Synopsis

 

In the twilight of his NFL career as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Storm, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski masks his physical pain and mental anguish with alcohol and painkillers. The fan favorite has a rebel image and a notorious reputation, and he plays a violent gridiron game fueled by inner rage.

While estranged from his wife and living in the fishbowl environment of professional sports, he unexpectedly meets the fresh-out-of-college Kim Richardson. She sees through Mike’s star persona to who he really is—a kind guy from the Southeast Side of Chicago who has never forgotten his humble blue-collar roots. The lives of the star-crossed, seemingly mismatched couple collide during a whirlwind romance that culminates in a tragic series of events.

The Walk-On is a timeless tale of love and loss that explores the consequences of personal decisions and the rewards of faith, redemption, and hope.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

He fumbled for his radio. “Squad…645. Confirmed vehicular rollover at Belmont Avenue exit, Lake Shore Drive. Send CFD stat, copy…stat.”

“645, copy. CFD enroute.”

He ran toward the vehicle, an older coupe with big tires and mag wheels. A wet blanket appeared to be wrapped around the base of a nearby tree trunk.

Pointing his LED flashlight in that direction, George discovered a young woman with a gaping laceration above her left eye. Her head and neck were snapped back like a broken Pez candy dispenser. Glass shards were sprinkled over her bloody face. Her eyes were fixed and vacant. A shredded sweater exposed her torso and a wingless angel tattoo above her left hip. Gibson checked for a pulse — her slender wrist was limp and lifeless.

Gibson noted the STORM 52 vanity plate, assuming it was a football fan’s show of affection. The driver, a tall stocky white male wearing sweats and a hoodie, was alive. His forehead oozed blood. The front seat passenger, a smaller black male, also had a bad head wound. Both were unconscious. Neither wore a seatbelt.

Their legs appeared to be trapped under the twisted remains of the mangled dashboard. The car’s front end had collapsed into the engine compartment. Probably lost control and rolled it.

Gibson took another look inside the wreck, stunned by his sudden recognition of the driver’s long, blue-streaked blond hair, wet and matted with blood. He quickly called for license plate verification. After what seemed an eternity, his radio crackled.

“Unit 645, Illinois plate STORM 5-2 comes back on a passenger car. A 1970 Chevrolet coupe registered to Steel Trap, Inc., 2020 North Lincoln Park West, Chicago.” The dispatcher hesitated. “Registered owner is Michael J. Stalowski.” An eerie pause. “Copy?” Gibson shivered and recalled two vehicles blow past him minutes before he was dispatched to the scene.

It wasn’t long before the fire department rolled in with a show of force, working quickly and methodically with the Jaws of Life to peel back the classic Chevy’s roof like a tuna can lid. Both male victims’ legs were trapped. Every precious second mattered in the race to extricate them. Within minutes, their stretchers were loaded into waiting ambulances.

The paramedics’ preliminary assessment of Mike Stalowski’s injuries indicated a broken right tibia and severely lacerated right wrist and forearm, gouged by flying glass. The passenger’s right foot was almost severed at the ankle by shards of jagged steel. The paramedics, fearful the skin and muscle connecting his shattered ankle bones were in danger of tearing off, hoped they could get him in the hands of surgeons before he bled out.

The lifeless female was carefully loaded onto a backboard. A neck collar was secured and an oxygen unit began to pump into her lungs. Paramedics worked feverishly to establish vital signs. Defibrillator paddles failed to jolt her heart. Despite the monitor’s stubborn flat line, they continued their valiant efforts all the way to the Northeast Metro ER. The wails of the three sirens overlapped in the stillness of the early morning hour.

By the time the ambulance trio arrived at Northeast Metro, a Channel 5 news mini-cam van was already positioned at the ER ramp, after picking up emergency responder radio transmissions about a vehicle crash possibly involving two Storm players. Gibson and three CPD escort squads set up a security perimeter to keep the ambulance entrance ramp free and clear. Quickly challenged by the arrival of additional media jockeying for position and curious early-rising pedestrians, the perimeter was expanded, sending the cameras and reporters down the block.

Despite their efforts, by dawn the hospital was swarming with local and national media. Head Coach Don Castro and Mike Stalowski’s agent, Shel Harris, rushed to the hospital. No one could fathom the catastrophic tragedy unfolding on the heels of last night’s devastating loss.

Reporters and camera crews engulfed Shel Harris as he approached the emergency entrance. Local Channel 7 sports reporter Ryan Donegan stuck his microphone in Shel’s face. “Mr. Harris, what can you tell us about the accident that put the Steelman and Christian Blackwell in the hospital?”

 

 

About the Author

 

Richard Podkowski, a native of Chicago’s South Side, began writing fiction while studying criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago.

As a United States Secret Service special agent, Richard protected U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries and investigated major domestic and international financial crimes until he retired in 2003.

Richard’s projects include a Christmas romantic comedy screenplay and a crime story, both currently in the works. In his free time, Richard enjoys riding his road bike, working out, and making Christmas ornaments. He currently resides with his wife in Los Angeles.

 

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Murder up to Bat (A Front Page Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Independently Published (August 18, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 186 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Mystery with a whiff of romance…After falling in love with the quiet lake life and a certain police detective, former Chicago Tribune reporter Emma Moore trades interviewing jocks for chasing champion cows at the county fair. As a small-town newspaper reporter, she covers local topics both big and small, but when her friend Luke is arrested for the murder of the head coach of his club softball team, she’ll need to hone her investigative skills to clear his name. Emma calls up best friend Grace for help, and together the women go up against cutthroat parents willing to kill for a chance to get their daughters onto a premier college sports team.

It’s the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded, and murder is up to bat. Can Emma and her friends bring the heat and win the game?

 

 

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About the Author

 

Elizabeth McKenna’s love of books reaches back to her childhood, where her tastes ranged from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to Stephen King’s horror stories. She had never read a romance novel until her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene).

