AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Audible Original creator Ashli St. Armant!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

So, I have some LATE BREAKING NEWS to share about a recent(ish) Audible Original release!  It's a Jazz infused Young Adult Mystery and from the sound of things, it'll hit the right notes for music AND book lovers alike!  Ready to discover more?  Here's a quick look at what's inside...

Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons 

by

Ashli St. Armant

Read by

Bahni Turpin

About the book...

Viva Durant, New Orleans’ youngest detective is on a quest to solve a jazzy mystery involving hidden treasure, while exploring the city’s unique culture, history and music. This family-friendly Audible Original features original jazz music from the creator, Ashli St. Armant, and enthusiastic narration from world class Audible narrator, Bahni Turpin. Plucky 14-year-old Viva Durant heads to New Orleans every summer to spend time with her loving but stern grandmother, known as Gram. After Gram reads Viva an article in the local paper about a missing treasure related to the world-famous song, “Miss Mary Mack,” Viva traverses the Crescent City on an epic adventure to solve the mystery. Along the way she meets some of the city’s most colorful characters as her journey takes her to the French Quarter, a jazz club, a creepy cemetery, and even the circus. Can Viva rise to the occasion and solve this musical mystery? Listeners will find Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons a joy to listen to!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's currently available as a member benefit this month on Audible.com meaning it’s free to all Audible members through December 1st...so yeah, I know, I didn't give you much notice, but HELLO...you can TOTALLY click right on over to snag your copy now!  Ah yes, the digital world has its moments of beauty too.

Now, let's get a closer look straight from the creative mind behind the work, as we welcome author Ashli St. Armant!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:  Ashli St. Armant

Hi there! Nice to meet you.

 

 Now, let's get you properly introduced to our reading audience.

In TEN WORDS OR LESS, describe yourself through your eyes...

I’m an entertainer, an educator, a writer, and a mom!



You have quite the varied background (admittedly, I read your bio!) and have had your hands in everything from music/theater programs to an actual jazz band! Which of your past experiences did you enjoy the most and why?

Once, I got a chance to sit in with big band of about 15-20 musicians. That was a dream of mine. With so many musicians, swing dancers, and friends in one room, the energy was outstanding!


What made you decide to branch out into Children's Literature, specifically?

I’ve been a writer since I was 10, and writing has always been a part of my art expression since then. I’ve been creating arts experiences for children since 2008. So, it was a natural for me to tap into my passion for children’s entertainment while trying my hand with long-form writing.

From the sound of things, Viva Durant is quite the little caper solver, or at least she's trying to be. Tell us, what was your favorite part of creating this adventure? Any plans on making it a series?

Because this is mystery, I wrote this story backwards, from end to beginning. I really got a kick out knowing the secrets and the plot twists that absolutely no one else knew, not even the characters in the book!

Of your characters, is there one that you find yourself reflected in most?

In a lot of ways, I am Viva. As a kid, I spent a few summers visiting family in New Orleans, but my experiences were no where near as adventurous as Viva’s! In a way, this story is a reimagining of my childhood.

If there was one message you could have readers/listeners walk away with after the final notes/syllables of Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons have played, what would that be?

Sometimes, adventures can start in the most ordinary place. You just have to be looking for them!



A little quid pro quo, if you would. I'll say FAVORITE and you fill in the blank. Ready? Set? GO! Favorite...
...color? Gray
...season? Fall
...way to relax? A nature walk.
...type of music? Jazz!!  (totally saw that one coming!)
...book/author? Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare). Close second: a children’s book called Leonardo the Terrible Monster (Mo Willems).

Last but not least, any parting words for budding writers/creators out there...

