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It's cover reveal day for Vox Dei's very own Amy McCoy Dees! Mark your calendars for September 24 because you won't want to miss this one! About Freedom’s SecretPort Royal, Jamaica. Caribbean. The Year of our Lord, 1708. Seven years ago, ten-year-old Keegan O’Malley hid under a bush like a coward. Having run away from his duties on the sugar plantation and leaving his loved ones at the mercy of the cruel Driver, his younger brother Amos and childhood friend Karis are badly burned as punishment for not reporting to work. Now seventeen, Keegan O’Malley has long since escaped the Jamaican sugar plantation and found freedom in St. Augustine, Florida, though he was separated from Amos and Karis on their voyage to the New World. Ever haunted by memories of being a childhood coward, he vows to find them. His journey leads him through secret tunnels, over rushing rivers, and inside smelly, pirate-filled taverns. In this riveting historical fiction adventure by Amy McCoy Dees, Keegan faces his greatest fears, challenges his own beliefs, and discovers all is not lost in the New World. About Amy McCoy DeesAmy grew up in the Deep South with her parents and older sister, surrounded by a large, close extended family. Today, she lives in Senoia, Georgia with her husband and four incredibly fantastic kids. She often travels to Savannah, Georgia and the South Carolina Coast to walk among the cobblestones and stroll beneath the majestic magnolias where the past is alive and stories drift freely among the breeze. She loves to talk, chat, lecture, speak, utter, or spiel about anything concerning writing and reading, especially for children. She considers herself a ‘literary time traveler’ as her passion is historical fiction. To learn more please visit her at: amydees.comor follow her on Twitter @amy_mdees. Contact Amy McCoy Dees Website | amydees.com Facebook | amydeesauthor Twitter | @amy_mdees And now for the big reveal...First, a little news...
We've all loved Breathless as the first book in the Breathless series. But it needed a little help with the branding. After all, how many series/books out there are called Breathless? A million, right?
It's now The SPARKS OF HOPE Series, and I think it fits perfectly! After all, the main three books are about Carly Sparks, and I think these books give a sense of hope. Not just that we'll meet a movie star in real life who will be our new BF or BFF, haha, but that there's a way to be real in a secular world. As Christians, we don't always fit into the "norm," which is rapidly changing every day. We're faced with tough choices, and we're not perfect in our decisions. But there's HOPE in a faithful life, and I wanted the series to convey that. Blog Tour
I am so blessed to have been invited to do guest posts and for these blogs to share Breathless with their subscribers. Please show them some love by visiting them as they post!
August 11 – Life as a Young Adult Writer - Guest Post August 12 - Emerald Barnes Author – Review & Guest Post August 13 – Bab’s Book Bistro - Guest Post August 14 – S S Writing - Review August 18 – Lynn’s Book Blog - Review August 20 – A.M. Willard – Guest Post August 21 – Karma for Life - Review Giveaway
I LOVE free stuff. I'm betting you do, too. So up for grabs are a signed copy of the new and very improved Breathless and a signed bookmark to one winner, and three ebooks of the same to three other winners. Yay! Enter below by clicking "Read More"
Sometimes I listen to Netflix during work. I know, I know, I should focus on work. However, it keeps my mind calm to multitask, and it helps me to not focus on the difficulties in life. I've been watching One Tree Hill, a show for teenagers on the CW that ended a few years back. Normally rife with swearing and teenagers doing things I don't want to even contemplate my daughters doing when they reach that age, every once in awhile they do something that surprises me - they show a Christian message in a messy world. Those of you familiar with Vox Dei Publishing know that that's our motto - Christian books for a messy world. In an episode I was listening to earlier today, a teen was shot and killed in a convenience store robbery, and one of the main characters tells his mom, "Your strength is inspiring." The mom says, "My strength is from Jesus Christ. I am going to miss my baby boy for the rest of this life, but I know we are going to see him again, and our faith will see us through." What a powerful message, and one I needed so badly. Sometimes it takes a mainstream show to get out an important message, and today was no exception. I saw that even as my family and I face illness and grief, we must show strength--inspiring strength that can come only through our faith. No matter what road God leads us down, we will not be weak because our strength comes from Jesus Christ. Though grief may bring our tears, it cannot diminish God's love for us. When we lose someone, we will miss them for the rest of this life, but we know we will see them again. What a beautiful message from such an unlikely source. "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
About the Book:
About Emerald:
Entertaining Angels Excerpt: I’m the girl that my friends would throw into a pack of zombies if it meant they could stay alive longer. Well, they really wouldn’t have to throw me to the zombies; I’d probably lag so far behind I’d become zombie food. See, I’m not too thin, and I’m not too pretty. I’m just me, Madison Andrews, a fat sixteen-year-old girl from Nowheresville, Mississippi. I sifted through my clothes, looking for something to wear for the first day of my junior year of high school. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at myself, I pinched the fat on my belly, disgusted that I had let myself gain so much weight over the summer. I hated that mirror. I hated that it showed me for what I really was. A fat nobody. I could see the lumps, rolls, and fat. The fat did nothing but damage my soul. My blue eyes stared back at me, but they were empty, void of happiness. I wanted to feel beautiful, but I couldn’t. The mirror wouldn’t let me be beautiful. I had really wanted to lose weight, but my best friend, Chase Sanders, and I decided to veg out on the couch and watch marathons of our favorite science fiction shows instead of going to the gym. Yeah, that was my best friend for you. A big ole nerd, and he was certainly proud of it. I, on the other hand, wanted to fit in this year. I was tired of being a nobody, but since I was still fat and ugly, fitting in wasn’t gonna happen. I’d have to settle for my old life, being someone that everyone was nice to but didn’t bother getting to know. Even my so-called-friends didn’t bother. I continued looking through my clothes, sure that I had something my mom insisted on buying me that would cover this hideous belly. I was wrong. Interview with Emerald:
It's Spring. Finally! Instead of freezing all day, I can, well...still freeze all day as the office turns on the A/C in the afternoons. It's fine - I love sweaters and blankets and snuggling into them. As Elsa would say, the cold never bothered me anyway.
I love Spring for the pinkness of it all. Most people see green (or yellow, with pollen), but I see pink. Living in Macon, Georgia, March is all about the Cherry Blossom Festival. You don't miss the pink pancakes. You don't miss the pink poodle. You don't miss a chance to smell the lovely pink blossoms. You don't miss any opportunity to "Think Pink!" Even the men wear pink and, as aforementioned, the dogs are even pink. It's what we do. Granted, pink is my favorite color, so I'm a little partial to the festival, it seems. But Spring is such a wonderful time for us as Christians. Easter reminds us the not only did Jesus die for our sins, but HE IS RISEN! What a cause for celebration! Spring is about rebirth from the dead of Winter. It's our opportunity to rejoice in our salvation and in knowing that God has a plan for our life. It's also a reminder that death cannot hold us. Our life on earth is but a mere blip on the radar. What waits for us in Heaven is so immense, so immeasurable, that even with the joys of life we cannot fathom what God truly has in store for us. What a wonderful reminder as we deal with illness, disease and death, that the best is yet to come! As you rejoice in the beauty of God's creation, remember that YOU are a gift from God. He sent his only begotten Son to die for our sins, so that we would not have to pay the price, for the price of sin is death, but through salvation, we will have everlasting life. As you look upon the flowers popping up on trees and along sidewalks, remember that you, too, are a flower in God's garden. How will you blossom in His care? I've been working hard to embrace faith, not fear, this week especially. It think it's easy as a human to be fearful of what we are facing, but if our faith is strong, there is nothing to be afraid of.
