Lane Heymont blog tour for his book The Freedman and the Pharoh's Staff

The Freedman and the Pharaoh's Staff

by Lane Heymont

 

About The Author:

Lane Heymont was born in Pennsylvania. He earned a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus on literature and history. He also holds a double minor in psychology and business. After college, he turned his focus back to writing. Lane has several short stories published, one of which was recommended for the 2012 Bram Stoker Award in short fiction.

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Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Slipstream Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc.

Release Date: December 23, 2012

Buy: Amazon

Book Description:

Jeb, a former slave, rescues his brother-in-law Crispus from the Ku Klux Klan, pulling him into a world of Creole Voodoo, hatred, time travel, and redemption. The two brothers-in-law set out to stop Verdiss and his Klan followers from using the Pharaoh's Staff, a magical artifact from ancient Egypt. Soon, Jeb and Crispus learn Verdiss’ diabolical plan and discover that he is working for an even more evil force. In the end Jeb and Crispus must stop the eradication of an entire people and each must find redemption for his own past sins.

Excerpt:

Allenville flashed in Jeb’s head. Bodies burning, people tortured and brutalized in the streets. Somehow he felt the same thoughts in Fallon. The way his slender hand tightened around his when he’d said the word. He imagined hatred blistering inside the boy. Maybe the need for a father blinded him. Thank the Lawd–that ain’t the case no more…I hope.

“Jeb. Fallon. This way. I found a mambo a few blocks away on Laurel Street.” Crispus’s voice broke through the crowd.

“Come on!” Fallon pulled Jeb through the throng of people. Crispus’s voice always sounded just beyond them, amidst the night madness of Baton Rouge.

“Wait!”

“Where’d he go?” Jeb tugged on Fallon’s hand, pushing aside a doughy man.

“He took a right down Nacadian Road. Wait, Crispus!” The hideous ensemble of vendors, farriers, knackers, and other merchants crying out their goods seemed to drown out the boy’s call.

One moment, mayhem wracked the market, the next it fell silent. Fallon stopped, so Jeb did. He couldn’t move, the herd seemed to stop stampeding. Footfalls echoed in the street. The crowd spread. Then came the heavy clacks of soldier’s boots on the flagstones. A band of men, too many to tell. But Jeb knew them by the procession’s cadence–Confederate soldiers. Men clad in gray uniforms marching through Baton Rouge. No doubt, they’d be Klansmen too. Shouts of jubilation spread like wildfire among the townspeople.

“Kill them carpetbaggers!” came a woman’s elegant voice.

“Long live the general!”

“The South shall rise again!” shouted a boy.

Jeb felt the panic in Fallon’s hand, his heartbeat racing as he pulled him away. “What general? I know that cadence like I know my field.” Jeb focused on dodging whatever lay in his way, stumbling over garbage and bumping into people.

Fallon stammered over his words, “Not–not–nothing. Nathan Bedford Forrest?” He gasped, tightening his grip on Jeb.

Somehow Jeb overcame his instincts, keeping his head bowed. Not daring to look up in fear that monster of a man would see him. Though blind, Jeb saw Forrest clad in the gray Confederate officer’s uniform, adorned with medals. He’d seen photos of him. Tall, in his fifties, a receding hairline and a curly mane of black hair. A well-kept goatee tinged gray like his uniform.

I can end it all. Fight through the crowd. A single shot to the head. To hell with being blind, I can do it. For a moment Jeb meant it, caressing his pistol. It’d be easy. Instead, he listened to the Ku Klux Klan founder, savior of the white race, and ender of Reconstruction, parade along the street. Celebrated by a throng of who knew how many people. They were closer now, close enough for Jeb to count them. Four guards following him. Plus Forrest, that’s five. Six shot pistol. Just enough for one miss. He gripped his pistol. It didn’t matter that the crowd loved Forrest, even cheered him on. Six rounds is enough. Jeb edged his pistol free from its holster.

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Til The Last Drop by Marquis Boone- amazing book written by an amazing author with a powerful message

Til The Last Drop

by Marquis Boone

Author Bio:

Marquis Boone is a pastor, motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, mentor and spiritual advisor to a host of celebrities. Marquis is the Lead Pastor of Fresh Start Church which exists to revive, refresh, release and restore people back to God. He has been deemed one of America's most influential and talented pastors in his generation. His message of resurrection, healing and restoration is unparalleled and transcending cultural barriers within the church. Boone holds a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership and Masters of Divinity from Luther Rice University. He studied at World Harvest Bible College and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Management from American InterContinental University.

