Today, I’m participating in an Anniversary Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Long and Short Reviews.
Follow these instructions…You could win a $100 Amazon/B&N gift card.
1. Visit the website here.
2. Read the blurb for No More Secrets.
3. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
4. Scroll down and answer the question about No More Secrets.
Good luck!
***Pick up your free ebook of No More Secrets today. The promotion ends at 11:59 p.m. ET***
Blurb
Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling—possibly even a toxic— secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets, secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, her nieces listen to an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention that spans six decades across two continents. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.
Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, revisit their relationships and set themselves free.
But one heart-breaking secret remains untold…
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First established by WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writers Association) in 2019, this day celebrates the authors, readers, bookstores, and fans of the women’s fiction genre.
WFWA describes women’s fiction as “layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey. The driving force of women’s fiction is the protagonist’s journey toward a more fulfilled self.”
The female protagonists in these novels take matters into their own hands and shape their own futures. Famous examples include Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale, Jo in Little Women, Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind.
Some of my personal favorites include Queen of the Owls by Barbara Linn Probst, The Time Gatherer by Rachel Dacus, Recipe for a Perfect Life by Karma Brown, and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet.
To celebrate, I’m offering free ebooks of No More Secrets on all Amazon platforms.
Blurb
Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling—possibly even a toxic— secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets, secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, her nieces listen to an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention that spans six decades across two continents. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.
Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, revisit their relationships and set themselves free.
But one heart-breaking secret remains untold…
Excerpt
As Angelica read the document, she heard several sighs emanating from Bellastrega. While she had grown to like this young woman and trust her judgment when it came to wellness, Angelica was not prepared to abandon her plans. Three women needed to be rescued.
“What if they don’t come?” Bellastrega asked.
“They will come,” Angelica said, smiling confidently.
“It’s still winter, and the roads around here can be treacherous.”
“That won’t stop them.” Angelica smiled at Bellastrega’s discomfort with winter driving. Fearless in her talk, the psychic dreaded going out at any hint of snow. “Not to worry. They’re Northern Ontario girls.”
Bellastrega waved her hands. “So, they get up here, and you share your secrets. Then what?”
“They begin to heal.”
“You can’t expect to solve all their problems in one weekend,” Bellastrega said in a gentler tone. “If you’re not careful, you’ll send them running to their mothers, who won’t hesitate to create unnecessary stress for you.”
From the start, Bellastrega had been determined to eradicate all the unnecessary stress in Angelica’s life. Did she really think she could create a lasting magic bubble?
Since receiving the positive medical report, Bellastrega had redoubled her efforts and started to plan spring and summer excursions. She had added to her meager wardrobe and purchased several decorative items for her room. Each day, she was settling in and becoming more comfortable in her role as a companion. The beautiful thirty-five-year-old woman with Arctic-blue eyes and a stormy past had found sanctuary in Angelica’s house.
Angelica’s thoughts traveled back six decades to her encounter with another set of Arctic-blue eyes. But that woman had been much older and more realistic in her expectations.
“Are you all right?” Bellastrega asked.
“I’m fine,” Angelica said, returning to the present. “I want to start the process. The rest will be up to them.” Angelica felt a sudden wave of fatigue, one she hadn’t experienced in months. This argument was growing old, and she no longer wished to justify her motives. Why couldn’t Bellastrega let it go?
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***Free ebooks – Monday, June 7 to Thursday, June 10***
I’m chatting with Ally Shields about my writing process and new release, No More Secrets.
Drop by Ally’s blog.
I’m sharing my latest release, No More Secrets, on Linda Carroll-Bradd’s blog.
Find out more here.
I’m chatting with Amber Daulton about my writing process and new release, No More Secrets.
Drop by Amber’s blog.
Having lived and taught in different cities throughout the province of Ontario, I have felt free to “borrow” characteristics from friends, former colleagues, and students to create composite characters in my novels.
That was the modus operandi for the first five novels I wrote: Between Land and Sea, The Coming of Arabella, A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, and A Different Kind of Reunion.
While writing No More Secrets, I followed a slightly different path.
Angelica Delfino, the protagonist, is also a composite character. But this time, I borrowed from the Italian women of my mother’s generation. And, yes, I did include bits of my mother’s life. Before she died, Mama read an early draft and commented, “I can see myself here, as well as…” and then she mentioned several relatives and close friends.
Continue reading on Brenda Whiteside’s blog.
When I first heard this question at a creative writing workshop, I was tempted to say that I intended to firmly hold onto the reins. A neophyte with no literary credits to my name, I couldn’t imagine characters actually misbehaving on the page. Thankfully, I paused and waited for more seasoned writers to respond.
What followed was an animated discussion about a ghostly character who suddenly appeared and replaced the original protagonist, new characters who emerged out of a conversation, and a male character who decided to change gender. In each case, the writers allowed the disruptors to alter the course of the narrative.
A bit woo-woo for my taste, but I concluded that writers—for the most part—were a motley bunch.
Continue reading on Debra Goldstein’s blog.
It’s my last Monday on tour with Goddess Fish.
I’m visiting the Novels Alive blog and chatting about my writing journey and No More Secrets.
Stop by and visit for a while. Remember to scroll down and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You could win a $20 Amazon gift card.
Find out more here.
Today, I’m participating in the Winter Blogfest, sponsored by Long and Short Reviews. In addition to sharing my latest release, I have included a post entitled, “Embracing Winter.”
Drop by and leave a comment. You could win a free ebook of No More Secrets.
Find out more here.
Joanne Guidoccio 