Keep a notepad and pen close by. You never know when you’ll get a great idea for a story!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ashli St. Armant is a vocalist, writer, and arts educator, based in Southern California, where she was born and raised. She is the founder of Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for students, TK-12. She is a professionally trained vocalist and actor who attended the Orange County High School of the Arts and holds a degree in Child Development from Saddleback College. Alongside teaching, writing, and raising her two sons, Ashli tours with her band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, a jazz band for young audiences. Together they have produced four albums featured by NPR and L.A. Times, and have performed at numerous venues including Lincoln Center and Sprout Network (NBC). Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons is Ashli’s debut audio original., and sets the path for her new venture into children’s literature.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Stephanie at Mayers Consulting for the heads up on this title, as well as the chance to connect with the creator for the awesome interview...and much thanks to Ashli St. Armant for those wonderful answers!  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the creator, or the vocalist, feel free to click on through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so check it out on Audible today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR presents... COMING HOME TO MERRIMENT BAY: PART 3: CHRISTMAS by Emily Harvale

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for PART THREE of the Coming Home to Merriment Bay series from author Emily Harvale.  This time around it's the aptly named Christmas chapter that we're reading and let's just say that the holidays are not so jolly for this group with so many lies floating around, feelings left unshared, and yet more missteps in the love department.  Ready or not, we're heading back to the bay in three...two...one...

Coming Home to Merriment Bay

PART THREE:  Christmas

by

Emily Harvale

About the book...
Part Three of this heartwarming four-part serial about finding the strength to put the past behind you and to reach out for a future filled with happiness and love.

Cat and Kyra have finally traced the man in the photo they found in Viola’s trunk – thanks to Amias. But Bailey Mitchell lives thousands of miles away and is almost ninety-eight, so meeting him in person is never going to happen. Which is just as well. Exchanging Christmas cards and chatting on social media leads to revelations Cat had not expected.

At least Christmas is looking promising. It may be freezing outside but things have definitely thawed between Cat and her mum, Mary. They’re actually getting on, especially now that Mary is dating Jeremy Stone, the builder working on Viola’s house.

Cat’s also hopeful that Viola’s situation may improve. And when a surprise visitor brings more than just well wishes, Cat’s Christmas takes a delightful turn.

With the festivities in full swing, and snow falling on Merriment Bay, the future’s looking bright. Christmas is a time for miracles and Cat believes she may get one of her own this year if she’s prepared to put the past behind her and open her heart to Love once more.

AMAZON  US  |  UK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I simply love how the author puts herself in the reader's shoes and reads our minds as to exactly what we're contemplating when we've reached the story's end.  I mean the questions she poses are RIGHT ON POINT!  I'm simply dying to know whether Cat and Amias will end up together or simply remain two ships passing ever so close in the night...but I'm also curious about the Ben situation as it plays quite heavily into everything else.  I love the progress made between mother and daughter...well, in both sets of mothers and daughters actually.  You can see it brings more peace to their hearts and contentment to their time shared.  I'm very interested to know if Viola will ever have her say in everything that's transpiring and what she'd think about this Jeremy fellow that has apparently hitched his wagon to Mary.

So, as part three's go, I'd say it's a winner...but really, give me part four already because, yeah, I need to know how this is all going to turn out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the author...




Emily writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn't always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily loves to connect with her readers and has a readers' group in which many have become good friends. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website at www.emilyharvale.com.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA and the RWA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies - and will do anything to avoid both. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats that like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.


TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Lady Amber's Reviews & PR presents...FALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS with Harlequin Books!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Post two for the day and we're bringing you another tour and another review!  This time, we've got Lady Amber's Reviews & PR with a special promotion featuring Harlequin Books!  I mean, everyone loves romance novels; it only takes finding your perfect sub-genre or imprint and with Harlequin Books, there's something for everyone.  Ready to browse?  Here you go! If you need a little more, here are the descriptions of three different series lines that the Harlequin November Recommended Reads books come from. Which is your favorite? 

HARLEQUIN DESIRE: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.Be transported to the worlds of oil barons, family dynasties, moguls and celebrities. Get ready for juicy plot twists, delicious sensuality and intriguing scandal. 

LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE: Courage. Danger. Faith. Find strength and determination in stories of faith and love in the face of danger.

HARLEQUIN SPECIAL EDITION: You know there's always a new chapter to be written. Harlequin Special Edition stories show that whether it's an old flame rekindled or a brand-new romance, love knows no timeline.

