at the end of the year

Well here it is, the last blog post of the year! 2021 has been a ride, to say the least: I moved to a new province, got to spend a whole summer by the sea, submitted some short stories, and (finally) wrote the bulk of book three. In spite of the hard times, I’m thankful for getting to experience all of it.

I’m also thankful for all of the people who have uplifted my husband and I with their friendship, solidarity, board game and AEW wrestling nights. Some of you literally housed us, some of you shared meals with us, some of you sent us kind words when we needed them most. Thank you, thank you, thank you ❤

The year ahead is going to be a busy one. I’m hoping to have the first draft of book three ready for beta readers by the end of January. I’ll be looking for ways to balance work, creativity, and recharge time. I also want to find a writing group and more book-related events in the Halifax area.

Oh, and I wanted to show you all the wonderful photos that Sarah Kivell took based on book two of the Patch Project series! They’re part of the holiday giveaway that runs until January 5th! Here they are:

Photos by Sarah Kivell [Image description: six square photos of a suitcase, worn wall, and a sleeping bag set on a crate, respectively]

May you all have a safe and happy holiday season! See you in the new year!

from Adventure Worlds

Welcome to the humans behind Adventure Worlds Press, Ben Van Dongen and Christian Laforet! I’m going to be asking them some questions about publishing and how the new edition of The Patch Project came to be!

Ben Van Dongen is the author of The Thinking Machine, The Neon Heart, and Broadcast Wasteland and co-authored the books No Light Tomorrow and All These Crooked Streets. BenVanDongen.com

Christian Laforet lives in LaSalle, Ontario with his wife, Lady, and his two girls, Lelaina Blue and Delilah Sunshine. When not writing books, he spends an exorbitant amount of time watching horror movies and playing video games. ChristianLaforet.com

1. What was your first contact with The Patch Project? Did it leave an impact, or how did the book strike you?

Christian:  The Patch Project came across my radar fairly quickly upon its release. Being that the book was post-apocalyptic (a genre I enjoy), and that I knew the author, it became must-read material.

Ben: If I remember correctly, my first contact with Patch Project was hearing that it had been picked up by your first publisher (EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing). I have a memory of you talking about the story that you had in a shoebox that you had started in university and had decided to finish it, but I’m sure that the story was done and the project was far along by the time I heard about it. Maybe I’m making up the memory or confusing it with a dream. It wouldn’t be the first time.

2. Why did Adventure Worlds Press release a revised edition? What was it like preparing this book for release?

Ben: I find your ideas and perspective compelling. We write in the same genre but you come up with very different stories and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far. So, I liked the story. Not just that, but I personally was interested in reading more and since we were able to help you publish the connected story, A Place That Used to Be, I was eager to see both books together in a similar format and available to the public.

Christian:  With Adventure Worlds Press releasing the companion book, A Place That Used to Be, and with you regaining the rights to The Patch Project, it sort of felt like a no-brainer to release a revised edition of the first book. The nice thing about prepping The Patch Project was that it had already been through the editorial wringer with the previous publisher. Everything was quite clean. And with a fantastic cover design in place (thanks to Peter Brinn), we were off to the races.

3. Do you have a favourite character or part of the book?

Ben: While Pinot is fun and becomes more interesting as the story goes on and we learn more about her, I was always fond of May. Her quiet strength, desire to keep going despite the difficulties in her new life, and her reluctant leadership felt very central to the story.

Christian: My favourite character is the first we meet in the book: May. Her journey resonated with me on several levels. Having to face both the near-end of everything, as well as her relationship with Isak (which is full of its own hardships. Read the book, you’ll see what I mean!), May keeps on going. She sees the beauty in a world decimated.

4. Anything else to say about The Patch Project or Adventure Worlds Press?

Christian:  I am thrilled to have The Patch Project under the AWP banner. Your writing is both beautiful and haunting. The Patch Project and A Place That Used to Be are exactly the kind of stories we (at AWP) love to read.

Ben: I’m so glad to see a new perspective coming from Adventure Worlds Press. For a while, it’s been mostly Christian and me. You are fantastic to work with and have been as helpful to us getting our books out as I hope we were to you. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

A book event from the past, featuring Christian Laforet, Elly Blake, Brittni Brinn, and Ben Van Dongen. [Image description: four authors stand in front of a bookcase, each holding their books and smiling at the camera.]

Thanks so much to Christian and Ben for the interview! And thanks to everyone who participated in the online launch event!

Copies of the newly released edition of The Patch Project are available on the Adventure Worlds Press site or Amazon!

meet A Place That Used to Be

Today is the Adventure Worlds Press Virtual Book Launch! From 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST), we’re posting all kinds of sweet book content on the Facebook event page. If you just came from there, welcome! I’m going to give you a brief intro to A Place That Used to Be and talk about a special offer and an upcoming giveaway!

I’m Brittni Brinn, by the way. I like coffee and reading and old neat things like typewriters. I’ve written two post-apocalyptic books, The Patch Project and A Place That Used to Be. I also have a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Windsor, and believe that you don’t need a degree to be a great writer! My friend Sarah Kivell took this photo the last time we met at a coffee shop. Remember when sitting in coffee shops was a thing? I miss that.

Anyway, more about A Place That Used to Be! It’s a post-apocalyptic novel featuring an ensemble cast, a wasteland, and a restaurant in a forest. The book is technically a sequel to The Patch Project (you’ll recognize some of the characters if you’ve read the first book) but also reads just fine as a stand alone story. It’s introspective and character-driven. I’m really excited for people to read it! Christian Laforet designed the stunning cover!

Copies are available at Biblioasis and Juniper Books. You can also order through Amazon, or directly from me.

Here’s the part you were waiting for! If you order a copy of A Place That Used to Be from me directly today before 8 pm (EST), your book will come with a sticker featuring the cover! (Only 25 copies available, one sticker per person). You can comment below, or message me on Facebook. 

Also, be sure to visit the Facebook event page around 3:00 pm (EST) as I’ll be posting about a giveaway!

If you have any questions, or want to hear the first chapter of A Place That Used to Be, I’ll be hosting a Facebook Live discussion at 7:00 pm (EST) tonight! Hope to see you there, and throughout the day as we celebrate Adventure Worlds Press and some really awesome books!

a day of books and cool things

Coming up this Friday, August 21st, 2020, Adventure Worlds Press is hosting a virtual book launch! Celebrating The Space Between Houses, Broadcast Wasteland, and A Place That Used to Be, this all-day event will take place on Facebook, featuring readings by the authors, Q and As, and more!

I’ll be posting throughout the day, including details about the Patch series giveaway! Also, if you order a copy of A Place That Used to Be from me directly during the event, your copy will come with a sticker featuring the stunning cover designed by Christian Laforet!

I’ll also be hosting a FB Live reading and Q and A at 7 pm (EST). If you can’t make it, feel free to send questions beforehand!

Hope to see you there for a day of books and cool things!

Sharon Ledwith’s Birthday Blog Tour!

This week, I’m featuring Sharon Ledwith, a local and lovely YA author! Over the next few days, all of her books are being featured as part of a birthday blog tour – what a cool idea! Don’t miss a chance to win a signed copy of one of her books (Giveaway details at the bottom of this post).

I’m excited to post this exclusive excerpt from Lost and Found, the first book in her Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series! Enjoy! And happy birthday, Sharon!

About the book:

The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Silly, stupid humans!” Whiskey hissed.

Creeping through the ductwork was becoming harder on her old bones. Layers of dust tickled her pink nose and made her facial whiskers twitch incessantly. Her stomach retched at the stale odors. However, Whiskey, a fifteen-year-old calico cat, ignored these annoyances and persevered. She had to, knowing that she was the only link, the only form of communication, between the cat floor and the dog floor at the Fairy Falls Animal Shelter. This was what made her special, gave her life purpose. This quiet night was no exception.

What the humans called a crisis had happened at the shelter today and Whiskey had to relay this information to the canine pack leader. Nearing the entrance above the dog floor, the thick fur on the back of her neck rose. Some of the dogs she tolerated, some she abhorred. Her ears flattened. Whiskey knew she would have to scale across the top of Mary Jane’s gate in order to get to Nobel’s cage and deliver her report. She also knew to be extra careful not to shake the little bells attached to her red collar that would jingle out her presence. Reaching the opening, Whiskey extracted her long claws and pushed the dusty register aside.

Looking down, she sighed, thankful that Mary Jane, a black and white pit bull terrier, and a long time resident of the shelter, was asleep. Carefully, Whiskey jumped down, balanced on the top of the fenced gate that faced the hallway, and started to slink across it. Then she sneezed and her bells jingled.

A growl and a snort sounded from below. “Who dares to wake me?”

Whiskey peered down. Mary Jane’s eyes were rolled back, her tongue hanging limply out one side of her mouth. A quilted blanket on the cement floor was half-shredded and inches away lay a rubber toy, which would normally be stuffed into Mary Jane’s powerful jaws to exercise the constant frustration of being incarcerated for so long. Whiskey watched Mary Jane lunge for the toy, shaking her thick head and neck in anger.

Whiskey leaned over into the cage and purred, “Someday, I hope you choke on that thing.”

Mary Jane dropped the toy and lunged at the smug cat. Whiskey had just enough time to recoil and land feet first on the hallway’s cement floor. She groaned, feeling her arthritic back legs cave slightly. She was not a kitten anymore, that was for sure. Mary Jane rattled the kennel door, snapping, growling, and barking. Slobber ran down the white patch on her neck and dribbled onto the floor, making it too slippery for her to balance on her hind legs. She slipped and fell with a loud thump and knocked the water bowl, spilling water all over. Whiskey flattened her ears and shook her head. This dog could easily have been the pick of the litter when it came time to receive the sleep needle, but since this shelter had a ‘no kill’ policy in place, all of its residents, including Mary Jane, remained safe and alive.

