Them Days

 

Them Days

by Glenn P. Booth

 

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GENRE:   Fiction - Historical - Coming of Age

 

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BLURB:

 

“This heartfelt story grabs the reader from the very start and doesn’t let go. Fans of historical fiction are in for a treat.”– The Prairies Book Review

 

Discrimination, war in Europe, a pandemic. . .

Sofiya, a young Ukrainian immigrant, experiences all of this and more. It could be 2022, but it's Manitoba in the early 1900s.

Sofiya is the third consecutive girl born on a poor homestead near Gimli in 1903. She is bright and feisty but nothing more is expected of her than to be a domestic, and at age thirteen she is sent to be a maid to a wealthy family in Winnipeg. There, she experiences the condescension of the English towards the 'Bohunks', while her half-brother is interned during WW1, deemed an enemy alien.

While the Great War is raging in Europe, an undeclared war between the classes is being fought at home. This conflict comes to a head in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 when the working classes rise up against their English masters, shut down the city and demand a better deal. The city is divided and everyone must choose a side.

Them Days takes you on Sofiya's journey, as she discovers what it means to be an immigrant and a woman, struggling to find love and her identity – at the same time that Canada is breaking free from Mother England's apron strings.

 

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EXCERPT

 

“In them days, we wuz poor but happy.”

 

You’re probably laughing at how trite this is. But I’ve heard my sister Helen, and several other members of my family, speak those exact words more times than I care to remember. And it’s exactly how they remember “Them Days.”

 

For us, Them Days goes back to growing up north of Winnipeg on marginal farmland at the turn of the 20th century. Like tens of thousands of Ukrainian and other Eastern European immigrants, my family had come searching for a better life in Canada, lured by the promise of free land.

 

For the most part, the promises were kept, although, as it would turn out, a few “extras” were thrown into the deal. Unfortunately for my family, like many Ukrainians, they had requested land with wood on it. Back in the old country, they had often frozen through long winters on the Steppes because of a lack of wood for building fires. The Canadian government’s land agent obliged, and they were given some scratchy stony ground near Gimli, Manitoba, where the fertile prairie gives way to swampy Boreal forest. But it had wood!

 

With this endowment, it was bound to be a hard life. But my sister still remembers it as a time of happiness.

 

Memories—how they play tricks on us—and how they vary from person to person. It never ceases to amaze me how my family members remember the same events so differently.

 

It was a warm June day in 1982, the last time the seven of us who had survived to late adulthood had gotten together for an informal family reunion. We were sitting in my youngest sister’s trailer, which was parked on the old family homestead. None of us were regular drinkers, but the occasion had inspired my brothers to have a little whiskey, and my sisters and I were sipping some white wine.

 

Sure enough, whether it was the heat, the alcohol, or just our age and the occasion, my siblings waxed maudlin. And it didn’t take long before Helen spoke those familiar words, “In them days…,” and my brothers nodded in agreement. Soon, happy stories of Them Days came pouring out like a prairie river spilling over its banks in the spring.

A Word With the Author:

1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

A. Not as a child. I started to get more seriously interested in being an author in my late 20s. I think life experience helps, at least in my case.

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

A. My first book is a murder mystery/police procedural that draws heavily on my work experience regulating the oil and gas industry in Canada. It was self-published through FriesenPress Publishing. As I am sure is the case for most authors, it was quite the learning experience.

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

A. My first novel was a murder mystery – my favourite authors in that genre are P.D. James and Peter Robinson. Both are British novelists with the plots set in England, although Peter Robinson is now a Canadian.

 

My second novel is historical fiction. My favourite author in that genre is probably Ambrose Parry, the husband/wife team who write the Will Raven / Sarah Fisher murder mystery series that is set in Edinburgh around 1850. These books fall into the categories of both murder mystery and historical fiction, nicely combining my two favourite genres!

 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

I’d say that the best part of being an author is getting positive feedback from readers that your story was meaningful to them and touched them in some way.

 

The worst part is being rejected by publishers and trying to market your novel to seemingly indifferent people.

5.What are you working on now?

 

It’s a children’s/adolescent’s story about the life of a robin, a bit in the style of “Silverwing” by Kenneth Oppel. 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Glenn was born and raised in Winnipeg, where he lived with his Ukrainian grandmother, Helen Lesko, after he and his brother were orphaned just before his fourteenth birthday. He grew up listening to Helen’s stories about ‘Them Days’ growing up on the homestead near Gimli, and life in Winnipeg in the late 1910s and 1920s.

