Category Archives: Guest Blogging

Life After Retirement

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

15140870_sWhen I took advantage of early retirement from a 31-year teaching career, I had only a vague idea of what life on golden pond would look like. Sleeping in each morning. Leisurely breakfasts. New hobbies. Volunteering. Traveling.

These were my pat answers whenever anyone asked about my future plans. And at some point in the conversation I would work in one of my favorite quotations from Eckhart Tolle: “When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.”

In theory, it sounded wonderful, but the reality was very different.

Continue reading on Chris the Story Reading Ape’s Blog.


10 Facts about Katrina Romanovski

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m thrilled to welcome Soul Mate author CD Hersh to the Power of 10 series. Today, Catherine and Donald will share ten interesting facts about the heroine of their latest release, Son of the Moonless Night.

Here’s CD!

cdhershphotoOne of the fun things about creating characters is coming up with quirks, personality traits, and interesting tidbits about their personal background. Katrina Romanovski is one of our reader’s favorite characters. We’ve already been asked if she is going to appear in another book. Much to the reader’s dismay we wouldn’t reveal the answer.

Here are ten interesting facts about Katrina Romanovski, the heroine from our new book, Son of the Moonless Night-The Turning Stone Chronicles, Book Three.

1. She is from Transylvania but not Romania. We do solve this mystery in the book.
2. She hunts paranormals. Hates vampires. And swears by Count Dracula.
3. She wears a huge Celtic cross as a talisman against vampires.
4. She not only hunts paranormals, but she’s had her share of paranormal boyfriends. No zombies please, they’re just too creepy.
5. She is a blonde version of NCIS’s forensic scientist Abby but with a medical degree.
6. She decided to leave her father’s paranormal hunting business because she was looking for normalcy in her life. Instead she found Owen, the hero of Son of the Moonless Night, a shape shifter.
7. She is part gypsy, on her father’s side. Her mother is British. Prim-and-proper breeding war with Katrina’s gypsy walk-on-the-wild side. The gypsy usually wins.
8. She has traveled the USA as an FBI agent but now likes Cleveland, the mistake by the lake.
9. She loves Italian food but has trouble cooking it, especially when Owen is around.
10. She spends a lot of time in alleys.

SON OF THE MOONLESS NIGHT_505x825 (2)

Here is a little more about Katrina from the book:

A crash in the alley stopped Katrina Romanovski mid-stride. Like the October mist swirling in off the lake, her gypsy blood stirred sending her intuition into high gear. Something unnatural was happening.

Go see what’s wrong. She heard her father’s voice as clearly as if he stood next to her.

On the heels of his words came her mother’s pragmatic warning in clipped British tones. You know what curiosity killed. Katrina pushed the ever-present warning aside. Mom never approved of Dad’s supernatural hunts and even less of his drawing her into them.

Pulling the oversized cross she always wore out from under her shirt, Kat looked around for a weapon. Please, not a vampire. I hate vampires! A piece of wood sticking out of the trashcan at the front of the alley caught her eye.

Grabbing it, she broke the end off into a sharp point. The mist-filled air filtered the light from the single bulb over one of the alley doorways. The wind swirled the loose trash around making a quiet approach difficult. Sidestepping the paper, with the stake in one hand and holding the gun she took from her purse in the other hand, she crept into the alley.

A roar echoed against the buildings, the sound nearly sending her running. That roar wasn’t a vampire. It sounded more like an animal. Kat inched closer. In the yellow pool of light from the back door of the building, a black bear, over seven feet tall, reared on its back legs and swung its paw at the man standing at the edge of the light. He crashed to the ground, shirt torn open from the slashing claws. Blood covered the fabric, and he clasped his left hand over his shoulder to stem the flow. The bear bent toward him, teeth bared in a smile. A wicked smile.

Kat aimed her gun, but before she could pull the trigger, a shot rang out. The flash of gunpowder lit the face of the injured man. The blast reverberated against the buildings. With an enraged bellow, the bear staggered backward against the wall. Shaking his head, the animal dropped to all four paws. Weaving like a drunk, he lumbered toward his attacker. The man took aim again, shooting the animal between the eyes. Animal and human collapsed on the dirty, littered pavement.

As she started to move forward, Kat’s gypsy senses crawled over her skin like angry red ants. As she slipped back into the shadows, the bear shed fur. Changing size. Then, finally, turning into a man.

Shape shifters. Her stake wasn’t any good against them, and her bullets weren’t silver. This one appeared dead anyway. Had the wounded man seen the shift? Tossing the stake aside, she paused by the shifter and quickly moved to the wounded man. Out cold. Still human.

