Friday, October 24, 2014

Interview and Giveaway Of Sentimental Value by Princess Fumi Hancock


Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

PRINCESS FUMI STEPHANIE HANCOCK, RN, Ph.D.

BESTSELLING AUTHOR, NAFCA AFRICAN OSCAR PEOPLES’ CHOICE WINNING & INDIEFEST FILMS MERIT AWARD FILMMAKER, TV HOST, TRANFORMATON INTERVENTIONIST & PHILANTHROPIST are just few accolades to describe this dynamic woman.


Born in the heart of Nigeria, Lagos State; Princess Fumi Hancock was raised to appreciate her royal roots from the South Western region of Nigeria, Emure Kingdom, where her family, the Adumori Nigeria Royal Household have ruled since the 1800s’.
After acquiring her first degree in English from one of the most prestigious colleges in Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University; she stormed the United States of America with a pen, a script and the dream to change the world. Little did she know that it would take her over thirty years to finally fulfill her dream of becoming a prolific writer and most importantly, one who would have the ability to translate her literary works into movies.

As an author, she has written several inspirational books for women, Beyond Idol Worship: A Diary of an African Warrior Princess; Starting Right Now to name a few! After writing these inspirational books and her return back to African after over 25 years absentia; she reaches out to help her community through her US based nonprofit organization, Adassa Adumori Foundation, Inc. (www.adassafoundation.org); she also decided to venture into the world of young adult fantasy. To her surprise, her very first young adult fantasy, The Adventures of Jewel Cardwell:  Hydra’s Nest became an amazon bestseller! There has been no stopping her since then. 


Her new novel, Of Sentimental Value, a suspense romance with a tinge of mystery is yet another landmark for her. The book was made into a feature film which is scheduled for release soon (www.ofsentimentalvaluemovie.com ). In the advent of its release, it has garnered multiple award interest. It was nominated in the NAFCA African Oscar Peoples’ Choice category for Favorite Trailer & Original Score while the Princess took home the winning trophy as Favorite Screenwriter.  Since then, the movie itself has been nominated in the following categories: Best Diaspora Drama & Best Make-up. One of our supporting actors, Malik Yoba was also nominated as Actor in Foreign Film category. Keep reading about the author: www.ofsentimentalvaluenovel.com


Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

After the successful release of my very first young adult novel, The Adventures of Jewel Cardwell: Hydra’s Nest, an opportunity to write a novel, which would be made into a movie came. I had to stop writing the sequel to the young adult novel.  Of Sentimental Value the novel has been launched and we are now waiting in the wings to see the feature movie released in 2015. I am ready to jump right back into completing the sequel to The Adventures of Jewel Cardwell. The second in the sequel, The Sorcerer’s Purgatory will provide an opportunity for readers to get to know even closer one of the great characters, Kaya Darkling in the first book. The Cover Reveal of this can be seen: http://www.worldoffumihancock.com/#!buy-a-book/ciyu. This is scheduled for release in 2015. Stay tuned!

I also have my African Oscar nominated TV show, The Princess in Suburbia Lifestyle Talk Show: http://www.princessinsuburbia.com. I am getting ready for another set of season. Coming 2015, I will be travelling across country and internationally on speaking engagements empowering women who desire to maximize heir second wave of life. May it be housewives who are looking for a career, those looking to change their current careers into finally pushing through to fulfill their destinies. I am the expert… from a Social Worker to a Registered Nurse and finally now doing what I know I was born to do~ Write, Make Movies and Empower others to reach their life destination. Be on the look out for information.
Are you a mom ? 

I am a proud mother of two boys both graduated college. Hooray! My girls are still working their way through high school and college.

                 
       



If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?

When my kids were young, it was incredibly hard to find time to myself especially as a newly divorced young mother. Now that they are in college, they have actually become a rewarding asset to me. They remind me of how young adults speak and their expectations when reading novels. They also helped in doing the initial editing before it went to the editor.  I am very grateful for that.

Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?

Arhh… yes! My trips to Africa truly inspired me to dig further into using it as the setting for my book. Other popular fantasy or even mystery & suspense books like the Twilight and Amanda Hocking’s Tryll series have used the US; Harry Potter used certain parts of Europe.  I wanted to bring something even more spectacular and unique. Though many of my characters are not true-bred Africans, my first novel The Adventures of Jewel Cardwell: Hydra’s Nest truly explored the dynamics in their lifestyles. It also exposes the way they mingle or co-exist with each other.  In the same token, Of Sentimental Value (http://www.amazon.com/Sentimental-Value-Fumi-Hancock-ebook/dp/B00LX2GK8K) reached for my experience in African as well as America.
Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?

