Please come out and enjoy the many authors and food truck vendors at this
one of a kind festival. Taking place at the Gala Event Center at 1801 Bush
River Road in Columbia, participants can enjoy a wide range of cuisines while
engaging with authors of various genres. There will be something for everyone!
The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m on Saturday, July 27th.
I’ve always said the mind of a writer is a terrible place. I didn’t know exactly how terrible until I started coming up with the punishment Geneva laid out for her daughter’s attackers in Flames of Wrath. With that said, let’s take a look at how the writing process unfolds—depending on what I’m writing, of course.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
Most times, I start writing before I do any research. Some books demand a little and some, a lot. It was easy enough to start writing Flames of Wrath without any research, but the level of injuries Alexia suffered meant finding out medical terms and consulting the people in that field to get my facts straight. Also, the technological mishaps required a fair amount of research to get the details right and for me to write them in a convincing way. My son, who’s a techie, helped with this.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I used to be a voracious reader, but to be honest, I don’t read as much as I used to. Time seems to be in shorter supply the older I get. These days, in between the episodes of crime drama, I try to get my reading in. I’m an eclectic reader, but romance is my favorite genre and going deeper, romantic suspense is my jam. I also enjoy historical fiction set in the far east. A good thriller cleanses my palate in between reads.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I can have the television on when I write, but can’t have music playing. If I do, I’ll be engaging in more singing than writing. I enjoy singing and as long as I know the words, I’ll be belting them out with the artist. For me, music is a recipe for not getting much writing done.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
My habits have changed and I try to stay true to one book. If I have more than one deadline, or I’m stymied by a plot point, I’ll jump to another book and brainstorm or write a chapter or two. Otherwise, I like the idea of finishing one thing before I start another. That doesn’t always pan out, but I try to cultivate good habits.
Do you see writing as a career?
I definitely do and would love to be able to write full time. The challenge is being able to write the way I used to, in that I set a regular publishing schedule. In the last few years, I’ve not been as faithful with publishing as I was in the past, but I’m trying to switch that up and get back on track. It’s very easy to go down a side road and forget what the endgame is supposed to be when there are so many shiny, new things begging for attention in a day.
The need to right a wrong against an innocent victim triggers a hailstorm of revenge.
Flames of Wrath
by J.L. Campbell
Genre: Crime Thriller
A mother’s quest for justice turns into a race against time to stop insidious murders that mysteriously begin populating throughout the city. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware will be enthralled by this emotionally chilling thriller!
The need to right a wrong against an innocent victim triggers a hailstorm of revenge!
In less than twenty-four hours—before Alexia Leighton is scheduled to return to Miami from spring break in Jamaica—a group of friends betray her in a grisly assault that stops a heartbeat away from murder. The seventeen-year-old prays for the mercy of death. She survives. While on the road to recovery, Alexia’s attackers become victims of mysterious acts of violence, leaving authorities confounded and racing against time to prevent another deadly attack. Concern looms, as the perpetrator has proven to be two steps ahead of them at every turn.
When the attention swings to Alexia’s mother, a cyber-security expert, the family closes ranks. Geneva Leighton must quickly eliminate herself as a suspect, but not without handing down more punishment. The offenders fear for their own safety and the secrets that plague them. Can they trust the police to find the killer before someone else dies, or has their fate been sealed—leaving them with no place to run, and no place to hide . . .
National Bestselling Author, J.L. Campbell lives in Jamaica and writes across several genres. She is a certified editor, and book coach, who has produced over forty books. When she’s not writing, Campbell adds to her extensive collection of photos featuring Jamaica’s natural beauty.
In less than twenty-four hours—before Alexia Leighton is scheduled to return to Miami from spring break in Jamaica—a group of friends betray her in a grisly assault that stops a heartbeat away from murder.
Alexia’s mother, a cybersecurity expert, will stop at nothing to secure justice for her daughter. The perpetrators soon find themselves with no place to run and no place to hide from this mother’s vengeance.
Flames of Wrath will be published by Black Odyssey Media and distributed by Kensington Publishing.
My Review: Whoa! This book grabs you by the heart in the first chapter and leads you down a journey of revenge. And you will happily follow along as you root for Alexia and her mother to get a measure of justice. As you watch Geneva advocate and fight for her daughter, you imagine yourself doing the same. When she uses her computer skills to gather evidence against the perpetrators, you nod along. But you soon learn that Geneva will stop at nothing and everyone will feel the heat from her wrath.
This book is an excellent introduction into the thriller verse for author J. L. Campbell. I eagerly await the next installment.
November 28, 2023. Get it now so you’re ready to go on an adventure of revenge!
Kennedy Ryan has revealed the gorgeous cover for This Could Be Us!
Releasing: March 5, 2024
Cover Designer: Natasha Cunningham
“Heart-searing, sensual, and life affirming.” ―EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She’s a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.
But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She’s too busy keeping a roof over her daughters’ heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.
But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist. She’s lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?
After all she’s lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?
For fans of Tia Williams and Colleen Hoover comes a deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.” ―Entertainment Weekly
A RITA® and Audie® Award winner, USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish, and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, TIME, O magazine, and many others. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.
My first published book, Moment of Truth, has gone through a few cover changes. The challenge of finding the perfect image to convey the heart of the story proved tricky. But I think I’ve finally hit upon the right one.
See all the different covers below and let me know your thoughts? Did I finally nail it?
🔥📚🎶I LIKE FREE BOOKS.📚🔥🎶 August 4-6 * 200 Free E-Books in all genres – join the mailing list to know when it’s live. https://bit.ly/NaleighnaKai . These are free books on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble and other sites. Books that do not need to be returned and there are 200 or more downloads to choose from. You can download on other devices, not just Kindle or Kindle app. This is different than Kindle Unlimited. Those books are borrowed, and you are only allowed 10-20 at a time. These are yours to keep forever! . DON’T MISS OUT. . .
Now presenting the NEW cover art for NEVERWRAITH, the first book in Shakir’s newest series.
Here’s the quick pitch of what to expect, in Shakir’s words:
“Neverwraith is a YA Paranormal Fantasy about a teenage descendent of an ancient metahuman bloodline who searches for the truth about the death of his parents and their connection to a centuries-old blood feud over sacred texts contained inside of his native Kindara, an island nation located near the West African Coast … all while navigating high school.”
“As I mentioned in the teaser post last week, the first book in the series will focus on my main character, Yasir Salah, as he has to make a rather hasty move to live with his uncle in Oakwood Grove, GA, a fictional town outside of Savannah. He has to make a few adjustments and deal with the challenges that come with being the “new kid on campus” again … except there’s something about him that the kids at Oakwood Grove High can’t quite place their collective fingers on.”
“Now that things are solid with the cover art, I can’t WAIT for you to meet Yasir, Zahra, Uncle Xavion, Mama Johari, and everyone else who swirls around my most intriguing leading character yet.”
Make sure you add Neverwraith to your TBR pile on Goodreads so others can see what all the fuss is about …