 

Glenn attended the University of Manitoba and the University of Alberta where he respectively obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts (Economics) degrees. Among other jobs, he subsequently worked with Canada’s National Energy Board, where he held positions including Chief Economist, Executive Director of Corporate Planning and External Relations, and Executive Director of Communications and Human Resources.

 

Glenn has published one other novel, Demons in Every Man, a murder mystery set in the Calgary oil patch, published by Friesen Press in 2019.

 

The author lives in Calgary with his Brazilian-born wife of 36 years, Elisabeth. Glenn and Elisabeth have two grown sons who are now successfully making their way in the world. Glenn enjoys returning to Winnipeg every summer to visit with his cousins and old friends, and to enjoy cottage life on Lake Winnipeg. While in Calgary, he loves scrambling and hiking in the Rockies, as well as mountain biking and X-country skiing with friends. Of course, Glenn is also an avid reader.

 

CONNECT WITH GLENN P. BOOTH

 

WEBSITE https://glennpboothauthor.com/

 

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/GlennPBooth

 

BUY THEM DAYS                  

 

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228878438

 

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228878438

 

INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/them-days/9780228878452-item.html

 

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/them-days-glenn-p-booth/1141393328

 

BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Them-Days-Glenn-P-Booth/9780228878438

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Glenn P. Booth will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors

 Welcome to my blog. Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my all time favorite book Blue 52. On Sunday when you finish here you can go to www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a talented group of authors. 

Blurb:

First Lady Kills President Lovinggood" 

December 5, 2018 

Thirty years later, Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother's innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him. Together Hank and lovely physicist Dr. Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, and merciless enemy who'll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever.

Last Week's Excerpt: 

Kathryn grabbed the arms of the chair she had just taken to keep herself from jumping up and running to her car. “Everyone knows the bodies at Knollwood will have to be moved for the Flash Train, but why is the president’s body being brought here?”

Today's Excerpt:

Curtis shifted in his chair. He had one of the hard plastic ones that Kathryn never used. “Are you still satisfied that the equations are correct, Kathryn?”

“Yes, sir. I’m sure. The entire team has gone over them time and time again. We’re all in agreement.”

“Then I think it’s time to make our move.” Curtis almost purred with satisfaction. “After viewing his parents’ remains, I think Hank Lovinggood will be quite receptive to our proposition. The Lovinggoods will be re-interred on November twenty-fourth, which is a Tuesday. Set up an appointment with Hank for Wednesday or Friday. We can’t bother him on Thanksgiving Day.”

Kathryn’s eyes widened. “Me? Don’t you want to talk to him yourself?”

The Widow's Christmas Surprise

                                   The Widow's Christmas Surprise

by Jenna Jaxon

 

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GENRE: Historical Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

The death of her husband has thrown Lady Maria Kersey’s future into doubt—and her heart into the arms of a man she cannot have. But Christmas with the Widows’ Club will bring choices—and surprises--that may change all her holidays to come . . .

 

Maria just gave birth to her first child, a beautiful daughter—but the event is shrouded in sorrow.  A month earlier, Maria’s husband, Lord Kersey, was killed in a duel under compromising circumstances. Worse, Maria’s failure to provide a male heir has stripped her of any hope of an inheritance. Scorned by the ton, one of her few allies is her late husband’s steward, Hugh Granger. Hugh is everything her husband was not—warm, charming—and penniless. . . .

 

Hugh has fallen desperately in love with Maria, but has little to offer but comfort. As their attraction becomes impossible to resist, Maria flees to London to spend Christmas with her dearest friends, a group of widows who lost their own husbands in the Battle of Waterloo. Little does she know the holidays will reveal a twist of fate she never expected—proving that the greatest Christmas gift is the magic of true love . . .

 

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NOTE: The book is on sale for $0.99.

 

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EXCERPT              

 

“I see the skating came back to you,” he steered them down the center of the frozen pond toward the bulrushes at the end, then turned to head back up the far side.

 

“It did–this is so marvelous–I did not realize how much I had missed it until I started to skate.” Maria’s excitement was infectious. He’d not thought of skating since last year, but now the thrill of the speed—almost like flying—seemed one of the most exhilarating things he’d ever done. “Take my hands like this.”