You are OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE…
ONE EVENT Elects Who You Are;
ONE EVENT Molds Your Values & Beliefs;
ONE EVENT Charts the Course of Your Journey… Good, Bad or Indifferent;
ONE EVENT Determines Your DESTINY… FOR LIFE;
ONE EVENT Will Change Your Life… FOREVER! Make Your Life Count for Something.

When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

I love cooking and also watching just laying around the house and watching adventure movies.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?

FEATURE FILM TO BE RELEASED: 2005~ Get Ready!



Of Sentimental Value
Princess Fumi Hancock

Genre: Mystery / Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Princess in Suburbia

Date of Publication: July 17, 2014

ISBN-10: 0990584801
ISBN-13: 978-0990584803
ASIN: B00LX2GK8K

Number of pages: 328
Word Count: 68, 183

Cover Artist: Phatpuppy Arts Studios

Book Description:

One event Elects Who You Are
One event  Molds Your Values and Beliefs;
One event  Charts the Course of Your Journey… Good, Bad or Indifferent;
One event Determines Your Destiny… For Life
One event  Will Change Your Life… Forever

Bestselling Author, Indiefest and African Oscar Award Winning Filmmaker, Host of an African Oscar nominated TV Talk show, An African Heritage Leadership Award recipient and a globally sought after transformation interventionist, Princess  Fumi Hancock  delivers an inspirational and intriguing romantic suspense story, yet laced in mystery and comedy. Of Sentimental Value, a titillating and jaw dropping adventure set between the deep rich forest of Africa and the southern flat plains of Nashville, Tennessee.

A Twenty-one year old, Young African Immigrant, SIBERIA TONKA has all the ingredients of a successful writer: Commitment, dedication, and drive to become famous. Until her dream of becoming the next bestselling media sensation in America is threatened by an inexplicable cosmic force! Buried and spiraling in unsurmountable debt and a string of misfortune hovering over her, she is forced to pawn her most valuable possession. But when told her sister’s life in Africa hangs in the balance and that would die if artifact is not returned back to the rightful owners, Siberia in desperation sets out to retrieve the artifact at any means necessary. A Mystery enigma is released and the stakes are high! The harder Siberia tries… the closer she seems yet the farther she was from solving the turmoil. 

Alas, in the midst of this chaos evolves an undeniably love triangle between Siberia, a wealthy rugged-looking African, but Nashville-based, art collector (Alan) and a simple American consignment store owner (Jake). 

Will Siberia retrieve the artifact in time to save her dying sister, Naiya? Who / what wins her heart? Money or True Love?


Book Available at Amazon

Book Trailer Produced by Cambium Break Pictures




Of Sentimental Value Motion Picture Scheduled to Release 2015 



Starring Malik Yoba, New York Undercover and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? and Tommy Tiny Lister, Deebo on Friday, 5th Element with Bruce Willis.

VIP Screenings and Private Book Launches in Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville

Award Winning Filmmaker Princess Fumi Hancock shares clip of SOLD OUT " Live" Nashville TN Red Carpet Event: http://youtu.be/s0LlaKZyI7Y

Video Reviews

Miss Haiti International, RĂ©gine Pierre Shares Her Review of, Of Sentimental Value: http://youtu.be/21hlsgE81lQ

Los Angeles

Of Sentimental Value VIP Movie Screening and Book Launch Raving Reviews Bring Producer to Tears! http://youtu.be/4VwnYXNAoHI

LA welcomes Red Carpet Screening of Award Winner, Of Sentimental Value

The Video Reviews

Award Winning Filmmaker, Princess Fumi Hancock Shares a “Kairos Moment” with Host, Lola Ogunleye Reviewing Of Sentimental Value http://youtu.be/417hPzsQ4C4

Gift Items Available at:


Excerpt: Murky Haze

Spiraling through the murky haze is a stream of white smoke; Africa’s humid and gloomy weather punctuated the striking of an African “bata” drum; a sign of impending doom in this Never-never land called Oyo, set majestically in the flat plain fields of West Africa.
Wrapped in ruffled white sheets and face painted with pungent white chalk, distinct tribal marks from Oyo; she chuckles and giggles out loud, sometimes overpowering the African “bata” beats rippling the air. This enigma of a mystery woman’s deep tones carries with it an air of danger and magic. Her fiendish chuckles are exaggerated by her threatening mannerisms. She adds to the mystery in the air by thrusting out her spectacularly painted arms, holding a uniquely designed African clay pot filled with bubbling steaming water. The steam spiraling out of the magical pot is hypnotic. She begins to laugh again as the rhythmic African beat gently fades, instantly replaced by an urgent tick-tock sound, intensifying the anxiety. Seeing my clandestine woman’s animated and daunting striking face, Yemoji becomes boisterous as she squints her overpowering eyes; eyeballs fiercely protruding, eliciting intense fear in those who behold the strange sight.

