I had the opportunity to showcase a few copies of Shasta Summer in a bookshop in Washington. Whilst browsing around a shopper actually decided to buy a copy. How exciting is that? I do hope they enjoy it as I'm also hoping to place The Eye of Erasmus there also.

I'm now closing the blog until the New Year so may I wish all my fellow bloggers who view my blog a very Happy Christmas !! and Prosperous New Year.

I went out for a Chinese meal last night with a crowd of friends, and sold a copy of Shasta Summer AND The Eye of Erasmus. Their comment "It would be rude to read one without the other" and who am I to argue with them...... YAY !!

Today I was given the opportunity to speak to a writing group at my local library. What they lacked in numbers they made up for in enthusiasm. I found it incredibly difficult to talk about the fact that I'm an international, best selling author but I definitely enjoyed talking to them. Not only did I get a wonderful bouquet of flowers from the librarian, I was also asked by the group to speak to other members in the future. A rare privilege indeed.

On another note visitors to this blog last month - 579 awesome stuff.

Every so often a book comes along that is a good deal different from the norm and THE INTERPRETER  is such a book.

Shabir Khan leaves Moscow, after the fall of the Taliban, to

go and live in Kabul.

Whilst searching for work he ends up in Helmand, working as

an interpreter.

In his leisure time he studies and enjoys sports, but 

during a fight with a Taliban in his Karate club he 

injures him badly and is consequently thrown into jail.

Whilst in Helmand, Shabir hears the voice of a Taliban

commander over the ICOM, but is it the same one who 

jailed him?

Living away from his family is soul destroying but 

living with threats of decapitation to himself and 

fellow interpreters leaves him on a knife edge....

Take a journey with Shabir The Interpreter, on daily 

patrols with the American officers as they connect 

to the local village people and Afghan officials. 

Only he can translate for the Maliks and Mullahs.
Join me in the deserts of Helmand and watch Shabir’s 

battle with the Taliban for one day, then imagine 

what he goes through every day. 

                      *******************

 Shah Wali Fazli was born in Kabul, and studied 

medicine at the University of Kabul. He left there 

after the Taliban took over the city. In the year

2000 he came to England, where he studied English 
and computer technology.

His first book was called 'Running from Life',

published in the Dari language. It's also available

in English. 

When NATO went to Afghanistan, Shah's first job in

England was with the British army, advising them 

on the Afghanistan issues. He was also instrumental 

in helping them with cultural training. It was through 

this he got the idea of writing 'The Interpreter'.

Shah worked for years for the British army before moving

to Germany, where he started working with the American 

army, doing the same job. 

He still works with them today and loves the job.

 RUNNING FROM LIFE by Shah Wali Fazli

Take a look at Shah's web page here and learn a 

lot more about him and his life.

http://shahsight.com/home.html

Wish me luck

I'm giving a talk to a writers group on 1st December about the publishing world and how nice it is to be published. I bet they think I'm coining it in. Little do they know......
It's split - a bit for my publisher and a bit for me. Now considering a Kindle download can be bought for under a pound (English) under a Dollar (American) I'll leave you to work out the logistics. :)

Anyway wish me luck peeps.

ERASMUS AT HIS BEST

Here is the new cover for the Eye of Erasmus. It's even worth re buying the book again.....

 And here is the woman he has pursued through centuries.

I loved the original cover which was aimed at the YA market. It was an original painting by John Piggott who has my eternal thanks.

BLACK SHADOWS DOES IT AGAIN

Black Shadows by Simon Swift has got the ultimate accolade and here it is ...........

--Simon Wood, author of THE FALL GUY said,

              "........People ask when will someone write a hard boiled crime novel from the golden age, well   
                       Simon Swift has with Black Shadows......."

It should be noticed that as far as detective fiction goes Simon Wood is massive in the US.

Below is my review.............


Black Shadows is not a book I would normally choose to read, but I'm so glad the opportunity was given to me.