Her novels reflect her mercurial temperament and include historical romances, contemporary romances, cozy mysteries, and dark mysteries. With some being “clean” and some being “naughty,” she has a book for your every mood.

Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband and Sidney, the rescue dog from Tennessee. When she isn’t writing, reading, editing, or walking the dog that never tires, she’s sleeping.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996, Dawkins fought to elevate not only his own game but that of his entire team. He sweat, bled, and dominated through sixteen season in the NFL all the way into the Hall of Fame, but not for a moment did he believe his strength alone brought him that glory. Every step of the way the Lord had his back. From coaches that wanted to break him to defeats and bitter lessons in humility, his career is a testament to his faith and an homage to the countless people that helped him along the way.

In the wake of his success, Dawkins comes forward to describe his journey to become one the best safeties in the NFL. Physical training wouldn’t cut it. Blessed by the Best follows Dawkins trials to train his mind and faith along with his skill. As a nervous kid from Jacksonville, he never dreamed of one day standing in front of a crowd to accept that golden jacket. But one way or another, he made it. Dawkins tells his story straight, unafraid of exposing his own weaknesses; his over competitive spirit that takes losses to hard, the tunnel vision that estranged him from his kids, and the self-doubt that plagued much of his early years. Triumphs, pitfalls, love, and struggles Dawkins shares them all, not for himself, but in gratitude of those who have helped him along the way.

“I had been blessed by the best. First, that meant the Lord, who has blessed me with so much. It also meant all those people and things around me that I believe were the best for me. Maybe they weren’t the best for somebody else. Your best may not be my best. That’s fine. Everything that has happened to me has been to bring out the best in me. Even the toughest, hardest times in my life were the best things for me. If I hadn’t gone through them, maybe I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

“This is not a football book. It has football in it, but this is a life tool,” Dawkins told Heavy. “These are things that I have gone through in my life, that others have taught me.”

 

 

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Praise

 

“This book is without a doubt the most powerful and poignant autobiography I’ve ever read by a retired professional athlete – ever. And, of course, it would be. In my nearly three decades of covering the NFL for ESPN, I have never encountered anyone like Brian Dawkins. After reading this highly personal, truly inspirational autobiography, now I know why. If you are a parent, a teacher, a coach, a leader in any way in your profession or life, you can learn so much from Brian and this book. His message cuts through all the clutter of our age. His life is a timely reminder that we can do good, for ourselves, our families, our community and our country. Brian is a living embodiment of that. This book is testimony to that achievement – and it can be yours, too.” –Sal Paolantonio, National Correspondent, ESPN

“Blessed by the Best” is a journey into the life of someone who inspired me to never settle for being mediocre. Brian Dawkins’ aim in life has always been to be better than those around him physically, mentally and spiritually. Brian was not only an incredible football player but an awesome friend, and his faith and drive are electric and contagious. “Blessed by the Best” is a must read and will surely motivate you in all areas of your life.”-Brian Westbrook, two-time Pro Bowl halfback with the Eagles and San Francisco, 2002-10

“Just as he played, his book is honest and passionate. He reveals his struggles and accomplishments from his point of view. My favorite player of all time in any sport. Went to Canton to see him inducted. It was an incredible trip. Wishing him many more blessings.”- Mommashark, Amazon

“Amazing Book! This book is definitely worth reading. As a person struggling or anyone that wants advice to help guide you to overcome and become stronger in different aspects of your life, I would suggest this.”-Flea, Amazon

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

‘Blessed By the Best,’ is not just a memoir by famous football Hall-of-Famer Brian Dawkins, but in some ways, it is a self-help book for people who may be a little lost and seeking guidance on themselves and their relationship with God.

Brian Dawkins was raised in Jacksonville, Florida in a neighborhood that anyone of us would probably recognize. From this normal childhood came a great football player, who would later go on to join the hall of fame. But Dawkins himself insists that he is not any more special than anyone else, and that his mindset and his faith are what propelled him to the station that he now has in life.

Coming up from humble beginnings and not being a particularly big guy, Dawkins did not seem slated for greatness as a child. After struggling academically, he was granted a scholarship to Clemson University only because a friend from his high school football team requested that he be given one.

Dawkins took that golden opportunity and ran with it. With the help of his wife, Connie, Dawkins used his natural ambition and his faith to take hold of every opportunity he was given– and that includes his failures, which he views as learning opportunities. Eventually, Dawkins would go on to play 16 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and, later, the Denver Broncos, before deciding to retire. Dawkins was then inducted into the hall of fame, a process which he fully describes in the book.

‘Blessed By the Best,’ is as insightful as it is compelling, and it is certainly a great read. Before this book, I never knew how good of a writer Brian Dawkins is, and it definitely made me want to read more of his thoughts. We don’t share the same religious views but I still learned a lot and it inspired me.

This book is a fascinating look into the life of a talented guy, and I’m glad I read it!

 

 

Excerpt

 

How His Faith Continued to Impact His Play

 

Many people say that the biggest jump an NFL player makes comes between his first and second years. He understands the game better, both on and off the field. Everything isn’t new anymore. He should have learned how to watch film more carefully. He should have a better understanding of how he must train and prepare— not only the importance of, but also having a plan to care of his body and deal with what goes on inside a locker room. In short, he is no longer a rookie.

All of that happened to me, but the biggest jump I made was in my faith. That’s when the Second Letter of Paul to St. Timothy came in. One verse in particular spoke powerfully to me, and it helped me greatly with my ability to live as a man and thrive as a football player.

For the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and of a sound mind [or self-control]. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Thinking about that verse and meditating on it would help me overcome those anxious moments, even on the field. If a bad play happened, I might have had an instinct to play the next one more safely or carefully. I could have been afraid to give up another big play. Instead, I would repeat that message to myself, and I would believe it. And when the next play happened, I might step in front of a pass and take it the other way. Or I might make a big hit that changes the game’s momentum. It made me more confident. I had a sound mind. I had self-discipline. I was not fearful of playing aggressive. I was operating in my full God-given power. And as long as I had been operating in fear, I wasn’t giving all I had to give. Which was hurting my teammates more than me making an occasional mistake because I was taking educated guesses.