When she touched him, his eyelids fluttered open. “Did I get it?”

“What?”

“The bear.”

Amazon Buy Links

The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 1):
eBook | Paperback

Blood Brothers (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2):
eBook | Paperback

Son of the Moonless Night (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 3):
eBook

Bio

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first three books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon.

Where to find CD Hersh…

Website | Blog | Soul Mate Publishing | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

Spotlight on Anne Peterson

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I am thrilled to welcome author and poet Anne Peterson. Her journey is an emotional and inspiring one that tugs at the heartstrings.

Here’s Anne!

annepetersonAnne Peterson has to write.

As a little girl Anne felt safe climbing up in Aunt Jeanette’s chair to read A Child’s Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson. It became a sanctuary from her abusive childhood. Again and again, she’d let his words dance around in her head, and poetry became her language of choice.

In 5th grade, Anne won a creative writing contest. And as she listened to the recording of her reading on the radio, she was hooked.

Anne learned how emotions were tied to her writing. She found the words would flow if she hurt in any way.

Eventually her poetry was sold in stores. One opportunity led to another.

In 1996, she was asked to write Bible studies for christianbiblestudies.com, an affiliate of Christianity Today. And those 42 published Bible studies led to her writing and publishing over 30 magazine articles.

But inside of Anne was a story that begged to be written. She would identify the pain that propelled her writing.

Taking a writer’s online course called Tribe Writers, she learned about writing the scary stuff. With shaky fingers she pressed submit. Each time she wrote something scary, she was really getting ready for something bigger.

petersonbrokenIn 2014, Anne wrote her memoir, Broken: A Story of Abuse and Survival. Although the book was initially the story of her sister’s death to domestic violence, Anne felt nudged to write her story as well. Her life was exposed. It was one of the hardest things she ever did, complete with times of panic. She learned to write between those episodes.

Anne discovered the value of being vulnerable. When you write the scary, messy things inside of you, you give hope to other hurting people by letting them know they are not alone.

Anne’s writing became more and more transparent. She shared her struggles with PTSD in an article, A War Without Guns. She continued learning how to embrace her pain instead of running from it.

But who would have known what was underneath? Children’s stories started flowing out of Anne. Then a new door opened. Her daughter Jessica was given an opportunity to create a children’s book. Anne was invited in.

Feeling pressure at the two-month deadline, Jessica said, “I wish we could do something with the art I’ve already done.”

So Anne sat reflecting on her daughter’s art, and Emma’s Wish came to life. It was as if Emma walked right out of Jessica’s painting to tell her own story.

Collaborations with a loved one are like a special dance where you learn each other’s moves. Anne is having the time of her life.

Writing children’s stories is a good fit. After all, she had plenty of practice telling her grandchildren many of these stories from her head.

petersonemmaswishpetersonbook3petersonbook4










The Crooked House is a story about a little girl who’s ashamed of where she lives. Kerrie’s house was crooked, and sometimes she felt crooked too.

Lulu’s Lunch tells the story of Lulu and how she dealt with a school bully.

Sonny Follows His Heart is the story of a little blues guitar who discovered whose voice was really important in his life.

And finally, Make Believe: A Book of Poetry Volume One and Volume Two. These poetry books were created as Anne looked at her daughter’s photographs and let the words come. These books will delight readers of all ages.

petersonbook5petersonbook6petersondaughter











It’s true that many people love to write, but for Anne Peterson it’s more than that. She has to write.

Where to find Anne…

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

Where to find Jessica’s Art…

Website | Facebook

My Yoga Trials

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

yogaimageI consider protagonist Gilda Greco to be my literary twin. She’s approximately 70 percent of me and shares many of my interests. As non-athletes it took us a while to find a preferred physical activity, but once we discovered yoga, we were hooked

In my case, it took over three decades of yoga trials.

Continue reading on Peggy Jaeger’s blog.

The Adventures Never End

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have soul-preneur Heather Embree sharing her spiritual journey.

Here’s Heather!

heatherembreeIf you had asked me ten years ago if I would be a professional psychic, spiritual healer and soul coach, I would have never believed you. Back then I was in Toronto, working as an administrator and coordinator for various arts and human rights organizations. I had a stirring inside of me that I knew there was more to life than sitting at desks and debating about the trials and tribulations in the world. I had a spark of creativity, joy and compassion in my being that wasn’t being quenched. I also had a curiousity about the spiritual dimension and knew that I wasn’t listening to this part of me.

