THE RIVER HAS SECRETS SHE WILL NEVER TELL… Somewhere deep in the forest, where not many have ventured to go, lies a secret. Most of the folks in Anna Brownfield’s little dirt-road town “somewhere in the south” don’t have time for fairy tales about some secret place in the river that can take you to another place and time if you touch the water there. Yet, Anna, who’s now eighty-seven years old, can tell you she knows the ones that have stories to tell. Take a journey back in time if you dare, back to a time when in many ways life was simpler. Go back to a time when you saw the world through the eyes of a child and dared to imagine the impossible.
New Cover! Kindle (Amazon) and Nook (B&N) versions only $2.99
Become the eagle, and take a journey into the past… Back to 1740. Ten winters have passed since his people were taken to serve as slaves for the white men. Now, Soaring Eagle is a strong, proud, Lakota Sioux warrior who will stop at nothing to find his people and return them to their sacred lands.
Then back to the present…Joe “Dreaming Hawk” Thomason has no answers for the dreams he’s been having. Nor can he explain the strange sense of closeness he feels to the Native American elder who tells the stories by the fire at night for the guests at Windy Mountain Campground and Resort. The elusive story teller has given little information about himself, leaving Al and Naomi Edgewood to wonder about the future of the campground. Yet, it is this air of mystery about him that continues to draw the guests each year.
#BookPirating Print copies of your books being sold on #ebay,
For my fellow authors who follow me, my readers who support me, all I will say is, thank you for your support, we are working together, and we are #authorshelpingauthors! To those who are in on this shameful scheme to make money off of other authors’ hard work, we ARE on to you and we will work together to protect our work and help each other! We are united!
Something’s got me seriously confused. I saw a post about getting your books taken down from some pirate sites, so as a matter of interest I googled mine again, and found that not only has African Me been loaded on to heaps more torrent sites for free or paid download, but that now Shadow People has joined the pirate party as well. The thing that’s got me wondering is that they’re both being offered on ebay too as paper books. I stopped looking after four different sellers there. (Click on pics to see them bigger)
At first I thought it could be a reader selling them second hand, but when I had a proper squiz I saw that they’re being offered as brand new/unopened. The sellers have multiple copies too – ten each mostly in stock, and they’re selling them for less than what Amazon’s charging for them.
(Anna is now 87 years old, and is telling the story reflecting back on her childhood. Here, in this scene, she was 12 years old, and her twin brothers, 15.)
Now, looking back, all I can say is, it’s just as old Sam said. It’s hard to really know because at first there is no change that you can notice around you—no obvious ones anyway. No one was ever really certain that it could be pinpointed to one exact location. But then, the folks around here had always known that the river has a kind of personality of its own. It was like the way things happened, it seemed to keep everyone guessing. After all, we all knew that the river had secrets it would never tell.
We got off of our horses and tied them to some nearby trees, then just walked around admiring the beauty of the place. All we were really thinking of at the time was that it was a nice place to stop. It didn’t seem a possibility in our minds at the time that we might have found the secret place. But then, the river itself wouldn’t have told us if we had.
We ran through the trees and climbed the rocks like silly children, laughing the whole time. But then, as we looked down into the water, once again, something about it seemed to beckon us.
I stood there, looking at my reflection in the water as we let our horses drink their fill of it. I looked every bit of my twelve years, although I had often been told I looked older than I was. But then, something in the water seemed to beckon me to come a little closer. It was like it suddenly seemed to take on a life of its own, like some sort of magical rippling effect in the water, making you want to reach down and touch it. Perhaps it was just that curiosity that seemed to have taken ahold of each of us. I would never know for sure. It was when I reached down with my fingers and touched the water that I knew immediately that something had changed.
The wind blew a little differently, somewhat stronger. All of a sudden it was late in the day. I looked around. The horses were gone. My brothers were gone. There was no one but me. It was later in the afternoon. At first it seemed nothing around me had changed that much. But then, as I looked around, I began to realize what my mind did not want to accept. I had somehow gone to another time.
You’ll want to be sure to add this one to your summer reading collection! Then, check back soon for the second book in the series, “Return to the River, Scent of the Rose”! Subscribe to my email via the tab above, so you’ll be sure to get email updates and be sure you don’t miss out!
Now, for a special treat, here is a Trailer Preview for the movie, adapted from a children’s book by Natalie Babbit, which was the inspiration for the “Enchanted River of the Rose” series. Also, a big thank you goes to my wonderful son, Joshua, who got me addicted to this lovely and enchanting movie, which starred Sissy Spacek. Here it is, enjoy!
