Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Our Friendship Matters by Kimberley Jones


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kimberley B. Jones will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Leah and Sasha are 17-year-old friends who had been close to one another since elementary school, but as the summer approaches they find their friendship tested in ways they never anticipated.

Following graduation, Sasha’s privileged life and perception of the world around her is suddenly altered when an old childhood friend persuades her to join in a campaign against an injustice after his best friend is killed by a cop.

But joining the protest has unforeseen consequences for Sasha, distancing her from Leah, who becomes jealous of Sasha’s new friends and finds herself on the opposing side, protesting alongside her group of new white friends.

As the tension mounts between the two bitterly opposed factions, a tragedy strikes and threatens to make Sasha and Leah enemies. Can they find a way to resolve their differences, putting them to the side and learn to accept each other’s viewpoints? Or is their long friendship finished for good?

Read an Excerpt

As I pulled up into Ricardo’s driveway, Victoria and two other girls who attended Eastview were standing there holding signs that said, “Justice for Mitchell.” I was sweating more than ever. Scared of both the police and the girls I didn’t even know who were going to be getting into my car.

“I didn’t know you were doing signs. I would’ve made me one.”

Ricardo and some guys were busy placing things in the car's trunk.

“Are you okay? The time is now,” said Ricardo.

“I’m ready but a little nervous, too.”

“You shouldn’t be nervous. All we are going to do is go downtown and making a statement that we want justice. Once we are done, we’ll come back home. I won’t let anything happen to you but, if something breaks out, I need you to look for Victoria and get in your car and go home. And if something happens to me, I need you to look for Victoria then go to my house and warn my peeps.”

As the girls got into my car, Victoria told me I could march, and chant the same thing they were planning on saying.

I was missing Leah. This could have been a positive moment that we could’ve shared together. I was still hoping she would come to her senses and realize that our fight from our disagreement was all crazy.

We arrived downtown, and I parked in the garage.

“Why didn’t you park on the streets?” Victoria said.

“My parents always told me to park in the garage so nothing would happen to my car.”

She laughed at me and said, “Well, you are driving a Mercedes. I would do the same if I had an expensive car.”

About the Author:
Kimberley is a professional early childhood educator. She was born in the small town of Saint George, South Carolina, on September 12, 1982. Graduated from Woodland High School in 2000, Benedict College in 2004 with B.S., Child & Family Development, and from Ashford University in 2013 with a Masters in Early Childhood Education.

After receiving her education and being a military spouse, she held several jobs as a preschool teacher and a preschool director, but she wanted to her education to use by writing children’s books. She wrote her first book in college for her children’s literature course. She has self-published several children books on Amazon.

Currently, she is branching off into writing fiction YA, NA, and A novels on issues in society. She loves writing and would not change it for nothing in this world She is now published by Rhetoric Askew. Kimberley is the author of Our Friendship Matters.

https://www.kimberleybjones.com/
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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The Tiger Like Me by Kelsey Lee



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kelsey Lee will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside?

If Abhi had a locker at school, we would find the odd stationary pencil and schoolbook mixed in with her overstocked stash of jungle trekking supplies. Inside we’d find binoculars, a headlamp, a multi-tool, a change of clothes, hiking boots, and a safari hat. Her locker would undoubtedly include some sort of insect that she’s nursing back to health, most likely a Tiger Spider.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

As a child, I adored everything from Shel Silverstein; Where the Sidewalk Ends was certainly my most read book when I was young. I appreciate Shel Silverstein’s humor and the brilliant idiosyncrasies of his work. Sometimes I didn’t understand his poems at all, which made reading them even more entertaining. I thought he was so silly, in the best way. His work fed my oddities and helped me embrace my feelings of being different.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I don’t have a big sweet tooth, but I am a sucker for a tasty carrot cake with cream cheese icing. It can’t have any nuts or raisins in it though, just loads of carrots. If it’s around, I’ll have it any time of day, no problem!

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

At one point or another, I think I wanted to be everything under the sun and beyond! I have a curious mind with many interests, but Marine Biology always fascinated me. I am an avid scuba diver and love everything to do with ocean life. I also find research intriguing, that career path probably would have been a good fit for me. I suppose I should have moved near the ocean, which may have helped the pursuit. Or maybe I'll write about marine adventures instead.

What reality show would you love to be on? Why?

I remember watching Survivor as a teenager when it first came out. I’ve wanted to be on that show ever since. I appreciate the full-body challenge, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that show would test my limits and stimulate personal growth. Now that sounds like an adventure! I would also get to visit an incredible location that I likely wouldn’t have traveled to otherwise. I may need to pursue this now that I’m thinking of it again.

Create an ice cream flavor. What’s it called?

If I were to make an ice cream flavor, I would call it Bengal, and it would be a mix of vanilla bean ice cream and black licorice flavor. I like tiger ice cream for the licorice part, but I'm not a massive fan of the orange flavor. Vanilla and black licorice together sounds kind of magical to me! Don't you think!?

This is the story of Abhi, a brave young girl who dares to be different. As she follows the call of her adventurous spirit, she encounters inspiring creatures of the jungle who remind her to face her fears, recognize the beauty of the present moment, and walk the path less travelled.


Read an Excerpt

Mom always tells me, “You need to slow down, and dress up like a princess, wearing your crown.”

Silly Mom, if only she knew. I don’t want to be pretty, and part of the queue. I have so many adventures to create and pursue.

I’d rather be wild and do things that shock her, than dress up in a gown, feeling improper.

Abhi’s my name, and adventure’s my game. My heart is open and it cannot be tamed.

Whatever the quest, I’m up for the mission. Limitless wonder, or focused expedition.

About the Author:
Kelsey Lee is a writer and adventurer who lives in Calgary, Alberta. With a diverse background from business owner to yoga teacher, most often, you can find her writing, working with children, and exploring all that nature has to offer. Kelsey finds daily inspiration to value child-like curiosity and empathy through her two children, and her work in Equine Therapy. As a free-spirited child herself, Kelsey has always believed that anyone could achieve their wildest dreams, no matter how far-reaching. She passionately encourages self-empowerment and self-esteem, as The Tiger Like Me, aims to support the reader in honouring their individuality to be courageously unique, and playfully curious.

Website: http://kelseyleeauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyleeauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelsey-Lee-Author-103153121229617/

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Like-Me-Kelsey-Lee/dp/0228818001/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tiger-like-me-kelsey-lee/11362521027
Indigo/Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-tiger-like-me/9780228818007-item.html

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