In that moment, the Lord did not give us fear. That is something we have brought on ourselves. The Lord gave us power and love and strong minds, and we have to accept those gifts and use them. The combination of my faith and belief in the good things the Lord gave me, along with understanding the game better, really knowing the playbook and being able to anticipate what would happen next, made me a better player. I believed I could run with those fastest wide receivers. I could tackle running backs that other defensive players struggled to deal with. Even take on the biggest of cats if need be. No, I didn’t win every battle, but when that happened I was coming back harder next time.

I remember in 1998 tackling Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in the open field. Very few people could do that, because once Barry got past the line of scrimmage, he had so many moves he could make people look really bad. So, I was thinking, “Oh, I can play this game.” It was a powerful feeling, because I believed in the gifts the Lord had given me, and I had the physical gifts and desire to put in the work. Talk about a great combination.

 

© Blessed by the Best by Brian Dawkins (Pages 114-115, 116)

 

 

About the Author

 

Brian Dawkins entered the NFL in the second round of the 1996 draft and has since achieved 1,131 tackles, 37 achieved passes, 26 recorded sacks and 19 fumble recoveries, which has earned him a place in the NFL Hall of Fame. Out of his 16 career seasons, Dawkins spent 13 with the Eagles before signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2008. Despite the team change, Dawkins still holds several team records for the Eagles, and as of 2012 his jersey number 20 has become one of only nine to be retired in the history of the franchise.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to the U.S. only.

This giveaway ends on July 15, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

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Title: A Lie for a Lie

Author: Helena Hunting

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Montlake

Synopsis

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a month long sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

 

Guest Post: Lainey vs. Puck Bunnies in A Lie for a Lie

A Lie for a Lie is a heartwarming, sexy, emotional romantic comedy. It’s a second chance romance, filled with secrets and there are definitely some exciting, fun twists. It’s also a story of empowerment, self-discovery, and independence.

Rook Bowman, aka RJ or Rookie as he has been known as previously, has recently taken on the role as captain of Chicago’s NHL team, and with that role comes big responsibility and more fame than he sometimes knows how to handle. As with any professional sport, the NHL lifestyle can often be full of excess and decadence; money, fame and an endless stream of women who will do just about anything to get into bed with them, and it’s not always easy to avoid that kind of temptation.

When we meet Rook in A Lie for a Lie we learn that he has a less than shiny past when it comes to the excess and the puck bunnies (hockey groupies). NHL players are often drafted quite young—just watch a game and you’ll notice that the rookies can often barely grown peach fuzz, let alone a full beard. They’re still teenagers when they start their careers, and Rook was no different. Having grown up on an alpaca farm in rural New York, his focus was mainly hockey and the family farm, but once he hit the pros he found himself surrounded by women who literally threw themselves at him. And being young, attractive and full of testosterone, he fell headfirst down that rabbit hole. At least until the drama found him in the form of a fake pregnancy and a social media firestorm. Because of that, and the impact it had on his relationship with his family, Rook swears off the bunnies and refocuses on his career, rather than extracurricular activities.

He meets Lainey on the way to Alaska, where he’s gone every summer since he was a teenager with his dad and his brother. He lost his father a few years earlier, but kept the tradition with his brother because he craves the escape from the demands of his life as an NHL superstar. Lainey encapsulates everything he misses about being a “normal guy.” She doesn’t recognize him or seem to even know anything about hockey, and that makes her even more alluring. For once, he can just be himself. He doesn’t have to worry about ulterior motives or being used. Lainey is refreshingly innocent, incredibly smart, genuine and overwhelmingly sweet and Rook finds himself enamored with her sense of adventure. As they get to know each other, Rook learns about her traumatic past and realizes that despite the challenges she’s faced, Lainey possesses a quiet strength and resilience. Add some insane chemistry and you’ve got a recipe for love. Unfortunately for Rook, he built their entire fragile relationship on lie he can’t take back.

***

A Lie For A Lie Excerpt

When Lainey excuses herself to the bathroom, I rush upstairs and throw on a T-shirt. I know she said whatever makes me comfortable, but sitting around shirtless is such a douche move.

I make it back to the kitchen and pour her a fresh drink before she returns from the bathroom.

“How can I help with dinner?” Lainey drapes her sweater over the back of a chair.

And my mouth goes dry. Like I ate an entire sleeve of saltines and chased it with a tablespoon of salt. So far I’ve only seen Lainey in a giant parka or an oversize sweater. Under all that bulky fabric is one hell of a body. She’s wearing a simple white waffle shirt that conforms to her curves. A pair of dark-wash skinny jeans encase her toned legs.

I’m used to bunnies throwing themselves at me, often in questionable states of undress. I stopped getting excited about miniskirts and revealing tops a long time ago. There’s something infinitely sexier about a woman who can show off her body without actually showing it off at all.

Lainey tips her head to the side. Her teeth press into her full bottom lip. I want to do that. Suck that pouty, full lip between my teeth and bite it. I want to do a lot of other, far more explicit things than that, but a kiss seems like a good place to start.

“RJ? Is everything okay?” Her eyes dip down to my chest. I’m wearing a shirt from one of my endorsement campaigns. It afforded me the extensive renovations on this cabin a few years ago.

“Huh?” I give my head a shake. “Oh. Yeah. Everything’s good. Sorry, zoned out there for a second.”

She smiles and pushes up on her toes, her eyes twinkling—like, they legit light up, and her excitement makes her entire body vibrate. It also makes her boobs jiggle. I try to keep my eyes glued to her face. It’s not easy, though.

“I do that all the time! Sometimes my brain is busy with so many thoughts I miss entire conversations. Does that happen to you too?”

I grin. I love that she seems to say whatever is on her mind. “All the time.”

