice post-death, the resonance of which appears to have precipitated significant social movements, such as the #METOOCAMPAIGN?

The book is packed with Vocal Exercises, Sound Meditations, and Presence Techniques, which allowed Diana to become the spell-binding, radiant being that she became – about which Henry Kissinger said: “ I remember, Diana was a beautiful young woman whose blue eyes melted grown men’s bones!”

The content of this book is seen as a developing work, which will eventually evolve to become a series of workshops known as THE DIANA HEART PATH.

Stewart Pearce

(copyright)

Purchase Links

Amazon

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About the Author

Stewart Pearce is a Master of Voice and Corporate Presentation Coach who finds and liberates the authentic power and presence in the world’s most extraordinary people.

As a Master of Voice, Stewart has a reputation for his holistic training of the Actor, within renowned Actor Training Centers throughout the World, – Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy between 1980-1997, assisting the pioneering of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre between 1997-2010, as well as consulting on Broadway and in the West End. Stewart has coached world-acclaimed actors such as Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance, Matthew Goode, Hugh Bonneville of “Downton Abbey”, Simon Callow CBE, Vanessa Redgrave, Michelle Williams, Minnie Driver, Gwendoline Christie. Stewart also develops iconic presence for luminaries such as Marianne Williamson, Dame Anita Roddick, Margaret Thatcher, Mo Mowlem, and Diana, Princess of Wales.

In the corporate sphere, he is the “go-to” Mentor for Presentation Coaching with senior iconic business people and organizations. Corporations, where he has developed leaders and chief executives, include Giorgio Armani, L`Oreal, BT, BBC, ITN, Qatar Holdings, World News, McKinsey & Co, Merrill Lynch, WPP, UBS, Nat West, Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and McKenzie Boston and The British Government and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC Bid.

Stewart Pearce is the author of several acclaimed books about the human voice and its power for personal development and healing. In addition, he has recorded six award-winning sonic meditation albums. Stewart’s work is regularly featured in the global press, and he is sought after for private Mentorship, and Master Classes throughout the world.

Stewart Pearce’s great passion is to assist extraordinarily talented individuals to change the world, whilst finding and embodying their soul’s note and signature style, which brings a magnetic presence to the work. In this work, Stewart helps people find great joy, authenticity, and clarity of purpose in their work and personal lives.

Stewart Pearce is based in London and New York and leads Master Classes around the World.

Contact Links

Author Website & Book Website

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