We are introduced to the main character Errol Christopher Black, a rookie private detective as he tucks into a large bloody porterhouse steak. Detectives Terry Shadow and Dyke Spanner of the Shadow Man Detective Agency are helping him work his way through a now half empty bottle of claret.

The story unfolds in Newark New Jersey in 1935 where mobs rule, and we are witness to a typical shoot out of the time. As the table is upended to afford some form of protection from the flying bullets, they realise that they are not the intended targets but Terry Shadow meets his untimely end with two clean bullets to the head.

Ten years down the line we find Errol Christopher Black with a new partner, Hermeez Wentz and now based in Manhattan at the Black and Wentz Detective Agency along with his very obliging secretary Ava Jameson.

Errol seems happy to take on run of the mill cases and his new client Claudia seems to fit into that category. She tells of a straying fiancé George, along with the discovery of a lipstick and pair of lacy panties which don't belong to her.

As he takes on what he considers to be a routine surveillance case, Errol is unexpectedly drawn back once more to the mobsters and gangs of that time.

His one time partner Dyke Spanner is shot to death and Errol finds himself on the trail of a blue diamond coveted by hoodlums and beautiful women alike.

The story unfolds with many twists and turns, whilst the reader is witness to the beautiful women that Errol chooses to bed, in his quest for the diamond and the elusive George. Murder is not a rare occurrence either. To state more would give away too much of the plot.
The strength of the writing led me to imagine that I was entering into a 1940's movie with Humphrey Bogart in the wings.

I also firmly believe that with the right exposure, there is potential here for a film.
Many times during reading BLACK SHADOWS I was convinced that I had all the answers, only to be completely wrong footed by the superb, imaginative writing of Simon Swift.   

An Eye Opener

Yesterday I completed reading and reviewing The Interpreter by Shah Wali Fazli.

 I would urge you to read this powerful book because although it is a work of fiction, the author has in fact first hand experience and knowledge.

It tells the life of an interpreter in Afghanistan (Helmand Province) and the heartache of actually doing the job.

THE INTERPRETER

Shah Wali Fazli

English is not the first language of Shah Wali Fazli and yet he writes clearly and distinctly. I could feel the trials and tribulations of the heat of the desert through the simplistic power of his words along with the knowledge that anyone in a war zone may never see the light of a new day.

Shabir Khan is an interpreter and yet he feels all the intensity of the war raging around him without the benefit of the fight. His constant fear is the safety of his family spread around the world. His parents in Moscow, his siblings in Zurich. His main priority is to do his job and keep his head down, whilst constantly wondering if he will ever lead a normal life again.

Through the story is a back thread of his other fear. His previous jailer and torturer is looking for him and Shabir finds himself with a near death experience courtesy of a suicide bomber.

I was unsure of the storyline at first, but I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to read The Interpreter. Although this is a work of fiction I understand the author was an interpreter.

I feel sure this book will be an instant success with the right exposure in light of the current world affairs. It's the sort of book that would appeal to the military I feel and has just the hint of a suggestion for a good movie.

******

A TASTER .......

The Interpreter

Come to the mountains of Afghanistan and watch my battle with the Taliban, for one day, then imagine what I go through, every day.

The Interpreter is back in town, injured and bleeding. Please shelter him in your homes, if you can, because he is in danger of losing his life and his battle in putting an end to the Taliban era, in Helmand.

Please join the Interpreter and be part of history. It is about someone fighting to rescue his war-torn land and people against their worst enemy, the Taliban.

I am the Interpreter and I don’t lack love and passion towards you, people. Please heal my injuries and stop my bleeding, I am there for you, people. I won’t let you down. I am the saviour. I am the Interpreter.

*****

The Power of Twittering

Whilst twittering away as we all seem to do these days. I came across Jordan Rivers.
Here is part of any extract from her web site and I urge you to visit.....