“It’s actually a helpful skill when you’re being lectured, because I can sort through stuff in my head, but it’s not so great when your supervising professor is telling you what’s wrong with your thesis.” She pulls her hair over her shoulder and finger combs it.

“I take it that’s happened to you.”

“It did. Thankfully he also emailed all his criticisms, so missing out on it the first time wasn’t that big of a deal.” She divides her hair into three sections and deftly braids it without looking at what she’s doing even once. It’s pretty damn impressive. I almost want to pull it apart so I can watch her do it all over again. “Anyway, enough about that. Let’s get started on dinner!” She nudges me out of the way so she can wash her hands. She dries them on her jeans and moves over to the fridge, opening it to check out the contents.

I kind of like that she makes herself at home. I’m used to women who expect to be catered to. It’s refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t want me to pander to her.

I start pulling things out of the fridge as she starts naming items she’ll need and set them on the counter. I manage to locate most of what she asks for.

“What about garlic? Do you have any of that?” She leans over, peering into the fridge beside me. Her braid slips over her shoulder, skimming my arm.

“Uh, maybe we could forgo the garlic?”

“Are you allergic? My oldest brother gets bloated when he eats it. It took us forever to figure out what was causing it. Sometimes I’ll still put some in when he’s coming for dinner, because it’s funny to see him look like he’s expecting.” She tips her head to the side. “Or you just don’t like garlic?”

“I like it sometimes, but it depends.”

Her brows pinch together. “On what?”

“Who I’m eating with. I mean, if I’m going out with buddies, you bet I’m gonna order the honey garlic wings, or the cheesy garlic bread, or the pasta Alfredo. But if I’m eating dinner with a pretty girl, I’m gonna pass on the garlic.”

“Oh.” She twists the end of her braid around her finger.

I hope I’m not reading things wrong and making her uncomfortable.

“Does that mean you think I’m pretty?”

That she sounds genuinely curious as to my answer is unexpected. “You see yourself in the mirror every day—what do you think?”

She averts her gaze, still playing with the end of her braid. “My eyes are too big, so I always look like I’m surprised. My nose is small, and my lips are too full, so my mouth doesn’t really fit the rest of my face.”

“Wow. I think you need a new mirror, because all I see is a whole lot of gorgeous.”

She snorts a laugh and waves me off. “Once, I took a portrait class, and we learned all about proportion and symmetry of the face. Those are just my flaws based on what I was taught.”

“Well, I’m a big fan of all your flaws, and I think they make you more beautiful, not less.”

“Thanks. I think you’re beautiful too.” She cringes. “I mean handsome. You’re very nice to look at, with or without a shirt on. When I fell in your lap on the airplane, I remember thinking, At least I fell on someone nice looking.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.” She opens a drawer, maybe to avoid looking at me. “And as much as I was mortified when you sat beside me on the Cessna, I couldn’t complain about the view, inside or outside of the plane. That you turned out to be really nice, and just so helpful, was a great bonus.” She hands me a roll of foil. “Why don’t you wrap the potatoes? They take the longest, so we should get started on those first.”

I put the potatoes on the barbecue and let Lainey order me around. She definitely knows her way around a kitchen. When I was growing up, my mom did most of the cooking, but my dad could make a mean Saturday-morning brunch. He also made great bread, which I miss a lot.

An hour later we’re seated at the table, plates full of steak, twice-baked potatoes, and crispy brussels sprouts cooked in bacon fat. I open a bottle of red wine and offer Lainey a glass.

“Just a little bit? I’m not sure I like red wine.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right red wine.” I pour a little into her glass.

She picks it up and gives it a swirl, then sniffs it. “I’ve seen people do this in the movies, but I don’t really know what the point is,” she admits, then tips the glass back and takes a tentative sip. Her expression turns thoughtful; then she takes another, slightly more robust sip. “This is actually really nice. I like it. Maybe the red wine I had before was bad.”

“Maybe. Some of the cheap stuff tastes pretty awful.” I pour more into her glass before filling mine. I hold up my glass and wait for her to raise hers.

“To chance meetings.”

“To new adventures and great company to share them with.” We toast and take a sip, each smiling behind the rim.

 

 

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

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Synopsis

Can a good Southern Girl play tackle football?

Yes, if she nurtures her dream and never gives up!

 Mixing Fact and Fiction, BLACK & BLUE is a Powerful Novel about Fortitude and Determination, a Coming-of-Age Story for a New Generation of Women 

 Growing up in Zephyrhills, Florida, Toady loves nothing more than playing football.  It isn’t surprising, given that football is a religion in the small Southern town.  Indeed, a winning team is a cure-all throughout the South.  But for Toady, the love of football is bittersweet – because Toady’s given name is Christine.  She’s a girl, and girls “can’t” play football.  Christine’s story, and how she beats the odds to become the owner of – and player on – a championship women’s tackle football team, is told in Andra Douglas’s new novel, BLACK & BLUE: Love, Sports, and the Art of Empowerment (BookBaby, July 2019).

Loosely based on the author’s own story, BLACK & BLUE chronicles Christine’s struggle to “get a slice” of the “pigskin pie” of life.  The youngest of three sisters, she chafes against what the South tells her she should be.  From childhood on, she loves football and plays exceptionally well.  But she is denied a spot on the high school team, and by senior year, she watches unhappily as her male classmates win college football scholarships – knowing that for her it cannot be.  Reluctantly, she puts aside her football dreams and moves to New York City, never expecting to play the game she loves – but life is full of surprises.

Douglas, the former owner of the New York Sharks Women’s Pro Football team and a player herself, paints a compelling picture of Christine’s struggle.  But more importantly, BLACK & BLUE lays bare the complexity of being a woman who wants to play what has essentially been a man’s sport since it was first created.  Once in New York, Christine hears rumors about women playing flag football on Fire Island.  She rides the ferry over, clutching her ball – and there she finds her people.  The women who will one day be her teammates on the New York Sharks.