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Genre: Fiction/religious/ general/medical
Publisher: iUniverse
Release Date: Jan. 24, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Description:
Arthur and Valencia share happily ever after as husband and wife until tragedy comes knocking at their door. Life deals Valencia a crisis that requires a miracle of biblical proportion. She'll have to find a love so strong it defies logic, reason and heartbreak. After receiving a life changing phone call that no one ever wants to get Valencia Todd's life is left in shambles, with no signs of ever getting better. Struck with grief, frustration, sickness, and loneliness, Valencia is determined to find the cure to life that will get her back to normal.
Til the Last Drop is a supernatural story filled with passion, pain, sadness, twists and turns that will leave you in awe. The story of Valencia and all of the drops she experiences along the way teaches, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to never give up, and, above all, trusting God.
A vow, betrayal and story...good until the last drop.

Excerpts:

Prelude

The almighty Father stormed into the room as a mighty rushing wind. As His very presence passed by, each servant stood at attention as they lined His pathway. Gabriel followed Him very closely and spoke: “Lord, I don’t understand.”

The Father stopped midway and turned to Gabriel and gave a declaration. “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this. It is warfare, Gabriel. Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”

The Father continued toward His seat. He sat in heaven exasperated. He turned and looked at His Son, who was looking down at Earth. “Son, what seems to have your attention?”

“Father, come look at this,” the Son said as He stood gazing down toward Earth at Arthur and Valencia Todd and their daughter, Lindsy Todd.

The Father walked over, joined His Son, and together they looked down at the Todd family. 

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Review of Good Fortune by Noni Carter

Good Fortune

By Noni Carter

Synopsis

Ayanna Bahati lives in a small African village when she is brutally kidnapped, along with her brother, and forced onto a slave ship to America. As Ayanna, renamed Anna, rises from the cotton fields to the master’s house, she finds the familial love she’s been yearning for in elderly Mary and Mary’s son Daniel—but she is also faced with more threats to her survival. Risking everything to escape the plantation, Anna manages to make it north and to freedom, eventually settling in the free black community of Hudson, Ohio, and educating herself to become a teacher.

Review

Good Fortune  is a novel written by Noni Carter, a great writer with a very powerful message to share. While most immigrants are people running from war, or poverty to a place where they can get a better life, some have no choice. Good Fortune is about those who had no choice. This book is about the forced immigration of African natives, brought to America to spend their lives as slaves. Good Fortune follows the heartfelt and truly inspirational journey of Sarah, a young girl abducted from her family in Africa and bonded into slavery, as she attempts to escape the brutal life of a slave and run north to freedom. Sarah had to give up and leave behind a lot including her name, family, and friends as she made the risk to escape to a free and educated life.

This novel was an amazing story about hardship and determination. Good Fortune was, such an easy book to get into. The connection I was able to develop with all the characters is indescribable. It almost seemed like I could feel for myself all the pain and sorrow that Sarah had to endure while migrating throughout the world to find freedom and the education that she desperately thrived for. This book had such an amazing message that I think everyone should experience for themselves. It really has shown me about how education is so important to those who may not ever get to gain one. It made me think about how much we take for granted the education we receive for little to no cost, while others have to fight for theirs. Good fortune, I believe, is an extremely important piece of literature and I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a good read.

Snow, a powerful, and moving must-read book for all.

About The Author:

Kathryn Hewitt was born and raised in the small town of Camden, South Carolina. Breaking away from becoming a statistic, she was an Honors Graduate from Camden High School and went on to study British Literature and Sociology at Charleston Southern University, inspiring to teach High School English.

Kathryn has a passion for teaching teenagers and reaching out to those who seem as though the world has closed the door. Because of her own experiences, including becoming a teenage mother at fifteen, Kathryn knows the value of life and the blessings it contains. Understanding the importance of making wise decisions, Kathryn passionately seeks to instill that wisdom into the minds of every young lady she encounters. The inspiration for Kathryn's writings comes from her own experiences, and she is never afraid to speak the truth that others refuse to acknowledge.

Kathryn married in 2005 and is a stay at home mom with her four sons. She and her family currently live in the same town she grew up.

Author Bio Summary

As a teenage mother, Kathryn Hewitt understands the consequential trials and sacrifices resulting from teen pregnancies. Leadership positions throughout high school, college, and church provided a forum for her activism in promoting premarital abstinence and accountability, and pro-life support.

Kathryn currently lives in Camden, South Carolina with her husband and four boys.

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Book Genre Religious Fiction/ YA (13+ or 7th grade)Publisher Westbow Press, Inc A Thomas Nelson DivisionRelease Date May 2012
Amazon

Snow is a fiction novel, based on true events, about the struggles of a teenage girl and the consequences of a devastating mistake. Whether readers are young adults, exploring their sexuality for the first time, or an older adult, struggling to understand their teenage daughter, everyone will have a character in which to relate.

Young adults will be gripped by the reality and bluntness of it's characters. Parents will appreciate the censorship of otherwise “uncomfortable” topics. With sexuality among young adults beginning at an early age, "family values" are now being pushed back into the forefront of parental teaching. Snow influences people with Christian values, such as sexual abstinence, pro-life advocacy, and prayer, without pushing God as the subject of the book. Biblically based information is strategically scattered throughout the novel with dialect and personal thoughts.

The protagonist's quest to discover the path she needs to take unearths findings of a secret life, lead by her boyfriend. With two lives at stake, readers will eagerly anticipate the outcome only to find themselves with lessons and warnings about the consequences of making detrimental mistakes. Comfort will be found in understanding that God is bigger than any situation and He catches ever tear. Miracles so often go unnoticed, yet powerfully affect those they touch. Snow will set the stage for future novels reflective of countless miracles and divine intervention.

Excerpt:

Mrs. Davis grabbed Luke by the arm and pulled him along behind her as she purposefully marched toward the bar. After ordering a Grey Goose martini, she turned around to face Luke.

"You know why I brought you over here," she glared at him, her voice shaking with anger.

"Yeah, I know." Luke sat on the bar stool and folded his arms on the counter.

"What are you going to do about this, Luke?"

"I don't know, Mom. She wants to have it."

"You can't allow that to happen. You know that."

"I can't make her do it." Luke ran his hands through his un-gelled hair. " And her mom! She just won't stop interfering. She had this church lady come over yesterday and talk to Ruth about

having the abortion. That lady managed to change her mind, because, believe it or not, I did have her convinced."

Mrs. Davis sipped her martini and lit a cigarette. "Well, we have to get rid of this one. You can't have two of these things hanging over your head for the next eighteen years."

"I don't know how to convince her." He laughed as he said, "I told her, when we first found out, that I'd hire someone to beat her up and make her miscarry."

Mrs. Davis chuckled, "Or you could just kill her."

"Mother, please."

Mrs. Davis tapped the ashes off her cigarette and motioned for Luke to leave. "Don't worry; I'll take care of this. Tell her to come here."

Luke got off the bar stool and went into the arcade. He should have gone straight to look for Ruth, but part of him didn't want his mom to convince her to have the abortion. He loved how

sweet and obedient Ruth was and didn't want to lose her. His eye caught a military game, so he headed over, ready to release some frustration.

What Readers Are Saying:

"Heart-tugging, heart-warming. beautiful story." ~InsightfulTruth

"The honest account girls need!" ~M. Morgan

"Finally! A book that isn't afraid of the truth." ~T. Gill

• Characters & Important People (From Amazon)

  
  
  • Ruth McColl: 20 year old Ruth McColl walks a treacherous road to her past where she is faced with the demons that have haunted her for years. Broken and filled with unworthiness, Ruth sabotages every relationship. Will she do the same with the man she's about to marry?15 year old Ruth is a fun loving, outgoing young girl filled with innocence and determination. An honor student and active in her church, Ruth is caught up in a whirlwind romance with a man, too many years her senior. The decisions she must make will alter her life forever. The question is, will it be for the better?
  • 
    
  • Luke Davis: Luke, a charmer, shows up in the small town of Westbrook just in time to catch the eye of young Ruth. Captivated by her innocence it doesn't take long for Luke to set his sights on his newest prize. But what is his ultimate desire? And why was he sent to Westbrook?

• Notes for Parents:

  
  
  • Reading Level: Young Adults
  • 
    
  Read this yourself. You'll gain a great understanding of what your kids are going through at school and socially. Then, give it to your daughter (or son). This novel was written to tell the truth. It's not sugar coated...it's just blunt. The main character, a virgin, looses her virginity to a guy she believes loves her. Over time he has made her feel obligated to prove her love to him. After a one time mistake she finds herself pregnant at 15. Her boyfriend has a checkered past filled with girls that either were pregnant or are pregnant. He and his family pressure her to abort the baby. The novel graphically describes the abortion process and reveals the emotions that overwhelm Ruth. There are many lessons in this book and although it may invoke discussions about premarital sex, abortion, and abuse you will be grateful that your daughter (or son) is receiving a valuable, positive message.Because of the content, I do not recommend this book to anyone under 13 or 7th grade.

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Book Review of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why

A Novel by Jay Asher

   

                      

Synopsis

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.

Review

Thirteen Reasons Why is said to be one of the most life changing stories anyone could read and I can not help but agree. The book really made me think about how such one very small action or word can snowball into something that could destroy ones life. It really made me wonder how horrible of a direction our society has gone. How obsessed everyone is with making others feel worse, so they can feel better. Thirteen Reasons Why gave me a whole no perspective on life, therefore, changing my own life.

Thirteen Reasons Why was a book I simply could not put down. I would have read the entire book in one sitting if I had the chance to. It was a tragic and disheartening story, but I'm extremely glad I read it. Thirteen Reasons why was a truly inspirational story that is one of my all time favorites and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

Tips for writing your very own book.

Writing isn't always as easy as it seems. Some writers easily have the story they want to write down in their head, but can't seem to get the words flowing out onto paper. I know I've had this problem a lot, especially  when I was writing my first novel, Victims of a Tragedy. Writing that novel taught me a lot about different writing strategies that I can now use today and am about to share with you. Just remember these are just tips developed by me from my own experiences, so they may not be the best for everyone. You just have to find what works best for you, but anyways, lets get started.

1. Write what you want to write

• Choose a topic you will be interested in writing about for a long period of time. Choosing something boring to you will just most likely cause you to give up early and loose all that time you put into writing that manuscript.
• Also, write what you want, when you want. A lot of people tend to think they need to write their book  all in order, but that's not necessarily a good idea. Write what you feel inspired to write about. If you write your entire book in order from first to last page, chances are that you sometimes are going to be writing about stuff you don't feel like writing about that day, and if you are writing about something you don't feel like writing about, then it probably won't be an enjoyable part of the book to your readers. If you feel like writing chapter 7 instead of chapter 4 one day, then write chapter 7 and do chapter 4 another day. You don't need to write the whole book in order because when you are finished with your book, you should be able to just piece your writings together.

2. Plan what you are going to write before you start

• It's good to plan what you are going to write before you start putting pen to paper. When writing my first novel, I made no plan beforehand. I just went strait to my computer and started writing. I found myself sitting at my computer for hours at a time and only getting one or two small paragraphs written. This is because I had no idea what to write about. I would have to sit behind my computer and think about what would happen next, which got a bit frustrating.
• I now make outlines to plan my stories. You can do the same, but there are many different ways to plan out your books before writing them down. You just have to find what works best for you

3. Get inspired!

• Get inspired before you write. It's good to have that extra motivation when putting your ideas on paper. It just makes your writing that much more enjoyable to read. Before writing, I will read another book with a similar genre to the story I am writing at the time. I get inspiration from the powerful statements and ideas of other writers, but there are many other ways you can get your inspiration. I hear some people listen to music before they write and that seems to work great for some writers. You may also get inspiration from being out in nature, or exploring an art museum, and etc. You just need to find what inspires you, and use that to your advantage.

4. Write ideas down

• When writing my first novel, I would come up with amazing ideas to put in my novel, but I would forget what those ideas were before I got the chance to write them down. Carry something with you everywhere you go that you can use to write ideas down, no matter where you are, as soon as those ideas pop up in your head. I now carry around a small notebook in my backpack to school everyday in which I write down any ideas i get throughout the day. I suggest you do the same.

5. Don't stress about the publication

• I would always stress out about who I would go to to get my book published, or who would even want to publish it. Stressing out about that really gave me lots of doubts about my book before I even finished it and that made me want to give up. This is why it's important to not stress out about this when you're still writing your book. It's great to do a little bit of research into publishers around, but don't freak out about it because it will really affect your writing. Just have fun writing your book, finish it, then you can stress out about the publication.

6. Do not write on a schedule

• Some people might argue with me on this one, but in my opinion it's a horrible idea to write on a set time schedule. If you simply don't feel like writing at one time, but do it anyways because it is your scheduled time to write, you won't have fun writing it, and your readers won't have fun reading it. Or if you feel like writing because you are full of inspiration, but put it off because it's not your scheduled time to write, you're making a huge mistake. You could have tons of great ideas to put into your story, but aren't because it's simply not your time to write. I suggest you write whenever you feel like it.

7. Do your research

• If you are writing about something you're not so sure about, do your research. Don't just guess. This saves a lot of time in the long run, especially during the editing process. For example, if you are writing about a court case and have no idea how a court case works, research it! Get to know everything about the names and terms in a court case, how the debate of a court case works, and anything else you can find.
• Another example is from when I was writing my novel, Victims of a Tragedy. The very first part of the book I wrote about a girl struggling to get her prom dress on. During the editing process, my editor told me it didn't sound like a girl was talking at all and she could definitely tell that it was written by a boy. I wasn't offended by this because, well, I am a boy and I don't wear prom dresses, but it was something I had to go back and research a bit and rewrite during the editing process. It saves a whole lot of time if you just do your research right away. Just Google it!

8. Don't give up

• Don't give up on any story that you start. In the end it's something you can be proud of. Don't let any doubts about your writing hold you back.
• Also Don't quit writing after the first book, keep on going! Most authors are embarrassed by their first book, I most certainly was, but writing a book is a huge accomplishment whether it's published or not. Just learn from the mistakes you've made writing your first book and start fresh with a whole new book under all new circumstances.

I really hope these tips help you out. Remember though that these tips are all developed by myself through experiences of my own, so they may not be the best of advice to everyone. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or use any of the resources from my contact info to get a hold of me. 

Thanks for reading, and good luck writing!