My latest, first in the “Enchanted River of the Rose” series, now available in Kindle (Amazon) and Nook (B &N) versions for $2.99
It is late in the summer of 1952, in this little town “somewhere in the south”. I am here, sitting out in front of the store with “Anna”, our story teller from my upcoming “Enchanted River of the Rose” series, the first of which is “River of Secrets: Summer of the Rose”, which is now available in book and Kindle versions on Amazon.com and in ebook (Nook) online at B&N . Meanwhile, why don’t you go on into the store here and get you a drink and come back out and sit down here with “Anna” and me and we’ll just let her tell you a little of what to expect. I told her it would be nice if we gave everyone a little of what it’s all…
My 2nd book, “River of Secrets, Summer of the Rose”, which is the first in the “Enchanted River of the Rose” series, has just gotten another facelift. It has a new cover, AND a new price. It is now listed in Juvenile Fiction, although I feel it could appeal to young and old alike. It is a “coming of age” story in a sense, thus, its appeal to the younger generation, and, since it is being “told” by its main character, “Anna”, who is now 87, it can also be enjoyed by the older crowd as well. Of course, most of the story, as Anna tells it, happened before the turn of the century, so with this in mind, I think it holds a special “flavor” of the south in the early days of Southern America, which will set most of its readers to recalling fond memories of their grandparents and the stories they used to tell of those days. Indeed, part of my inspiration for the book was remembering my grandmother and her sisters as they worked together on a quilt, or at other times, the stories she told of all of them (eleven in all) growing up in the Great Depression. I did do quite a bit of research during the writing of this one, so as to add authenticity to the story.
That being said, it is now available in the Createspace E-store (through Amazon), although it will take a few more days for it to be available through the regular channels, and on my Amazon page, until it has time to update in their system. Of course, as they have told me, if you order it, you should receive it with the new cover. So, new cover, and (drum roll), new price. The print version is now only $9.95.
Here is the link if you would like to check it out:
Also, both my books are in the Kindle Matchbook promotion, which means, if you order the print version, or have in the past, the Kindle version is FREE. And, as usual, the Kindle versions of both my books, this one and “Return to Freedom, Voices in the Wind”, are only $2.99. You don’t have to have a “Kindle” device to be able to download the Kindle versions of books. Now, there is an app you can download right onto your phone or other device for free. So stop by and take a look.
For a sneak preview, click the link below, and scroll down.
If you have read any of my books and enjoyed them, I do hope you will consider stopping by my Amazon or B&N pages and leaving a review for future customers of what you thought of it (your honest opinion is ok), just a few words along with what you would rate the book, 1-5 stars. Just as our tips are what keep restaurant servers coming back to their jobs, this is what helps push our sales up, and believe it or not, it really means a lot to us as authors. Thanks, and I do hope you enjoy the journey!
In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share my flipagram I did for my mother. It’s a free app you can download with your phone, and create a video slide show to music you like from your pictures on your phone.
I really don’t know if I could have gone through all she has gone through and remain as strong as she has. I am everything I am because of the things she has taught me, and because she never gave up on me. If you would like to do one of these for your Mom, the app is free to download. This one’s not perfect, after all, it is my first one, but here you go. Enjoy! And here’s wishing everyone a safe and Happy Mother’s Day! Oh, and at 3:57, I’m in that pic, you just can’t see me yet!
Want to make your own? Hit the button at the bottom of this one.
Since this is “prom season”, I have decided to share this little excerpt from my first book, “Return to Freedom, Voices in the Wind”, with you. Although I assume most of the schools have had their proms by now, the memories we create at our high school proms are timeless treasures that we keep in our hearts for the rest of our lives. My first prom was very special to me, as my husband, who was also my high school sweetheart, was the one who took me. In this scene, Corey, who is a high school teacher, is talking with some of the other teachers as they wait for the students to begin arriving. As he and his wife, Karen, are both teachers, (Karen teaches middle school), they soon find themselves on a mission to create a “path for learning” for their children, as advised by the mysterious Native American friend he meets, who has a hand in preparing them for their upcoming vacation, one that will take them on a journey that they will never forget. So, without further ado, here is an excerpt from the prom scene in the book:
Also, the book now has a new cover, although you may still see the old version of it for a while until it has time to update in their system, however, if you order the print version, you will receive the new version. My books are also in the Kindle Matchbook program, which means if you buy the print version, or have in the past, the Kindle version is free. Visit the page for more info. Get your copy and join the Wilkersons as they are about to embark on a journey they will never forget!
———————————————————————————————————————————-
New Cover! Now available on Amazon!
He drove cautiously through the neighborhoods. Already, limos were parked here and there, waiting for their passengers, elegantly dressed young men and women posing out in their yards as cameras snapped away, preserving the memories that would be treasured years down the road.
He showed his teacher’s ID badge to the security officer and drove into the already fast filling parking lot. It was still a little early but many were arriving early to get into the line where pictures were being made, although some had chosen to have theirs made professionally. A handful of teachers and staff had arrived and stood around sipping punch and talking as he walked into the elaborately decorated gym turned dance floor.
“Hi Corey!” a couple of them called out to him. A few parents had come to help serve refreshments and were helping to set up the table. The DJ for the evening was busily setting his equipment up. If he hadn’t known better, he would have never known it was a gymnasium. For this year’s theme, they had set it up to look as though one had walked onto a cruise liner.
“They did an excellent job on this didn’t they?” Kathy Harrelson, one of the eleventh grade English teachers, commented as he walked up and joined them.
“Yes, they certainly did!” he replied. “I would have never known the difference!”
“Makes you want to go and take a cruise doesn’t it?” James Edwards, an Algebra teacher added.
“It sure does!” Corey said, looking around really taking note of it all for the first time.
“Actually, my husband and I are supposed to be going on one this summer! We’re very excited about it!” Kathy said enthusiastically.
“I know you’re looking forward to it!” James said. “Well, it’s about time for our guests to begin arriving! Think I’ll go and sneak one more cup of this punch,” he continued, excusing himself.
“Now, save some for the students!” Kathy called after him, smiling.
“Seems like I heard someone say we were going to start having the prom at a hotel ballroom next year,” she said in a questioning tone.
“Yes, they were talking about it at the board meeting,” Corey answered.
“I didn’t know. I wasn’t able to make the meeting,” she said.
“Well, that would be a nice change,” Tom Knudson said. As students were beginning to arrive, they all made their way to various locations, some near the door to greet those coming in. Then, in the next moment, it happened.
The lights went down, now replaced by special lighting that made one think of being in the ballroom of a cruise ship. In an instant, the whole scene was transformed. The “magic” of the evening had begun. A local lighting business had even donated a couple of less expensive replicas of chandeliers such as those used on cruise liners for them to use for the evening. Suddenly, it was as though they had all been transported to another place. It was truly amazing how they could do this so well, that it was almost convincing.
Now came his favorite part. Being the outgoing, well-liked teacher that he was, he had taken a place near the door. He loved watching their faces light up as they came in, their expressions star-gazed as they looked around, taking it all in. They had even had some help in constructing something similar to the front end of a cruise ship. This was where the king and queen would be introduced later in the evening.
Just then, Rudy Jenkins, the school’s principal, walked over and said something to the DJ, who then handed him the microphone. After a quick welcome announcement along with a reminder to everyone to help make it a safe and fun evening for all, he handed it back to the DJ, who took it and immediately began speaking. He spoke quickly and enthusiastically, starting the song playing when he was halfway through.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year’s prom, the event you’ve been waiting for all year long! This year’s theme is “Cruising”, so all aboard! Our “ship” is now departing, so hope this will be a wonderful evening for everyone! Now, to start things off, I’ve had a request to play this song in memory of Aiden Jacobson, who was last year’s prom king, so in his memory, and in honor of our theme for this year, here’s a special song to get this ship sailing, so take your lady or your man by the hand, get close, and hope everyone has a lovely evening!”
There were gasps and comments of approval as couples took to the dance floor and began moving slowly with the music. It was the love theme song from a movie about the Titanic. The enchantment of the evening had begun. It always had a way of working its “magic” on him. He stood sipping punch and watching as they let the music take them away. More continued to arrive, and each time, the same amazed expressions as they looked around. “Welcome aboard! Hope you enjoy the evening!” he said as they entered. He always enjoyed seeing all the new styles and designs of dresses and tuxedos. It was like a sea of colors as he watched them, their dresses swishing and swaying as they danced through the evening.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
If you enjoyed this sneak preview excerpt and would like to read more, you can purchase “Return to Freedom, Voices in the Wind” from Amazon. My other book, “River of Secrets, Summer of the Rose”, first in the “Enchanted River of the Rose” series, which is also a time travel fantasy, is also available for purchase. Check back or subscribe to my email via the tab above so you can receive an email as more titles become available in the near future!