This quirky, tough, and diverse group is held together by their love of the game.  When, after several years of successful flag competitions, the Women’s Professional Football Association is launched, Christine becomes part of this new tackle league – against her better judgment, because she senses that something isn’t quite right.  Before long, she discovers the truth – the Association has no funding and the team needs money and an owner if they want to compete.  To keep her dream alive, Christine haggles and scrapes together the cash to buy the franchise.

And that’s when the tension really heats up.  In order to create a championship team, Christine must make countless personal and financial sacrifices.  Finding a coach who isn’t abusive is a struggle.  Rallying team spirit is an endless quest.  Add to that the loss of her one true love, the devastation of the September 11 attacks, and the sudden death of one of her players, and Christine’s dream seems doomed.  Does she have the guts and the stamina to spite the odds?  Will her sacrifices pay off?

BLACK & BLUE not only challenges gender stereotypes, but takes readers behind the scenes of one of America’s least understood sports. Readers will cheer Christine as she doubles down to fight for the women who want nothing more than to be allowed to play the sport they love.  This is a story of empowerment that will inspire anyone who is struggling to fulfill their dreams.

 

Excerpt

INVITATION TO PLAY

I stand in the heat of the day, thinking this must be a mirage! I look again: a group of women is playing football!

By Andra Douglas

I am sorting socks one day and thinking that all of them can’t possibly belong to one individual when I realize that there are two companions I have overlooked—Me and Myself. After this realization, I view my existence as three entities sharing space in one body. It is a type of schizophrenia that I find comforting. Plus, it explains all the socks.

Time passes quickly and living in New York City means paying the Piper. It also means paying the doorman, the coat checker, the cabbies, the “super” in my brownstone and the woman giving out hand towels in the bathrooms of fine establishments. Life in New York City moves so fast that it seems as though events overlap. Unlike my beloved game of football, there are no time-outs, no half-times, not even any two-minute warnings. Even the traffic lights mean nothing. And all the horns honking make it so noisy. At home, the things with horns say “mooooo.” In New York, there are lots of nasty and maladjusted people. They swear loudly from the middle of the streets and write rude words on walls. The rudest thing on the walls back home was the day the “l” dropped out of “public” on the building we know as the Public Library. Nevertheless, I navigate this city well. And it is slowly becoming home.

“Come through, New York!” I say, aiming my words at the beautiful skyline at the southern end of the island. “Come through…”

Then one day it delivers something. A group of women who play football. Somewhere I hear that beach football is played on Fire Island. So one Saturday I take the ferry over from Sayville out on Long Island. I sit down in the sand holding my football like a security blanket and look for the football action.

Suddenly, like an apparition, Jessie appears next to me. Twenty-nine, slim, muscular and quite beautiful, until she opens her mouth, at which point you know for sure she is a true Brooklynite. Everything you hear is unruly and the opposite of what you might expect from her full and opinion-giving lips. She swaggers; even her gestures have an accent.

I take notice of her curly, unruly shock of short hair. She takes notice of the football in my hands. Then she speaks.

“Seen ya bwall,” she says.

“Yeah?” My slight southern dialect is not nearly as distinguishable as her ‘Brooklynese.’

“Wanna play wit us?” she romps around me in the sand like a puppy.

“Yeah. Ok.” Of course, I want to play! Who’s “us?”

I follow her down the beach and see a group of about fifteen women throwing a football to each other. The heat of the day, the sand…this must be a mirage, or a dream and Jessie is the ghost of football past. But as we approach, I can see that they are still there. An entire group of athletic women and they are playing football! Jessie introduces me.

“Hey! Found another player for the game today. Maybe for the Sharks, too!” They greet me with sandy handshakes, and soon they are telling me about their team named the Sharks in a league in Brooklyn where they all live.

“It’s flag football,” announces a woman named Sarah who says ‘ flag’ like she’s just discovered rancid milk in her lunch pail. She is sitting in the sand putting a pink band-aid on her toe, and her long blonde hair drapes around her knees as she leans forward. Flag football. Alright, maybe it isn’t the spot on the Miami Dolphins I dreamed of as a child, but at least I can play my favorite game and meet people, too.

“But it IS full contact,” Sarah is quick to throw this in, as if embarrassed that they don’t play tackle. They all nod in agreement, grateful that Sarah has pointed this out. She is the EF Hutton of the group. Everyone listens. “Plus, it’s all we have.” She adds as a light afterthought. “So…let’s play…is it Christine or Chris?”

“Christine.” She stands up and her stature is not nearly as big as her presence. About 5’4”, Sarah has a thin, athletic but curvy body. She begins to trot away from the group and puts her hands up signaling for me to throw her the ball. I feel like I just reached heaven and as I whip the football in her direction, I hear several murmurs and a grunt of approval from Jessie, “That lil’ ‘ol skinny arm can send that ball!” she says and Jessie grunts again, but is smiling. Someone named Dulce is waving for me to throw the ball to her, so I zing one her way. She catches it effortlessly and grins at the others.

“Aiiight!” she says, and Sarah is kind enough to translate.

“That’s ‘alright’ in Puerto Rican, Christine.” Then she laughs as a cacophony of ‘aiiiights’ fill the beach air. We play most of the day and the only reason we stop is because Sarah’s dad, Thomas, is picking a group of the players up at the dock in a boat.

I sit in the sand after everyone is gone, tossing the football in the air against the blue sky, reliving moments that made my adrenaline flow: Jessie catching my pass in the end zone and rushing back to the huddle full of excitement. “I didn’t think you saw me!” But I did! Or after I was flushed out of the pocket and ran for a long gain; as we returned to our side of the ball, Sarah flipped her long hair around and, in a playful taunt, told the defense I was the fastest one on the field. These are the things I want to feast on, and the more I eat, the hungrier I become. I lie down in the sand to digest the delicious moments. The clouds form the X’s and O’s of the playbook in my head. I will go home, gnaw these memories to the bone and be ravenous in the fall when I play flag football in Brooklyn with my new friends.