As the seasons change, get your first taste of the Holidays with Harlequin. Feel the love and delight in happily ever after with one of these Harlequin Series Holiday Heartwarmers. Click HERE to explore the most festive books of the season! Now for the titles on this tour...

Tis the season for great reading selections!  

Now, let's take a closer look at the titles that are vying for your attention this holiday season....

 A Wyoming Christmas to Remember

Author: Melissa Senate

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Special Edition

She couldn’t remember anything…except her love for him.

Stricken with temporary amnesia, Maddie Wolfe can’t remember a single thing about her life…or her boy-next-door husband, Sawyer. But even with electricity crackling between them, it turns out their fairy tale’s careening toward disaster. When Sawyer’s unexpectedly thrust into caring for his newborn twin nephews, will he finally change his mind about being a dad and give Maddie the family of her dreams—and his?

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rancher’s Wild Secret

Author: Maisey Yates

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Desire

He's come to Gold Valley Vineyards for revenge…

Not to fall for the enemy!

The renowned spokesperson for her family’s wine empire, Emerson Maxfield is engaged to a man solely to win her father’s approval, and the sheltered beauty never, ever steps a toe out of line. Which, to rancher Holden McCall, makes her the perfect tool to exact his secret revenge. All he wants is for her family to pay for what they did to his mother, but his plan to publicly destroy the wedding of the year starts to disintegrate as his lethal seduction ensnares his heart, too…

 GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

***************************

Now this is the one that I couldn't say no to!  I mean come on, it's MAISEY YATES and if you've ever read any of the Gold Valley series, you simply know that you can't miss a page!

Here's the thing, I learned from the last Harlequin Desire book I read (which happen to be from this same series by the same author) that they are shorter stories, heavy on the romance, and more on the steamy/blush worthy side.  This time around that description fit like a glove, but the story itself, I was a bit up in the air.  I mean, I liked Emerson, and initially I liked Holden, but things go to you-know-where rather quickly and that turns what they had from a lust filled encounter of sexual expression into something much bigger, and more daunting for them all.  It's definitely an enemies to lovers trope candidate and the chemistry is off the charts, but I don't know.  I'm just not certain I bought the whole big bad sexy cowboy heck bent on revenge turns out to be someone that loves so deeply, cares so much, he doesn't even realize it himself, and is truly a diamond in the rough seas of love.  On the other hand, I highly respect Emerson's ability to push forward through the unappetizing options offered, accept her fate so to speak, yet also freely state where she stands with him, her heart, and her life.  They didn't meet in any version of what one would call ideal circumstances, but neither could deny that the still waters that ran deeply through them both cared nothing for the bad blood between them, and everything about what they could be if only they'd get out of their own way.

In the end, it's a quick read that's sure to warm up your holiday nights and a sexy addition to the Gold Valley series from author Maisey Yates that fans won't want to miss.  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more on this title as well as the others featured in Harlequin's FALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS selections!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it's been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

 AMAZON  |  GOODREADS  |  FACEBOOK  |   TWITTER  |  SITE

 GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soldier’s Christmas Secrets

Author: Laura Scott

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Love Inspired Suspense

He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his family!

When a plane crash leaves special ops soldier Hawk Jacobson with amnesia, all he knows is that the plane was sabotaged and he has a target on his back. His survival depends on letting everyone—including his wife, Jillian Wade—believe he’s dead. Until gunmen come after Jillian and the daughter he never knew existed. Can Jillian help him regain his memory in time to expose a killer?

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Holiday by Candlelight

Author: Laurel Greer

Genre: Romance

Harlequin Imprint: Special Edition

A tragic accident ended the life he once knew

Is a Hanukkah miracle right around the corner?

This year, Dr. Caleb Matsuda could do without holiday cheer. After an avalanche robbed him of his ability to practice surgery, he struggles to make it through each day. He may be intrigued by new colleague Garnet James, but she’s also a search-and-rescue volunteer who could be in danger at any moment. If only she wasn’t perfect for the man he used to be…

 GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Lady Amber's Reviews & PR for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ecopy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the series, this tour, or those on the horizon,  please feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!