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. — Maya Angelou
Tonight, I had the opportunity to be a part of an event that was very special to me as an author. I was invited by a teacher who was present at my reading at the Breezeway Cafe’ in Dunn, NC, to be a part of Arts Night at Buies Creek Elementary, which is near Campbell University. I really enjoyed discussing my books and my writing, as well as reading excerpts from my books. I met some awesome folks, and of course, had some of my books on hand. It was a lot of fun involving the kids, asking them questions, etc, and making it fun for them. Being that I have worked as a substitute teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, it made it a lot easier, and I am finding that I am more comfortable with them. I am also a grandmother of three little boys, so, being a “Mamaw”, I have learned to have fun with them. The best thing of it is, I sold a few books, but I came away with something more valuable than that even. I told my husband on the way home, “you know, maybe I am writing for the wrong age groups (Adult so far, although “River of Secrets, Summer of the Rose” is also a coming of age story so it is unique in that it can be enjoyed by young and old alike, as “Anna”, who is now 87 years old, is reflecting back on the story as it happened through her childhood/early teen years).” I really got to thinking about that, and, well, who knows? Maybe I will try my hand at writing for the younger group. I didn’t realize until this experience, what a huge opportunity exists here. There is a need for good books for school age children. So, I left inspired myself, and hopefully inspired some future authors as well. Of course, I told them that if they wanted to maybe write their own books one day, to pay attention in spelling, grammer, etc, and make good grades. Who knows? Perhaps there might be a future novelist among them. I certainly took away some much needed inspiration myself, and that, to me, is priceless.
What I can say is, never, ever, underestimate your audience, or be discouraged if it is but only a few. There were only a handful of people that showed up for the reading at the Breezeway Cafe’ in Dunn, NC, beside the Library. One of them just happened to be a teacher, who invited me to share my writing and my aspirations with the wonderful teachers, parents, and students I met tonight. It is often the smaller doors that lead to the greatest opportunities. After all, what greater privilege is there, than having a part in inspiring young minds?
Also, I am pleased to announce that “Return to Freedom, Voices in the Wind” has a new cover. If you visited my page earlier and tried to click on the Amazon link and found it “unavailable”, sorry about that, I just had to wait for them to approve the new cover, but it is up now. You will see the (old) new cover for a while, just until it has time to update in their system, but if you order it, you should receive the newer copy.
Here is the new cover for the book:
New Cover! Now available on Amazon!
Just a note to parents on this one (“Return to Freedom, Voices in the Wind”): This one is on an adult level, although I tried to keep it family oriented, however, there are a couple of “suggestive” scenes. I do not go into detail with these, as that is not my focus, but in these instances, it was for the addition of a new, or future character in the story. You will see how they all connect at the end of the book. Also, in my books, any mention of these instances will only be with “married” couples. For the most part, I tried to maintain a sense of family values, and in the latter half of the story, as teachers and as parents of our future leaders, musicians, authors, etc., I hope you will be pleasantly inspired as you follow Bryan and Stephanie on their path to maturity as their parents seek to create that “path for learning” for them, and that in the process, you will be inspired as you strive to create that path for your own children. It is with this main focus that I wrote this part, and I hope you enjoy following the Wilkersons on a journey they will never forget. With that in mind, it is more for you, the parents and the teachers, that I have written this one. There are chapters within the book that could probably be enjoyed as stand alone scenes in themselves. To those of you who are teachers, I feel you will particularly enjoy the latter part of the story with the Wilkerson family. I hope you enjoy the journey! The book is dedicated in loving memory of my late Native American friend and mentor, “Gray Eagle”, without whom this book would not have been written.
My latest, first in the “Enchanted River of the Rose” series, now available in Kindle (Amazon) and Nook (B & N) versions for $2.99
“River of Secrets, Summer of the Rose”, (Click the title/link for my “Interview with Anna”.) on the other hand, has been written more with the younger generation in mind, although I feel that due to the nature of the story, as it involves time travel, and the older “Anna” reflecting on the events as they happened in her early years, I think it could be enjoyed by young and old alike. However, it does have romantic elements in it, as part of the story is Anna’s reflecting on meeting her true love, which is part of the story. So, I leave it to you to preview it as you see fit. It was inspired partly by a movie which my son introduced me to called “Tuck Everlasting”, which was adapted from a children’s book, so for the most part, that is the level I strived to write it on. As for me, I gained inspiration and encouragement from this experience with you all that just may bring about more books written especially for the younger generation in the near future. Again, thank you!
With a couple of parent workers, (left) and the principal, (right).
To Joseph Felice, the teacher (and very talented musician, I might add) who invited me, and the teachers, students, and the Principal, I sincerely thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful event. I wish you all and each and every student at Buies Creek Elementary all the best as you pursue your goals, and may your journeys be enlightened with good books as you prepare our leaders, writers, and musicians of tomorrow!
THE RIVER HAS SECRETS SHE WILL NEVER TELL… Somewhere deep in the forest, where not many have ventured to go, lies a secret. Most of the folks in Anna Brownfield’s little dirt-road town “somewhere in the south” don’t have time for fairy tales about some secret place in the river that can take you to another place and time if you touch the water there. Yet, Anna, who’s now eighty-seven years old, can tell you she knows the ones that have stories to tell. Take a journey back in time if you dare, back to a time when in many ways life was simpler. Go back to a time when you saw the world through the eyes of a child and dared to imagine the impossible.
Flossie Stewart, Christian Author & Speaker 