Excerpted from BLACK & BLUE by Andra Douglas (BookBaby/2019).  Available at Amazon

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About the Author

ANDRA DOUGLAS is a native of central Florida and a graduate of Florida State University and Pratt Institute.  A national champion athlete in rugby and women’s tackle football, she was the owner of the New York Sharks Women’s Pro Football team for nineteen years and is the founder of the Fins Up! Foundation for Female Athletes, a non-profit to benefit at-risk teens.  In addition to her love of football, Andra is a professional artist and served as a Vice President/Creative Director at Time Warner for many years. Today, she lives with her parrot, ‘Pie’ in New York’s Greenwich Village where she creates mixed-media artwork.

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Synopsis

From as long as sports have been played, it has always evoked great passion and emotion.  Human error will always be a factor but nothing infuriates fans like officiating blunders and blatant cheating.  And nothing arouses curiosity and unabated feeling more than circumstances so unusual that nobody is quite sure how the moment will be resolved.  Welcome to a captivating journey through some of the greatest sporting controversies in history.  These are the fascinating backstories and consequences of not only the most debatable moments in sports but also some of its most scandalous characters.

Excerpt

Sport is unique in the passion and emotion it evokes. Players, coaches and fans of a team think every call should go their way. Any given game can potentially be littered with controversial moments, where one side or the other is left feeling cheated. But nothing has created as much criticism, debate or unabated feeling as the 25 events in this book. These are the fascinating backstories and consequences of not only the most debatable moments in sport, but also some of its most controversial characters. Were correct decisions made and was the outcome appropriate? I’ll let you decide.

Trailer

About the Author

I’m originally from New Zealand and now live in Brisbane Australia. My passions in life are travel, outdoor adventure, and sport.

I’ve explored over 50 countries across 5 continents of the world, which inspired me to create a website and write two travel books. Travel Unravelled is a guide book for anyone wanting to travel the world on a budget and Around the World in 80 Tales is a collection of my experiences doing exactly that.

More recently, I have begun a series of sports books. ‘Days of Miracle and Wonder’ tells the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories and the impact they had on the lives of those involved. There will be more sports books with amazing true stories coming soon!

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When the Men Were Gone

by

Marjorie Herrera Lewis

  Genre: Historical / Biographical / Sports Fiction

Publisher: William Morrow

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018

Number of Pages: 240

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A cross between Friday Night Lights and The Atomic City Girls, When The Men Were Gone is a debut historical novel based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, a woman in 1940s Texas who, in spite of extreme opposition, became a female football coach in order to keep her students from heading off to war.

Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism.

Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over eighteen and under forty-five are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach.

Faced with extreme opposition by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees — and even the players themselves — Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team — and the town — to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget.

Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.

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Praise

“Sublimely ties together the drama of high school football, gender politics, and the impact of war on a small town in Texas.” – Best of Books, 2018, Sports Illustrated

“A beautiful story that stays in your heart long after you finish reading.” – Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author

“Based on a true story that most people probably don’t know, readers will find plenty to love in Herrera Lewis’ debut.” — Kirkus Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Texas, football is a big deal and watch out for the die-hard fans!  This biographical novel is based on the life of Tylene Wilson, an educator that took on the duties of coaching the football team when there was no one else to do it because the men had either been drafted or volunteered to fight in WWII.  If someone didn’t step forward to coach the boys, they might as well enlist in the military right then and miss out on the rest of their childhood. I was intrigued because I had not heard of Tylene Wilson before, and not that I should have since I am not from the Brownwood area or a football fanatic, and wondered how the author came to hear about this woman to write a story about her life during this time.  I stumbled across this D Magazine article that gave the author the basis for writing this story – it pays to talk to people because you hear the most interesting stories.

This book isn’t long and it primarily spans a 2-3 week period of time.  There are flashes to the past to give us more information about characters and how Tylene became the woman she was during that time.  While this is a fictional story, I found it very inspiring because it is based on fact and because it reflects another way women stepped up during WWII to help out on the home front.  The town citizens still had to deal with the war, losing family members, and fearing for the future but all was ok on Friday nights when they could watch the local football team play the game.  It was a respite from the sadness or anxiousness they might be feeling about the war.

I didn’t envy Tylene and what she endured trying to prove she could coach these boys when no one else could be found.  Yes, she had the technical skills and she was able to relate to the boys on a different level but it wasn’t an easy road.  Sexism was definitely at play from the other coaches in the conference, some of the men in town, and even some of the male students.  One has to realize we are talking about the early 40s and this really wasn’t unusual.

The last part of the book focuses on the first football game of the season and for those pages, my heart was in my throat as I sat there on pins and needles wondering how the game was going to turn out.  Winning or losing didn’t really matter, it was bringing these boys together as a team and helping them realize that each one was important and they each needed to give their all and trust each other.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“There’s something special about Texas football . . . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a Texas sunset only to see a goalpost cut through the yellow and red splashed across the sky.”

“Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in situations we never anticipated, and we end up asking ourselves exactly what you just asked: Why me? But you know what, Moose?  The boys need to play football and they can’t do it without you.”

“The hardships shadow us forever, Moose.  How we respond – now, that’s what tells us who we are.”

I loved this book and it reminded me so much of Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent.  If you like stories about football and teams that overcame trials and tribulations, you need to read these two books you won’t be disappointed!

We give it 5 paws up!

 

 

Marjorie Herrera Lewis is an award-winning sportswriter, named the first female Dallas Cowboys beat writer when she was with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She later joined the SportsDay staff of The Dallas Morning News, where she continued to cover the NFL and professional tennis. She is currently a contributing sportswriter for PressBoxDFW.com.

While writing When the Men Were Gone, she became inspired to try her hand at coaching football herself and was added to the Texas Wesleyan University football coaching staff in December 2016. Marjorie has degrees from Arizona State University, The University of Texas in Arlington, Southern New Hampshire University, and certificates from Southern Methodist University, and Cornell University. She is married and has two grown daughters and one son-in-law.

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Instagram ~ YouTube ~Amazon Author Page

 

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6/18/19	Author Video	Hall Ways Blog
6/18/19	Notable Quotable	StoreyBook Reviews
6/19/19	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
6/19/19	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
6/20/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
6/21/19	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
6/21/19	Excerpt	Momma on the Rocks
6/22/19	Review	All the Ups and Downs
6/23/19	Review	Tangled in Text
6/23/19	Scrapbook Page	Rainy Days with Amanda
6/24/19	Playlist & BONUS Review	Reading by Moonlight
6/25/19	Review	#Bookish
6/25/19	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
6/26/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
6/27/19	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews

 

 

 

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Synopsis

The thrill of victory, agony of defeat and human drama of competition are the fundamental allure of sport.  Its glorious unpredictability is truly captivating and nothing captures our imagination more than a contest which suddenly comes alive after the result appeared to be a foregone conclusion.  Whether it’s the anguish of a choke or the brilliance of a comeback, Days of Miracle and Wonder captures these moments and tells the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories.

Excerpt

At its best, sport requires athletes to give more than they thought they could – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  I know from personal experience that a person is rarely more alive – or living in the moment – than during an intense sporting event.  There are no regrets about the past or angst about the future in the heat of competition.  Life is now.  As a match ebbs and flows, it can be a wild ride.  At crucial moments, the most difficult questions can be posed and only champions are able to answer.

Some teams and players can’t deal with pressure.  They reach the brink of success and then implode spectacularly in what we refer to as a sporting choke.  When it happens, it becomes a part of sporting folklore, unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.  Choking in sport has been called ‘analysis paralysis’; the point where physical and mental changes occur due to increased tension.  Strategies are changed to cope with the situation and if it doesn’t work, confidence can be lost to the point of panic.  It’s a lonely and helpless feeling.

On the other hand, a player or team rising from the canvas to fight their way back into a contest is one of the most exciting things about being a sports player or fan.  No matter the level of competition, no matter the sport, no matter the importance of the game, there is something exhilarating about seeing a player or a team dig down deep to overcome the odds.  A comeback has even been described as “the single greatest aspect of competition that most embodies the spirit of what makes sport extraordinary.”

When it’s impossible to determine exactly what happened, it is often left to perspective.  Which player or team were you supporting?  In the anguish of a defeat, it’s comforting to think the opponent ‘came back’ to win, whereas in victory you can say ‘they choked’.  In the end, the result stands either way and in the quest for a common goal, there can be only one winner.  Names etched onto cups and trophies record these results but sporting chapters are not written on the bare facts of score lines.  The glory of sport is in the contest itself.

About the Author

I’m originally from New Zealand and now live in Brisbane Australia. My passions in life are travel, outdoor adventure and sport.

I’ve explored over 50 countries across 5 continents of the world, which inspired me to create a website and write two travel books. Travel Unravelled is a guide book for anyone wanting to travel the world on a budget and Around the World in 80 Tales is a collection of my experiences doing exactly that.

More recently, I have begun a series of sports books. ‘Days of Miracle and Wonder’ tells the unique stories behind 25 of the most incredible sporting victories and the impact they had on the lives of those involved. There will be more sports books with amazing true stories coming soon!

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CHAMPION OF

THE BARRIO

The Legacy of Coach Buryl Baty

by

R. Gaines Baty

  Genre: Biography / Sports / Civil Rights

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Date of Publication: February 9, 2015

Number of Pages: 288

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In 1947, after serving in WWII and quarterbacking the Texas Aggies during the glory days of the old Southwest Conference, Texas football legend Buryl Baty was drafted by the Detroit Lions. But, the NFL wouldn’t be where he’d create his legacy. He instead became the head football coach at Bowie High School in El Paso, where he’d inspire a team of Mexican Americans from the Segundo Barrio with his winning ways and stand against the era’s extreme, deep-seated bigotry.

Tragically, however, just as the team was in a position to win a third championship in 1954, they were jolted by news that would turn their worlds upside down.

Later, as mature adults, these players reflected on Coach Baty’s lasting inspiration and influence, and 44 years after his death, dedicated their high school stadium in his name. The El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame followed up that honor in 2013 by inducting Baty posthumously.

In this poignant memoir, Baty’s son, R. Gaines Baty, describes his own journey to know his father, portraying the man’s life and accomplishments through the perspectives of nearly 100 individuals who knew him, including many of the young men he coached and whose lives he changed. In addition to many documented facts and news reports. NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Berry provides a heartfelt and relevant foreword.

A university professor labeled this an important and historic piece of work. It is also a moving story of leadership and triumph over hardship, over discrimination, over tragedy, over one’s self.

Amazon * Texas A&M University Press

PRAISE FOR CHAMPION OF THE BARRIO

“The best love story I have ever read.” –William “Bill” Reed, author and retired news reporter/assistant editor at the Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News.

“Champion of the Barrio is an important contribution to our understanding of the power of sports to reach, teach, and transform and a vivid portrait of an inspirational figure who was cut down too soon.” –Alexander Wolff, award-winning sports journalist, Sports Illustrated

“You could not grow up in Paris, Texas without knowing about Buryl Baty. He took on the world, and he won. This is an inspiring account and a great read.” –Gene Stallings, former head coach at Texas A&M, of the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals and of the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide; Member, College Football Hall of Fame

“I knew Buryl Baty well. He created a glorious era and legacy for his team and school, and it was unbelievable how he captured El Paso’s heart. This is a gripping story — that brought tears to my eyes. Buryl Baty’s name lives on.” –Ray Sanchez, former writer and editor of the El Paso Herald-Post, author of seven books, member of five Halls of Fame and consultant for the movie Glory Road

“Perhaps one of Buryl Baty’s most important legacies is the hard lessons he taught a generation of Mexican Americans, who overcame so many strikes against them. El Paso owes Gaines Baty a ton of gratitude for reconnecting us with a man whose story continues to inspire.” —El Paso Times

The following image shares some of  Buryl Baty’s history – from his personal life to coaching.