As the tick-tock sound gets louder, Yemoji abruptly clutches her magical pot to her bosom. Her arms stretch out with purpose, displaying her remarkably long claw-like nails. She beckons me closer. Yemoji welcomes hushes me into undeniably captivating presence, placing one finger to her sultry lips.

          “Sshh! Sshh!”

Suddenly, the tick-tock sound intensifies yet again as Yemoji’s thunderous and wickedly cold laughter reverberates into the atmosphere.
 
          “Did you hear me? I said.... Sshh! Sshh! Siberia! Si-be-ria!”

Wisdom Nugget from Siberia Tonka:


“A person who sows love reaps a harvest of good friends and family. It doesn’t really matter where we come from; we all have something of sentimental value. And this crazy chain of events has led me to my destiny….it has led me to fight for the people I love” ~Siberia

About the Author
Princess Fumi
Stephanie Hancock Ph.D.:

Bestselling Author,  NAFCA African Oscar People’s Choice Winner, Indiefest Films Merit Award Filmmaker, TV Host, Transformation Interventionist and Philanthropist are just a few accolades to describe this dynamic woman.

Born in the heart of Nigeria, Lagos State; Princess Fumi Hancock was raised to appreciate her royal roots from the South Western region of Nigeria, Emure Kingdom, where her family, the Adumori Nigeria Royal Household have ruled since the 1800s’.

After acquiring her first degree in English from one of the most prestigious colleges in Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University; she stormed the United States of America with a pen, a script and the dream to change the world. Little did she know that it would take her over thirty years to finally fulfill her dream of becoming a prolific writer and most importantly, one who would have the ability to translate her literary works into movies.

As an author, she has written several inspirational books for women, Beyond Idol Worship: A Diary of an African Warrior Princess; Starting Right Now to name a few! After writing these inspirational books and her return back to African after over 25 years absentia; she reaches out to help her community through her US based nonprofit organization, Adassa Adumori Foundation, Inc. (www.adassafoundation.org); she also decided to venture into the world of young adult fantasy. To her surprise, her very first young adult fantasy, The Adventures of Jewel Cardwell:  Hydra’s Nest became an amazon bestseller! There has been no stopping her since then. 

Her new novel, Of Sentimental Value, a mystery and suspense drama is yet another landmark for her. The book was made into a feature film which is scheduled for release soon (www.ofsentimentalvaluemovie.com ). In the advent of its release, it has garnered multiple award interest. It was nominated in the NAFCA African Oscar Peoples’ Choice category for Favorite Trailer and Original Score while the Princess took home the winning trophy as Favorite Screenwriter.  Since then, the movie itself has been nominated in the following categories: Best Diaspora Drama and Best Make-up. One of our supporting actors, Malik Yoba was also nominated as Actor in Foreign Film category.

Princess Fumi is one who truly believes that dreams do come true if we keep plugging away at it and never give up! Her very first crack at writing, she will never forget her professor at a college in New York telling her, “you need to quit! You are a horrible writer!” “I was devastated,” she said. But did not allow that to keep her down. With time, even the professor finally announced to the post graduate class that she was the best student he’d ever had. That screenplay, “The Royal Bird” ended up winning Best Screenplay of the year in 1988 in a New York festival. It was later auctioned to one of the largest television stations in Africa, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).  The rest of her time today is spent presenting her new empowerment program, Your Vision Torch, an Innovator’s Prescription to Igniting Your Dreams and Harnessing Your Vision to leaders, business owners and women across Africa and the United States of America.  More details on how to bring her to your event: www.worldoffumihancock.com  
























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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Please Welcome Author Breigh Forstner Author of Straight from the Heart






Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

I’m from and currently live in a border town in Southeast Michigan.  I also work full-time as a Customs Broker but at night that’s when all of my writing comes out! My genres I write are mainly YA Romance, Contemporary. I would love to write fantasy at some point.

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

My upcoming release is From My Heart, the sequel to “Straight from the Heart.” It continues right where book one left off, and introduces some new characters, along with the same characters from book one.


Are you a mom?

Yes I am! I have two beautiful little girls who are almost 4 and 2 ½. They keep me extremely busy.

If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?

For sure, it is very difficult at times. I’ve had to put videos on for the kids on one side of my laptop screen while I’m writing on the other side. Sometimes there was succes, other nights not so much.

Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?