 

He clasped her hands, left in left and right in right, until they faced one another, then he began to spin them around, faster and faster until the world sped by at a dizzying pace.

Maria leaned her head back, laughing up to the cloudless sky, her face more beautiful than he’d ever seen it.

 

He slowed them down until they stood facing one another, panting. “I love you.” Hugh managed to get the words out before he sank his mouth onto hers.

 

The kiss was quick—they were still both gasping for breath—then a gulp of air, then he kissed her again. Longer this time, pressing against her even as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her to him. Another breath and he settled in for a lengthy kiss that he deepened, delving through her lips, into her mouth, tasting all the entrancing flavors that were uniquely her. God, he would never get enough.

A Word With the Author

 1.Did you always want to be an author?

   As a declared career path, no. I wanted to be a teacher, then a theater director. However, I always loved writing assignments in school. I wrote a short story in the third grade, Miss Priss Finds a Kitten (they say write what you know and I had cats and kittens galore at home), and a time travel short story for another assignment in 8^th grade. So even though I didn’t want to be an author…I really wanted to be an author.

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 My first full-length novel, Only Scandal Will Do, had a rocky road to publication. I wrote it in about two months, and began sending out query letters to editors and agents. Forty-seven rejection letters later, I was beginning to think maybe I should just bite the bullet and self-publish. I got one acceptance letter, but I discovered it was from a brand new small publisher with no track record, who didn’t think the book needed editing at all. I told them thank you, but no (the hardest letter I’ve ever written) and continued to query it. Then one night I was in an online chat with the editor for Lyrical Press. I mentioned my book (I really wanted a big six contact, not a small press) and the editor, Mary Murray, asked me about it. After I told her the synopsis, she asked to read the first three chapters. So I sent it off and she asked for the full book. Then she made an offer for the book. And after much soul searching, I said yes. It was the best decision I ever made. Mary Murray was a fabulous editor. The book sold extremely well. And when Lyrical was bought by Kensington Publishing, that book went right along with the company. Four years later, I got my agent and Kensington bought my first print series, The Widows’ Club. And it all came out of the publication of that first book.

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

  That would be Jo Beverley. I discovered her soon after I began writing historical romance and blew through all her Company of Rogues series, her medieval series, her Malloren series and all the others. Her Georgian Malloren series inspired me to write my second book, Only Scandal Will Do.

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

  The best part of being an author is creating the story—the plot, the characters, the world of a time long ago. That is when I feel most creative—when I’m bringing that story in my head to life on the page.

  The worst part—the necessary evil—is marketing. It takes so much time away from writing, but you have to get the word out so readers will know about your books.

5.What are you working on now?

  I’m currently revising a book I wrote right after Only Scandal Will Do, so it’s been languishing for a long time and needs a lot of revision. Still, I like the story and want it to make its way in the world soon. Its current title is As Long As You’re Mine, set in late Victorian London, about a young lady who is so afraid of falling in love, she plots to have herself compromised by a young man she knows she doesn’t love. That plan goes awry and she ends up getting compromised by a different, very rakish, personable young man she’s terribly afraid she may fall in love with and become miserable because he doesn’t love her. I hope you see it on shelves or on Amazon sometime in the near future!

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling author of historical romance, writing in a variety of time periods because she believes that passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories.

 

She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets--including two vocal cats, one almost silent cat, two curious bunnies, and a Shar-pei mix named Frenchie.

 

Blog:  www.jennajaxon.wordpress.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon

Instagram: passionistimeless

TicTok: @jennajaxon1

 

BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2B8KLB3

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jane Austen Lied To Me

                                              JANE AUSTEN LIED TO ME

by Jeanette Watts

 

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GENRE:  Romantic Comedy

 

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BLURB:

 

Dear Diary, 

 

In three years of college, there are seven times my life seemed to suddenly turn into a Jane Austen novel; seven times my life, instead of becoming a romance, turned into a made-for-TV drama.

 

 What am I doing wrong?

 

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Exclusive Excerpt: 

 

Nov 18

 

Today I can’t decide if things suck less, or more now. I stayed up pretty much all night, texting with Eddie. He and Katie had a discussion about religion that upset him. He wants to be a minister, she told him she’s Catholic.

 

I said, “What’s the problem, you both believe in God, right?”