One of my twins was afraid as all get-out that her tooth was going to hurt when I pulled it. I kept telling her that tooth hurt anyways, since it was barely in there and she could hardly eat in the front. Isn't that what it's like to be a Christian who's afraid? We're terrified of what might be (or might not be), and we hold ourselves back from truly living. It was an amazing realization (and kind of awful) when I realized I was the screaming child who didn't want her tooth pulled, but in my case, it was not wanting my dad to die. Yes, he will eventually die. No, it won't be tomorrow. So I embraced life. Man, the rewards God had in store for me for faith, not fear, are HUGE! Not just one amazing announcement with Vox Dei/Booktrope, but two. The worst week of my life and the best week of my life. And you know what? My dad's still here. I can't worry about what might happen in four months when I might get a year with him. He might see the first book I publish under the Vox Dei imprint. He might see my first royalty check as a book manager. He might just decide to stick around out of stubbornness for much longer than that awful doctor I almost had to use my mean words with thinks he'll have. What might happen might not be so bad. In fact, maybe it'll be the best week ever. I had the pleasure of doing a guest blog for my favorite author, Heather Huffman. I was honored that she asked me, and even more so when she said she was bumping me up to her Monday post, as her "Person of the Week," in addition to my "Leaving your Mark" with my writing. Without further ado, here is the link to the post on her blog, as well as the my guest blog post:
http://www.heatherhuffman.net/home/stronger Stronger is, in part, my story, but in an entirely fictional way. That probably makes no sense, but it’s true. When I was a sophomore in college, I was sexually assaulted by a friend of mine. I was newly engaged and a virgin. Stronger is my fight back, albeit several years too late. I wrote Hayley’s character to be someone you see every day in your life, someone who felt like the quiet girl you meet in the library, the woman who walks the hallways at work, never looking up, the girl you’d never guess is terrified of the world around her. You see, that was me, the timid girl who never made eye contact, long before I was ever assaulted. When it happened, I stood up for myself. I made eye contact; I confronted my attacker; I told the powers that be what happened. I took ownership of my life, determined not to be a victim, but a survivor. Hayley needed the same metamorphosis. She needed to be a survivor. After she is assaulted by her boyfriend, the man who degraded her, beat her and sexually assaulted her, she needed to fight back. Most of my research for my books has occurred online. For Stronger, I reached out to a friend from high school. Rather than give me the education I requested, he instead told me I had to show up at the gym he’s a trainer at and learn to fight for myself. Wes’ character is not based on this friend, and the beginning of my story was written long before I reached out to him (despite the rumors at the gym, ha). I needed a character who believed in Hayley, and found her desirable without being a victim. Wes loved Hayley because she’s strong and his empowerment of her shows how a real man treats a woman. At the gym, I threw myself into training headfirst, not looking back. I went to kickboxing classes two days a week, dragging myself home each time with cramps and aches – and a desire to return. I felt stronger, more powerful, and in control of my life. I had the edge that Hayley needed, something that Google could never provide. I had experience. As I wrote Stronger, I realized Hayley needed support, not just from Wes and the others at the gym, but from a safe house. I realize how important these places are as they provide shelter, support, even basic toiletries to women in Hayley’s position – or worse. They help women reclaim their lives, something I know to be so important after a traumatic event or relationship. Because of this, I decided to give 25% of all profits from the sale of Stronger to The Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia. It was important to me, after writing Stronger, to give back to the Crisis Line so that they can help women in the real world whose stories are like mine or Hayley’s. To date, I’ve given over $30.00 in royalties to the Crisis Line. It’s not much but I hope that it provides one woman in need with a few basic necessities as she reclaims her life. I hope that with something as simple as a toothbrush donated with love, she will feel STRONGER. For more information about The Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia, please visit www.cl-sh.org. For more information about Stronger, and other books I’ve written, please visit my website. Twenty-five percent of all profits are donated to The Crisis Line to help women feel less like victims and allow them to realize their inner strength. It's been awhile since I've posted, or really done much of anything book-related. I've been trying to get back to basics, but I need your help, folks.
I need prayer warriors. If you're not the prayerful type, that's okay. Just send a well-wishing or two into the universe. Whatever works. I'll take it all. My family is dealing with illness, and while we're not exactly advertising it for the masses, I trust you all can say a prayer each day without bombarding us all with messages, right? Awesome. We are very thankful this Thanksgiving week for the time we've had together and the reminder that our lives are fragile. As a member of my family battles significant illness, and as I prepare to say goodbye to the little girl with whom I did Run or Dye last year, I know how little time we have on this earth. And we also realize that cancer sucks. It does. Sarah is a bright little girl, a light in the world, and she doesn't deserve what she's gone through for five years. My family member is the rock, the person whom you can call on for anything at any time and they're there. If I'm sick, they're there at my office a half hour later with an entire pharmacy to battle a cold. If I need a steady hand, someone to help with my girls, or just a ride somewhere, they're there. Now I want to be there. I want to show the same love and generosity that has been shown to all of us. I want to know that everything will be okay when things just seem like they aren't. Thanksgiving week is tough. My grandfather passed away shortly before the holiday a number of years back. A family I love dearly lost their father two years ago. And now this. We'll be mourning Sarah and celebrating her life very soon. My family will be dealing with appointments and questions and answers and a million more questions starting next week. I'm thankful, though, because the reminders of how precious our lives are, and how we can lose someone in an instant, makes me incredibly grateful for the people I love most. Thank you to everyone for being a reader, a fan, and a friend. Thank you for loving my characters almost as much as I do. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes during this difficult time. Thank you for your patience as I navigate life while trying to be an author. Have a happy (thankful) Thanksgiving, and may God bless you all. |
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