Not as of yet! I’ve had a lot of people ask me if Straight from the Heart is based on my real life and I said no! I wish I could tour with a bunch of hot rockstars :)

Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Anything by Jessica Sorensen. I love all of her books especially the Coincidence series with Callie and Kayden.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

I’d like to try fantasy or maybe horror. I used to love horror movies and there’s so much you can do with the genre so if I ever had the chance to write a horror novel I would.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book?

Any details you can share?


The next book is “From My Heart” releasing November 24th of this year. I’m hosing a release weekend for the release of it. It was basically continue with Bryn and Cale’s story (With Cale’s POV included in this one.) 




Straight from the Heart
Book One
Breigh Forstner

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 1500525987
ASIN: B00LS7LVS4

Number of pages: 338
Word Count: 68,000

Cover Artist: Madelene Martin

Book Description:

This is a story about a girl discovering and experiencing life for the first time.

Bryn Schaefler grew up rich. Her parents expected the best out of her, picked her boyfriend for her, and groomed her to be the next trophy wife fresh out of High School.

But when they discover she wants to pursue music instead of following in her mothers footsteps, they wanted to hear nothing about it.
That was when Bryn left for good.

By chance, she auditioned for main stream rock band Everlasting. Never in a million years did she think she would make it.

Cale Pelton knew it was his fault for the band scrambling around to find a new guitarist. Once he saw Bryn audition, he knew he had to have her. Not just in the band, but in his mind, body and soul.

Available at   Amazon US      Amazon UK      BN
    
Excerpt:


Passing the bus for Ignite the Flames, I saw someone leaning against the door of the bus, smoking a cigarette, aiming the smoke in my direction.

“First show?” The guy asked, taking one last puff of his cigarette and throwing it onto the pavement. He was good looking to say the least. It was like I was staring at Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy in the flesh, minus the whole biker jacket thing going on. Wow, I could hardly contain myself. Down girl…you have a show to play.

Turning towards him, I put my hands on my hips. “How’d you guess?” I asked, cocking one hip to the side. I was showing a little too much leg, but I knew that’s how a lot of girls dressed when on stage. I figured I might as well follow suit.

Jax look-a-like smirked and gestured toward my outfit. “It was easy, love. The outfit for starters, the way you carry yourself, like you’re a stuck up pageant queen or some shit.”

I gave him an indignant look. “Do you get all of the girls like that, saying they’re stuck up pageant queens?”

“Of course,” he winked, taking steps towards me and outstretched his hand. “Damon Charming, Ignite the Flames.”

I took his hand, shaking it with a tight grip. His grey eyes were shooting laser beams into my system and all of a sudden, I felt throbbing between my legs. I knew what that meant. I wasn’t that inexperienced, despite being a virgin. His eyes met mine and I smiled in return. “Bryn Schaefler, Everlasting.”

“Bryn Schaefler huh?” He pulled out another cigarette and lit it up right in front of me. “I heard about you. New lead guitarist. Cale seems to think you’re a frickin’ prodigy or something.”

Cale really said that about me. He must have been bragging to the world that he nailed me, not literally. I shrugged my bare shoulders. “Yeah I guess I’m pretty good.”

He took another puff and handed the butt over to me. I shook my head and he placed it back into the side of his mouth so he could talk. “Well, pretty good gets you nowhere, darling. You’ve got to shred those notes like fuckin’ butter. Move those fingers like you’re screwing the guitar bare back.” I stood there with my mouth gaped open. I didn’t know how to react to that. Sure he was pretty damn gorgeous, but I’ve never been around someone who swore so much to my face. Showed how much I got around. “But good luck. I’ll be watching you.” He winked again, and I mouthed “bye”, looking back a couple of times his way before finally making my way inside the venue.



About the Author:

Breigh Forstner currently resides in her home town in south east Michigan with her two daughters. While she works full-time during the week, at night she spends time with her kids and writes until her fingers can’t type anymore. Her goal is to make it onto a best sellers list at some point in her career, and writes any chance she can get. She is a lover of all types of music and is a sucker for rock bands and tattooed bad boys.

Twitter: @BreighForstner






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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Spotlight and Giveaway: Whisper the Dead by Alyxandra Harvey







Whisper the Dead
The Lovegrove Legacy
Book Two
Alyxandra Harvey

Genre: YA, YA historical paranormal, witches

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date of Publication: Oct 7,2014

Word Count: 100 000

Book Description:

Gretchen is struggling with her newfound gift as a Whisperer; the constant buzzing in her ears from detecting spells is more frustrating than fun, especially when she is spending time with one of the Order of Iron Nail’s Keepers, the icy but strikingly handsome Tobias Lawless.