 

He said “It’s a big problem, you can’t be a Methodist minister with a Catholic wife. How can you preach to a congregation if your own wife doesn’t subscribe to the same faith?”

 

Great. So he’s thinking about marrying Katie. I asked him if it wasn’t a little early to talk about marriage, since they weren’t even officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. He said that if he knew what he wanted, he didn’t see the point in beating around the bush. None of this made me any happier, of course. But I kept on being the good best friend, asking questions and making him talk about it. Every answer was ripping me up inside, but I kept on going, since he needed to talk. At least I get beaucoup “Best Friend” points, right? About 3 in the morning, I think, he told me how great I am, and that I’m the only person in the world he can really talk to. Still channeling Mansfield Park, I told him “You can always tell me anything.” He did say “I know,” before he went back to talking about Katie and how much she’s hurt him. So I’m sleepwalking through my classes today, and all I can think of while I’m supposed to be taking notes in lecture is that boys are stupid.

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jeanette Watts has written three Jane Austen-inpsired novels, two other works of historical fiction, stage melodramas, television commercials, and humorous essays for Kindle Vella.

 

When she is not writing, she is either dancing, sewing, or walking around in costume at a Renaissance festival talking in a funny accent and offering to find new ladies’ maids for everyone she finds in fashionably-ripped jeans.

 

 

Contact Links

Website: https://www.JeanetteWatts.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanetteWattsAuthor

Twitter: @JAMLW_writer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6967936.Jeanette_Watts

https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jeanette2420/_saved/

Instagram: @jeanetteamlwatts

TikTok: @jeanettewattsauthor

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

 

The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn reader via Rafflecopter.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Undeniable Truth

                                                THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH

by Diana Rhodes

 

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GENRE:  Urban Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Is who you have become who you really are?

 

People are lost. They are roaming around looking for answers and can not find them in

the typical places where answers should be. They are looking for the truth and that is hard to

find in a world that is bombarded with false messages, lies and manipulations.

 

The truth as we once knew it has become distorted. The world has become inverted, turned

inside out and it is only getting worse.

 

Only those who have the spiritual fortitude to fight their way through will get to the

ultimate truth, the undeniable truth. At that level, all will be revealed including the truth about

who you are, why you had to go through the things you went through and ultimately, what God’s

purpose is for your life. (Hint: The answer has something to do with the gifts he gave you)

 

For some of us, in the beginning it is a turbulent journey at best, one that starts off with

disappointment, heartache and pain, but that is where perseverance comes in. For those of you

who are able to move beyond our circumstances and still honor that energy that is God, thereis

a reward!

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Lottie directed us to sit in an area that was out of the way, but close enough for us to watch her do her thing on stage. When it was her time to go out, the music played loudly and the

men got pumped up. The MC said her name and the stage lights came on instantaneously. He introduced her as, “Lottie The Body”. The colored lights swirled around the stage creating a mesmerizing effect. Lottie took center stage then emerged from the lights to thunderous applause and a number of whistling men started calling out her name like she was a superstar. She became this whole other person on stage. She morphed into this goddess that men had to have.She flung her body effortlessly into the air then strategically wrapped her long legs around a brass pole twirling herself around like a doll in a music box I once had. As the music played, she went up and down the pole rhythmically keeping perfect time with the beat as she contorted her body into positions that delighted every man in the room, even the dj.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Diana Rhodes is an African-American playwright, screenwriter and author. She is the proud mother of two sons and has written, directed and produced several Off-Broadway plays. She is most noted for her theatrical production of “Troubled Little Angel”, a tribute to the life and legacy of R & B songstress Phyllis Hyman.

Diana continued her writing after moving from New York to Atlanta in 2015 and a few years later was selected as one of the contributing playwrights in the annual production of 50In50 “Letters to Our Sons”, a production usually performed at the Billie Holiday Theater. Her works also include an impressive list of short stories featured on the Ebook website Write On Press.

 

Links:

www.DianaRhodesProductions.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076821250884

https://www.instagram.com/drpvip/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/DRPVIP

BUY LINK

Available in Paperback $19.99

Available in Ebook $3.99 (July 15, 2022)

https://www.amazon.com/Undeniable-Truth-Darkeness-Light/dp/B0B1CMT1TW/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 The author is giving away a $10 Amazon/Barnes and Noble gift card to a reader randomly selected by Raflecopter.

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway