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Book Review--The Light You Cannot Touch

Wow.

Just ponder on that a minute.

Wow.

When my friend, Erin York, asked me to read/review her book of poetry, I immediately agreed. I've read her writing before and I always been impressed by her unique storytelling and vivid imagination. I am not an avid reader of poetry, but I have always enjoyed it. To be honest, I think poetry is the simplest, yet most profound way to expressions emotions.

Erin York exceeded my expectations in The Light You Cannot Touch.

Her poems were real and tugged at the emotions. I found myself saying wow throughout the whole book.

My favorite poem she saved for last, which is also the title of the book. She speaks about being thirteen, that age between childhood and adulthood, when nothing makes sense anymore.

This is the blurb:

"THE LIGHT YOU CANNOT TOUCH is raw, wild, surprising, unafraid, and spry with flares of unforgettable brilliance." --Savannah Thorne, executive director of Balkan Press and managing editor of Conclave: A Journal of Character. "Erin York leaves no doubt that she's a writer of heart and vitality in these moving poems. She's one to watch, one to listen for when you need poetry to take you to places only the heart knows." --Allison Joseph, My Father's Kites: Poems and editor-in-chief of Crab Orchard Review "Erin York takes her reader from innocence to experience, through loss and gain, through the tangled bodies of love in unexpected ways." --Maryfrances Wagner, Red Silk, winner of the Thorpe Menn Book Award and co-editor of the I-70 Review

#TuesdaysWithTamara

Hi everyone! Let me introduce you to #TuesdaysWithTamara. Every Tuesday I'll be giving you an update on 1. What I'm writing, 2. What I'm reading, 3. What I'm watching. 4. What I'm doing with my life.

1. What I'm writing-- Fairy World MD Book 3. This book is really clipping along. I've been averaging 1,200-2,000 words a day, which I'm happy about. I'm on chapter 10 now, and have a total of 28,000 words. I'm aiming for about 80,000 words total, so I'm almost halfway there. Would you like a snippet? Oh, okay, pull my arm... This scene takes place at the Texas Ren Fest. at the start of the noonday parade. Previous to this scene, Olive found a dead body with poppy flowers arranged in the corpse's eye sockets. So here you go...

With just my luck, the Gypsies marched past as I tried to dodge them. One of the young girls caught my eye, and soon she made her way toward me. I tried to avoid her, but once she’d spotted me, she kept pace with me.

“Wouldn’t you like a lovely flower?” she asked, playing the part as she attempted a Gypsy’s accent.

 “No thanks. I’m good.”

“It shall bring great luck,” she said as she trailed behind me.

“I doubt it.”

“And it would look so pretty in your hair.”

“I don’t think so.”

“’Tis a free gift! Why won’t you accept it?”

My patience was worn thin—and this hassler was about to wear it through completely. “Look,” I snapped as I turned around to face her. I stopped, shocked, as I looked at the basket of flowers she carried.

Intermingled with the roses and carnations were flowers I recognized too well. The purple petals with the long hood shape were unmistakable, as were the red flowers with yellow centers.

“Where did you get these?” I asked.

“They are grown with love and magic in my mother’s garden. They are beautiful, aren’t they? All my sisters think so.”

I plucked out one of the red flowers. “What kind of flower is this?”

“’Tis a poppy.”

“A poppy?”

She nodded.

“Is your mother’s magical love garden here on the festival grounds?”

She eyed me. “It’s… well… I don’t think I’m supposed to say.”

“Why not?”

She glanced nervously at the crowd. “Because it is a secret garden.”

She was still keeping up the Gypsy act. “Drop the act,” I said, “and tell me where you got this flower.”

“Fine,” she said in her American accent. “My mom buys them, but I don’t know where. You happy?”

“Yes.” I tried to return the poppy, but she turned away.

“Keep it!” she shouted over her shoulder before flipping me off. 

2. What I'm reading-- On Liberty's Watch, Soul Saver Book 3 by Tifani Clark. 

This is such a great book! It's very rare that I read a book I can't put down. Five kids, you know. And the 2 y.o. Mainly the 2 y.o. But really, this is such a great read. It's about a girl named Jamie Peters who helps ghosts find their way home. Jamie is called a soul saver. I've read the first two books and loved them both. Book three is just as good as the first two. Seriously, if you're looking for an exciting read that your kids can read too, this is the book. Five stars.

Also reading: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I can quote it to you, if you'd like. All my babies have loved this book, so it's gotten to be a tradition that I read it to my current little one. I like that the artwork is very visual, and the kids can easily identify what's on the page. Although, my 2 y.o, does call the muffin, "ice cream." But everything should be ice cream in his mind.