One day, when I looked up at the apartment I was living in on Bloor Street West (above a Bridal Store at that), working as a temp for the Ministry of Attorney General, I knew that I was completely out of alignment with my inner dreams and truth. I had managed to live a lie and was quickly going into the quicksand of the superficial modern lifestyle that I used to adamantly avoid. I was a woman who never wanted to marry, have kids or follow a traditional path. I saw myself as a feminist, a renegade, a person who wasn’t afraid to shake up the norm. I had mystical dreams, a love for people and the Earth, was an advocate for conscious consumerism and social justice issues. The bridal gowns and the culture that adores them was the anti-thesis of everything I stood for. I had to make a change.

So I packed up my life in Toronto, aimed to live at least 6 months in a beautiful city called Oaxaca in Mexico, where they revere artists, poets and anyone in alignment with the soul. They appreciated culture, food, bright colours, music, and have a strong faith in something greater. My dream was to live there, but I just couldn’t manage it. So instead, I immersed myself, escaped from my language and cultural influences and allowed myself to walk with trust, faith and guidance in my heart.

27322121_s(1)

Oaxaca is known throughout Mexico to be mystical and magical, and indeed it was. People knew there were illusions behind the poverty and suffering and that there was truth in creativity and goodness. Even in the face of political corruption, violence and everything we hear Mexico to be, there is a heartbeat that lives there so strongly. It as there that my faith in deeper love, synchronicity, and good-hearted people opened up, and I had profound dreams and experiences. I had spiritual visions, cosmic jokes and divine protection throughout my journey. I knew that underneath all of the chaos and busy-ness of life, love and the soul are the Truth, and it was each person’s journey to connect to and live from that place within. When I returned to Canada, I was forever changed. I had faced the greatest loneliness, fears, shadow side of myself and humanity and came out alive and with an entirely different approach to life. I now value relationship over ambition, spiritual guidance over human agendas, and miracles over logic. I see people’s hearts in an entirely different way and know that kindness comes in many forms and faces. I have a gratitude for the people I meet, the food I eat and the doors that open up beyond my expectations. With this perspective, I have allowed the flow of life and love to take over me and this is what led me to where I am now.

For the last 4 years, I have been a professional soul coach, energy healer, intuitive/psychic medium. Every step of the way and every day, I tune into what I need to do next, what it is I need to change. It has not been easy to listen to the soul and the spirit guidance, because we are often called to have to make major changes in our outer life, even our relationships. The experience of change and loss is difficult to bear but my heart has come to know there is wisdom and protection and greater things when I allow the natural order to take its course. So long as I listen and show a willingness to act, I trust that I will be supported in where I need to be, how to serve the greater love and movement needed in the world and ensure I’m in line with the Higher Wisdom. I’ve started support groups, had to learn about the nature of abuse, facilitated healing circles, been to sweat lodges and even ended up doing readings in Washington, DC.

28605973_s

The adventures never end when one is willing to open up to Spiritual Guidance. The trick is gulping, breathing and diving it. I love the analogy that a baby in the womb feels like the end is insight as it gets bigger and bigger and the womb is more uncomfortable. It has no idea what to expect on the other side of life’s experience. This is how I see the adventure of life and death and everything in between. When you know deep in yourself nothing truly ends, love, creativity, authentic living is the Truth of the Universe, then you will be entirely supported in your journey to a new life that makes you happy. The greatest thing you can do is to take time off, listen to your soul, hear what your gifts are and what you feel called to do and be. And reach out to make those dreams happen.

Bio

Heather Embree is a soul-preneur in Guelph, ON, who is inspired to help women recover from heartbreak so they can grow in greater self-love. To find out more about her and the work she does, please visit her site here.

Joanne here!

Heather, thanks for sharing your inspiring journey. I look forward to the launch of your children’s book and hope you will consider writing a memoir of your adventures.

On tour + #Giveaway

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

11838450_sToday, I’m visiting with two “Katherines”…

At Kathy Bryson’s blog, I’m sharing a character interview with protagonist Gilda Greco.

And Kate Sparkes is spotlighting A Season for Killing Blondes on her blog.

Drop by and visit for a while. Remember to scroll down and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Just Keep Swimming

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Angela Scavone chatting about her rewarding “day job” and creative “after-hours” passion.

Here’s Angela!

25653900_s

Briefly describe your first act.

While I was in high school, during and after college I worked in a retail fabric store for ten years. I loved the creativity of the customers and their plans for the unmade fabric that they purchased. Some of the people I worked with became lifelong friends and there is always something interesting that happens when working in retail 🙂

What triggered the need for change?

An opportunity came up at a local school board to work in one of their head offices. I couldn’t pass it up! It was a great job that I knew I would learn a lot in so I had to move on.

Where are you now?