Suddenly the kennel next to Mary Jane’s came alive and the one after that. Whiskey heard a whimper from the cage down the hall where the new dogs were kept. These were the dogs whose owners would either still rescue them or would condemn them to live here in the shelter until they were adopted by a new human.

“You sure know how to make an entrance, Whiskey.”

Whiskey’s ears pricked up. The right ear had been badly frostbitten once upon a time, but her left ear was still intact. Half her face was masked in black; the other half a mixture of white and orange. The rest of her small body was a patchwork of black and orange fur, with the exception of a white belly. She preened her whiskers, licking the pad of her front right paw until she realized all she tasted was watered down bleach. Cringing, Whiskey slowly sauntered over to Nobel’s kennel—the biggest—at the very end of the hallway. She plopped her bottom on the cool concrete floor and stretched.

“You’re certainly a deep sleeper, Nobel. Are you sure you used to be a watchdog?” Whiskey asked, preening the area above her yellow eyes.

There was a low growl, and then a high pitched bark. It was Nobel’s way of laughing. “I’m part Husky, part Doberman, and part mystery mutt, so sometimes I get all messed up about my job. Do I run as fast as I can or do I stand and fight? It’s darned confounding, I say.”

Although it was dark, Whiskey could see the amusement in Nobel’s light blue eyes. His fur was a mixture of black, tan, and grey, and standing on all fours he would be at least three cats tall. Nobel’s kennel was well-kept, with a thick, comfy blanket set up in front and a pan full of water at the back. He’d been at the shelter for as long as she had, so Whiskey felt a sense of oneness with Nobel, even though he was canine.

“I smell feline! Feline! Feline! Feline!” a dog from the middle cage barked.

Nobel rolled his eyes. “You’re dreaming again, Louis. Go back to sleep!”

Whiskey heard a snort from the big Rottweiler mix, followed by a whine. “Dreaming? Hmm, yup, silly me. Must be dreaming. No felines on the dog floor. Silly me.”

She heard Louis yawn, fart, and then settle back down on his papered floor. Louis tended to pee in his kennel, so he wasn’t afforded the luxury of a cushy blanket like Nobel’s.

“Dumb as wood, that one,” Nobel muttered.

“Yet he trusts you completely,” Whiskey mewed, scratching her chin.

“That’s because I’m the pack leader. It’s not a choice, you know.”

***

In celebration of Sharon Ledwith’s birthday, all of her books are on tour, on sale, and ready for you to discover. Make sure to follow the tour and enter the giveaway for two signed books, open internationally!!

Tour Schedule:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/02/book-tour-schedule-sharon-ledwiths.html

 

About the Books:

Legend of the Timekeepers (Book 0.5):

There is no moving forward without first going back.

Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe. 

Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.

Add to Your Shelf on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21777537-legend-of-the-timekeepers

 

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis (Book 1):

Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they’re given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn’t a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers–legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial–Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don’t, then history itself may be turned upside down.

Add to Your Shelf on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15781303-the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis

 

The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret (Book 2):

Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.

Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the second Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the Timekeepers have no choice but to do whatever they can to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.

With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.

Add to Your Shelf on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31831121-the-last-timekeepers-and-the-dark-secret

 

Lost and Found: Mysterious Tales from Fairy FallsThe Fairy Falls: 

Fairy Falls was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking…

Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well. Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

Add to Your Shelf on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35017082-lost-and-found

 

Purchase Your Copy of Each eBook for the Sale Price at Mirror World Publishing:

https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/search?q=sharon+ledwith

Additional purchasing options listed below (but the books are not on sale on those platforms).

 

Meet the Author:

Escape to the past and have a blast.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS. Check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.

 

Connect with Sharon Ledwith:

Sharon’s Website: www.sharonledwith.com

Sharon’s Blog: http://sharonledwith.blogspot.com/

Sharon’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/seledwith

Sharon’s Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Sharon-Ledwith-210150205690477/

The Last Timekeepers Series Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Last-Timekeepers-Time-Travel-Series/373953795955372

Twitter: @sharonledwith: https://twitter.com/sharonledwith

Amazon Author U.S. Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Ledwith/e/B0084DUHJO

Amazon Author U.K. Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B0084DUHJO

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821744.Sharon_Ledwith

Goodreads Book Page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18335543-legend-of-the-timekeepers

Google+ Page: https://plus.google.com/116758820349834035390#116758820349834035390/posts

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/seledwith/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-ledwith-4a33b213/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seledwith/

Café Press Shop: http://www.cafepress.ca/sharonledwith2

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sharon-ledwith

 

The books are only on sale through Mirror World Publishing, however, they can be purchase on other platforms:

Amazon

https://amzn.to/2GX9LO5

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Sharon%20Ledwith%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=sharon+ledwith

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/legend-of-the-timekeepers/id1058133120?mt=11

 

Giveaway Details and Entry Form:

One winner will received 1 signed paperback copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and 1 signed paperback copy of Lost and Found. This giveaway is international!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Direct link to Rafflecopter form:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/85ce0958177/?