But while Gretchen tries to hide the truth and resolve her feelings for him, London fades from beautiful and bustling to deathly silent …Something evil is once again menacing Mayfair, and Gretchen and her cousins must use their powers to prevent a horrible sacrifice

Available at Amazon


Excerpt:

The contrast between fighting off the Rovers and pasting a polite smile on her face for the single sons of earls was too stark. Residual magic burned through her. She was surprised the air around her didn’t crackle. Her mother shouldn’t begrudge her a stolen moment in the library, not if the alternative involved magic shooting off the ends of her hair. Hardly subtle. 
Not to mention hardly marriageable material.
            On second thought….
            Better not. She’d already pushed her luck by going off with Godric.
            Egyptian onion farming it was then. She walked along the book shelves, reading titles and glancing into the glass-fronted cabinets that held Lord Worthing’s collection of painted globes. It was dull and dusty and soothing. Her witch knot stopped aching.
            Until someone grabbed her arm, yanking it behind her back and spinning her around. Her check pressed to the cold glass of a curio cabinet. Pain shot up to her elbow when she tried to move.   “Who are you?” a man’s asked, his voice quiet and cold in her ear.
            “Who am I?” she barked back. “Who the hell are you?” He evaded the kick she aimed at his most sensitive parts. Her skirts wrapped around her knees, hobbling and infuriating her. He turned her roughly around.
            Tobias Lawless.
            She wasn’t sure which of the two of them was more surprised.
            Someone so chilly and perfect and wearing such a flawless cravat shouldn’t be mauling ladies in dark libraries. He also shouldn’t have several short iron daggers tucked inside his cutaway coat. It probably said something unsavory about her character that the sight of those daggers made her like him a bit more. But only a little bit.
            “Let me go,” she yanked savagely down, breaking his hold. He didn’t move back, and his body continued to block her against the cabinets. The glass rattled.
            “What are you doing?” he stepped closer still. She had to tilt her chin up.         
“I am currently being accosted,” she snapped, driving the heel of her shoe into the top of his foot. He fell back a step, growling in his throat. Growling. He really didn’t seem the type.
            She made a proper fist, not like the ones girls made when they hadn’t practiced before. She’d already punched a Rover tonight. She was very comfortable punching Tobias, Lord Killingsworth. Eager, in fact.
“What is wrong with you?” she asked finally. “Are you drunk?”
            “Certainly not.”
            She raised an eyebrow. “I’m the one being mauled and yet you take offense?”
            “I can smell it on you,” he answered which was no answer at all. “There’s no use prevaricating.”
            “I don’t usually bother lying about perfume,” she replied, now more bewildered than concerned.
            “Not perfume,” he ground out, as if she was the frustrating one. “Dark magic.”
             Her eyes narrowed to angry slits. “I beg your pardon.”
            “As you should.”
            She aimed for his head. It was big and fat and so perfectly groomed, how could she miss?             He caught her wrist and squeezed. Hard. He shouldn’t have been fast enough.
            An iron-nail pendant in the shape of a wheel slipped out from under his collar. Gretchen stared at it, then transferred her glare to his haughty, unkindly beautiful face.  “I knew it.” She gave him a smile better suited to one of the animals in the zoological gardens. “You’re a bloody Keeper.”




About the Author:

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream.




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October 1 Guest blog
Jill Archer

October 2 Interview
Fang-tastic Books

October 2 Spotlight
Triquetra Reviews

October 3 Interview
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

October 3 Spotlight
Book Purses & Reviews

October 6 Spotlight
Roxanne’s Realm

October 6 Spotlight
Paranormal Book Club

October 7 Guest blog
Suzanne Johnson

October 8 Spotlight
Share My Destiny

October 9 Guest blog
Marsha Moore

October 10 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com

October 13 Guest blog
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October 14 Spotlight
Book Liaison 

October 15 Interview
Mom With A Kindle

October 16 Spotlight
Kristy Centeno

October 16 Spotlight
Soaring Eagle Publicity

October 17 Interview
Shut Up & Read 

October 20 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books

October 20 Spotlight
Read It Woman

October 21 Guest blog
Books &Tales:

October 22 Spotlight
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

October 22 Spotlight
Not Tonight I’m Reading 

October 23 Spotlight
Imagine a World

October 24 Spotlight
Geeks In High School

October 27 Interview
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October 27 Spotlight
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October 28 Spotlight
SBM Book Obsession

October 29 Interview
Author Karen Swart

October 29 Spotlight
Kayl's Krazy Obsession

October 30 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.  

October 31 Interview
My Book Fairy

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CBY Book Club