Now I still work for the same school board and I have learned so much working there. I am an Application Analyst which means I analyze new computer applications that will enhance student, staff and teacher needs. Once the new application is acquired I test it, implement it into over 160 schools and then train the administration, staff and teachers how to use it. It is a very rewarding job however in my off hours I write. I love my day job but writing is my passion. I have the best of both worlds, during the day I get to be an integral part of a school board community and at night I get to create worlds completely out of imagination 🙂

Do you have advice for anyone planning to pursue a second act?

Do it. Life is too short for regrets and what-ifs.

Any affirmations or quotations you wish to share?

There are a couple of quotes that get me through any part of my day 🙂
1. There are two rules in life: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything is small stuff.
2. Just keep swimming.

ajourneyhome

Blurb

Air Force Captain Stephanie Tyler’s sole duty is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.

But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain Douglas ‘DA’ Aston.

From the moment DA enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while she and DA were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with DA even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension.

Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and DA must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive.

Buy Links

Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (Australia)

Where to find Angela…

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Joanne here!

Angela, thanks for sharing your journey. I enjoyed reading and highly recommend A Journey Home. Good luck with all your creative endeavors.


Spotlight on Celia T. Rose

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Celia T. Rose is sharing her writing journey and introducing her debut novel Dream Man. Welcome Celia!

Here’s Celia!

celiatrosepixAs a young child from the age of seven, I deemed myself the next short story horror, author and wrote themes inspired by Eagar Allen Poe. I have all of these stories in marble-composition books but they are unpublished. I went on to college, became a CPA and though not happily employed as such, I found my happy place as a loan officer. After the mortgage market bust, I decided to early retire and pursue the childhood writing dream once more. I’ll continue to write, probably for the rest of my life but have also decided to go back in business. My true writing passion is contemporary relationship fiction a genre name I dubbed to replace “chick lit” reason being the read isn’t just for women. I do enjoy writing romance but find it more challenging. I currently have a romance series under publishing contract written as Celia T. Rose and a contemporary relationship fiction contract written under Celia T. Franklin.

dreammanbigpix

Blurb

Felicity Burgess is no stranger to tough breaks in business and in love. And she deals with them very well on her own. She has no choice. After the sudden death of her parents, Felicity must support herself and her sister. She fights her way up the ranks at a local television network and directs her own-inspired teen reality show. Despite raving reviews, the network won’t give her the title or the pay of director. Or a shot at running with her new show.

Her sister is a trouble-bound teen and lands in a hospital due to a weather related car accident. While in the emergency waiting room, Felicity’s idol, Hollywood’s notoriously confirmed bachelor, film star, and entrepreneur walks in: Maxwell Marx. Felicity pitches her new reality show to him. Little did she know her life-long heartthrob would become her supervisor. Working close with Max, she sees a side to him no one knows. She wants to break down the barriers and reveal the man Max truly is but denies exists. She’s determined to break through, only she doubts he’d ever let her.

Max is happy with his carefree existence, much as the tabloids portray. He plays up to the role of the unattainable lady’s man better than any script he agrees to take. The façade works just fine until he meets Felicity who wows him with her new reality TV show proposal. So much so, he convinces his network executive buddy to take on the project. But Felicity also taps into something deeper in him. A place he’s purposely protected from any woman to penetrate. He enjoys Felicity’s company, and hopes to keep her at bay, yet she threatens to unravel his protective cocoon he spun out of the pain from his past. A pain he doesn’t intend to face again.

Should he stay in his safe world of single living or risk losing the one girl who could complete his life?

fivestarreview

From the moment I delved into Dream Man, I was propelled into a fast-paced and intriguing story, one providing Hollywood insights and romance.
Well done!
Vicki Batman (Sassy Writer of Sexy and Funny Fiction)

buynow

Bio

Celia T. Lucente is a retired CPA and banker. Her work experience includes nine years as a public accountant and an internal auditor and seventeen years as a senior loan officer for a national bank. She’s currently a full-time writer of contemporary romance and women’s fiction aka “relationship fiction” and is now publishing her finished works under the pseudonyms of Celia T. Franklin and Celia T. Rose. Her first book, Having Fun with Mr. Wrong, in the contemporary women’s fiction series, Fun with Mr. Now, is under contract with The Wild Rose Press and her contemporary romance, Dream Man is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. She is a member of the RWA Contemporary Romance, RWA-WF, RWA Romance Critique Group and her local chapter of Space Coast Authors. She is a participant with several critique groups and CP’s and enjoys working on her craft by helping fellow writers.

Where to find Celia…

Website | Facebook | Twitter