3. What am I watching?

Marvel's Agents of Shield. I'll admit, I am a huge critic of shows and movies. Just ask my hubs. When I started watching season 1, I wasn't too impressed. There wasn't much that set it apart from any other show I'd watched. The characters seemed a little one-dimensional. Their main purpose seemed to be to save this or that, and I didn't feel that their was much depth. But, that changed. I guess sometimes I should just give the show a few episodes so I can get into it. I'm watching season three on Netflix now, and I appreciate that at least some of the characters seem to have more depth. There is mystery going on about Skye's dad. There was a brief relationship between Skye and Ward, and I am grateful that the relationship ended badly when Ward turned out to be traitorous. They're now keeping him under lock and key, and I am anxious to see how they plan to redeem him. He did some really crummy stuff, and at this point, I'm not even sure if he is redeemable. See? He's not so one-dimensional anymore. Four out of five stars for Agents of Shield.

4. What am I doing with my life?

Trying to be more calm. I've been working on this for several weeks. I had an episode where I got super mad at my husband for going to workout on a Saturday morning and leaving me home alone to tend the kids. This came after being home alone tending the kids for, well, let's be honest, forever. I hadn't been away from the kids or chores or house in seven months or more. Not even to sleep or to shop. So the workout issue was the straw that broke the camel's back. After that episode, I decided I had to start taking better care of myself, and stop blaming my bad situation on my husband. Since then, I've gone out a tad bit more. And I do mean a tad bit. But it has helped somewhat. I try to get breaks, but it oh SO HARD TO DO!

Thanks for keeping up with #TuesdaysWithTamara. If you'd like to offer up your advice on how I can take better care of myself, or if you'd just like commiserate with me, go ahead and leave me a comment.

Reminder! Every Tuesday I start a new giveaway on my FB page, so be sure to check it out! https://www.facebook.com/tamaraclairegrantham

Stolen Empire Box Set Cover Reveal

Introducing The Stolen Empire Trilogy Box Set

Releasing on Tuesday September 29th, you will be able to get ALL THREE of The Stolen Empire Novels, together in one amazing Box Set Edition!

Before she can become greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother's quest to put her on the throne of Russia--at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family--and herself--Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she's willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

No Cliffhangers, No Waiting, Read The Whole Story Together!

About The Author

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of several novels for teens and young adults and in her spare time she co-hosts the Pop Lit Divas Radio Show.

COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY!

Crimson Tree Publishing presents a new cover reveal and giveaway for the sequel to Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham. Spellweaver—book two in the Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD. Series— will release on November 16, 2015. Find out more about this exciting series below and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a signed set of trading cards and a digital copy of book one.

SPELLWEAVER by Tamara Grantham

ADD TO GOODREADS

Olive's to-do list: Feed the cat. Pay the rent. Save Faythander. Again.

After Olive's last trip through Faythander, she wants nothing more than a nice vacation. But there's never time for relaxation when goblin treachery is afoot. When Geth, a goblin Spellweaver, destroys the Everblossom—a tree containing Faythander's pure magic—the fairy-world utopia begins to die. The bloom of the Everblossom is all that remains of pure magic. Now Olive must travel through Earth and Faythander to find a place where it will flourish.

As a psychiatrist, her skills are top notch. However, her abilities to handle patients with abnormal mental behaviors will be put to the test when she confronts Geth. Nothing has prepared her for what he reveals to her about goblins and elves. As Olive's quest takes her from her home in Houston through the most dangerous places in Faythander, she learns that history is a muddled subject, especially when elves are involved.

Her only comfort comes from Kull, her Viking warrior sidekick—who somehow negates her bad fortune. Yet how long can their relationship last when his past is brought to light? Olive will be tested beyond anything she has endured so far, as the secrets of Faythander's sordid and bloody past are exposed—one that could irrevocably alter the future and destroy the lives of everyone she loves.

ENTER TO WIN:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

READ THE FIRST BOOK TODAY:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWczl_Q4X8[/embed]

Dreamthief Release Day!

NEW RELEASE TODAY!

Crimson Tree Publishing has a new release available today. Check out this exciting new series that will be sure to spark your imagination and keep you thoroughly entertained all the way through to the last page. Also, make sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom for a signed set of Dreamthief trading cards!

DREAMTHIEF by Tamara Grantham

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / iBOOKS / MORE

BOOK ONE in the Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD Series

Visiting Faythander is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Despite her empty bank account, she takes pride in her job as Houston's only Fairy World medical doctor. She's never failed to cure a client—until now.

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an ancient being called the Dreamthief. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who can't love her in return. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love—not so much. As if battling the forces of evil wasn't difficult enough…

Watch the Dreamthief trailer:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWczl_Q4X8[/embed]

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED SET OF THESE TRADING CARDS:

ENTER TO WIN:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dreamthief's 5 Weeks of Giveaways Starts Now!!!

I'm so excited to announce that Dreamthief's 5 weeks of giveaways starts now! Follow the rafflecopter to earn entries to win a unique fantasy necklace charm, signed trading card designed by the fabulous Marya Heiman (Clean Teen's award-winning cover designer) and more!

Don't miss out! Click the rafflecopter to start earning entries. Visit my blog everyday to earn up to 15 entries per week.

What's this week's prize? That's a secret... but everyday I'll give out a new clue that relates to one of Faythander's five species.

Can you guess which necklace charm I'll give away this week?

Play along all week to find out more!