 

R. GAINES BATY, Coach Buryl Baty’s son, was a “Featured Author” and panelist at the 2015 Texas Book Festival in recognition of Champion of the Barrio, He has been published or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, Healthcare IT News, etc. Professionally, he founded and leads a nationally-recognized executive search firm, and is a career counselor, trainer and author. Previously, he was an accomplished college athlete, receiving All-Southwest Conference and All-Era honors. In 2011, he was inducted into the Garland (TX) Sports Hall of Fame.

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11/10	Scrapbook	StoreyBook Reviews
11/11	Author Interview	Forgotten Winds
11/12	Review	Margie’s Must Reads
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11/14	Review	It’s a Jenn World
11/15	Audio Interview	Syd Savvy
11/16	Excerpt	The Page Unbound
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11/18	Author Interview	Reading By Moonlight
11/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog

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PIGSKIN RAPTURE

Four Days in the Life of Texas Football

by

Mac Engel

Photos by Ron Jenkins

Genre: Texas Sports / Football / Photography

Publisher: Lone Star Books

Date of Publication: August 26, 2016

Number of Pages: 240

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You know what they say: Sunday in Texas belongs to God and football; not necessarily in that order. But game time now stretches well beyond Sunday, and Texas football is a phenomenon even bigger than the Lone Star State.

Over a magical four-day period in 2015, both of Texas’s NFL teams played at home on different days, a major high school rivalry played out on Friday night in West Texas, and a fierce regional rivalry came to the Cotton Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

In this first-of-its-kind project, veteran sports journalist and photographer Mac Engel and Ron Jenkins captured it all, and then some: from an illicit tour of the sealed Astrodome, to the locker room at Houston’s Yates school, to the tailgate at the Texans game, to sidelines at Odessa Permian (of Friday Night Lights fame), to the vaunted heights of the guest suite at Cowboys Stadium, bringing to life an amazing cast of characters and scenes. What they find isn’t all glitz and glory – but it’s all riveting, and it’s all essential info for any football fan.

Amazon

 

 

LSLL:  Mac, LSLL showcases Texas books and authors, and we have found that Fort Worth seems to be an incubator for authors — like Jeff Guinn, Julia Heaberlin, Sandra Brown, Gary Cartwright, Dan Jenkins, Bud Shrake, Larry L. King, and we could go on and on. As someone who has spent the greater quarter of a century in and around Fort Worth–and the Fort Worth publishing scene, what do think it is that makes the city such fertile ground for writers?

MAC:  I think it’s ambition combined with access to a lot of activity, and a lot of good people. Bud, Dan, and Sandra — all of the people you mentioned — are special people who are talented and were found. It should be noted that I don’t belong in any sentence with those people other than [that] I speak English and live in Fort Worth.

LSLL:  How has publishing changed since you both started in the business? What role does social media now play for you as authors and journalists?

MAC: Oh, God — this could be a thesis. Night and day. It’s made it quick, fast, rapid, and just reduced our attention spans. We have the time, but when there are eighteen million other things readily available and coming at you, to grab your attention for an extended period is just not easy.

RON: The world has changed so very much from I began shooting sports for the University Daily, the student newspaper at Texas Tech in the ’80s. The ability to promote a project like this on social media is pretty wild. The response has been overwhelming and the reviews have been really flattering.

LSLL:  Another question for you, Mac. Why do you think football dominates Texas culture?

MAC: History and tradition, and I don’t think you can dismiss success, either. Back when football was beginning — go to the ’30s — the college teams were nationally renowned names. Texas, A&M, TCU, SMU, Rice, etc. Then the Cowboys were invented and as TV was formed and games were televised, the Cowboys were good. It just bred more and more recognition, interest and youth involvement. Then it became an identity for the state, and the players.

LSLL: So, for readers whose appetites you’ve whetted, how would you describe Pigskin Rapture in your own words?

MAC: For me, it succeeds in encapsulating the cultural importance of the game to Texans. Often we are flooded with hype and hyperbole about something and it seldom meets the verbiage, but you really can’t over state the importance of football to Texans and its place in the subconscious of Texans.

RON: Pigskin Rapture: The ultimate Texas football long weekend road trip. With glorious words and dynamic images that fans of Texas football really should not miss.  It’s a one-of-a-kind look at the Lone Star state, its people and its favorite sport, football.

LSLL:  Mac and Ron: What’s next for you?

RON: Up next for me will be covering the MLB post-season, including hopefully the Texas Rangers in the World Series along with more football, including college and the NFL. I’ll be shooting primarily for Getty Images and the Associated Press.

MAC: Sleep, I hope. I wrote two books last year and that’s a lot. I am sure I will try another one soon, but not writing a book right now is welcome.

 

This interview first appeared on Lone Star Literary Life and Mac & Ron were interviewed by Kay Ellington.  You can see the full interview here.

 

Mac Engel is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Since 1998, he has covered the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Dallas Cowboys as well as colleges, high schools, and the Olympics. His Big Mac Blog was named the best blog in Texas by the Associated Press in 2012.

 

Fort Worth/Dallas–based contract photographer Ron Jenkins specializes in sports,  covering the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Mavericks as well as NCAA, high school, and everything in between. His photos have been published all over the world, including in French sports magazine L’Equipe, premier German magazine Stern, and the USA’s Sports Illustrated.

 

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Ron Jenkins on Facebook

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10/24	Page Preview	Hall Ways Blog
10/25	Review	Country Girl Bookaholic
10/26	Guest Post	Texas Book Lover
10/27	Page Preview	Kara The Redhead
10/28	Review	It’s a Jenn World
10/29	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/30	Promo	Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
10/31	Review	Margie’s Must Reads
11/1	Page Preview	A Novel Reality
11/2	Review	Reading By Moonlight

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