........................When not writing, I'm shooting an ultra low-budget movie. I've shot 4 so far. I'm also an award-winning script writer. I was a writer in Hollywood for over twenty-five years and wrote for Warner Bros., Universal, and more t.v. shows then I can remember. I'm the writer who always re-wrote others for a pay check instead of credit ..............
 To read the rest of this amazing article pop over to the link below

http://jordan-rivers.com/index.html

KC HILTON DOES IT AGAIN

My little American friend from the Kentucky area has done it again with her book 90 Miles To Freedom.
Check this out........

On Amazon.com

90 Miles to Freedom is on two best seller lists

 

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,916 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

• #80 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Action & Adventure
• #93 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

 How awesome is that??

Well known for her novel The Magic of Finkleton - Best Seller and Literary Award Winner - Katrina is now working on book two and book 3 in the series.

Wahoo and this author can't wait for them to be finished.

Hitting the High Life

Not only am I still reeling from being #8 on Amazon and #1 on Goodreads I've been asked to give a talk to a writers group at my local main library where I live. Hopefully some book sales then along with lots of give away freebies to promote Shasta Summer.
I now have the ending for the last book in the trilogy. Just need the time to actually sit and begin writing it.

Check out  Danger Danger the latest book by Gerry Mc Cullough here

http://www.amazon.com/Danger-ebook/dp/B005W7TUQQ
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Danger-ebook/dp/B005W7TUQQ

Overall Shasta Summer in all her glory

This is how Shasta Summer now stands on Goodreads listings and it seems to be moving up constantly.

#73 Best Time Travel Fiction
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/211.Best_Time_Travel_Fiction

#48 The Very Best Time Travel Romance
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/421.The_Very_Best_Time_Travel_Ro...

#9 Best Time Travel Romance
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4706.Best_Time_Travel_Romances_

#1 THE Best Time Travel Romance
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/10637.The_Best_Time_Travel_Romance

I'm not sure what the difference between Best time travel romance and THE Best Time Travel Romance is but to me it's 11 places which still makes me #1 Wahooo

Now if any of you lovely people feel inclined to go along and add a vote for me I might eventually sweep the board. AND I'd be ever so 'umble and grateful my lovelies.

I'M EXCITED !!!!!!

Shasta Summer is now number 1 on Goodreads Listopia
Check it out here ...............

• • goodreads voice

All lists | Create a list | My lists

The Best Time-Travel Romance

1		Shasta Summer by Teresa Geering (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 14 ratings added to your list (1st) remove    score: 700, and 7 people voted	My rating: edit my review shelf: read
2		The Laird of Loch Fyne by Brandy Grandberg (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 16 ratings vote for this book    score: 500, and 5 people voted	My rating:
3		Destined by Allison Kraft (Goodreads Author) 4.78 avg rating — 9 ratings vote for this book    score: 400, and 4 people voted	My rating:
4		Cascade (River of Time, #2) by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 383 ratings vote for this book    score: 397, and 4 people voted	My rating:
4		Waterfall (River of Time, #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 797 ratings vote for this book    score: 397, and 4 people voted	My rating:
6		A Knight in Shining Armor (Montgomery #16) by Jude Deveraux (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 5,296 ratings vote for this book    score: 298, and 3 people voted	My rating:
7		Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon 3.90 avg rating — 96,172 ratings vote for this book    score: 200, and 2 people voted	My rating:
8		Remembrance by Jude Deveraux (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 1,724 ratings vote for this book    score: 199, and 2 people voted	My rating:
9		Into the Dreaming (Highlander, #8) by Karen Marie Moning 3.97 avg rating — 1,842 ratings vote for this book    score: 182, and 2 people voted	My rating:
10		Spell of the Highlander (Highlander, #7) by Karen Marie Moning 4.23 avg rating — 4,822 ratings vote for this book    score: 177, and 2 people voted	My rating:
10		To Tame a Highland Warrior (Highlander, #2) by Karen Marie Moning 4.08 avg rating — 5,392 ratings vote for this book    score: 177, and 2 people