Guest post: Read a spooky ghost story & help sponsor a Leader Dog!

          I have a very special guest today; author J.T. Baroni, who's visiting us today with the story behind his book, The Legend of Rachel Petersen. I have purchased the book upon its release because...well...how can I resist such a title and cover! Knowing how J.T. got his inspiration, the book has moved higher on my reading list. Read on to be intrigued :-)

Welcome, J.T.!

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            Hello! And a big thanks to Su for having me as a guest on her blog!

            I am pleased to announce that my book, The Legend of Rachel Petersen, has been released through Damnation Books, and I plan on donating a portion of my book’s proceeds to The Leader Dogs for the Blind, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. This organization has been training Leader Dogs and placing them with blind people, free of charge, since 1939, and they have achieved this amazing feat all from donations.

            I know all too well, both their generosity and the impact of their invaluable services. Furthering that statement, I also understand first handedly how strongly the visually impaired faithfully depend, trust, and rely on their dogs, whereas my older brother, Gene, has been blind since birth, and is on his third canine companion. As kids, my brother and I were constantly hand in hand. We went everywhere together. I was, in fact, Gene’s first Leader Dog!

            We don’t get to visit each other as often as we would like since Gene resides three hundred miles away in Philadelphia. However, the times I have visited my brother, I was impressed on how well Gene’s dog guided his blind master through the streets of The City of Brotherly Love. It’s absolutely amazing how smart these animals are. The people in Michigan do a fantastic job in training these Leader Dogs. Valor, Gene’s latest dog, is a beautiful Black Labrador Retriever, and when my brother puts the harness on Valor, that dog knows it is time to work. He even seems to enjoy riding the subway.

            I live in a rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and being the avid outdoorsman that I am, I spend a great deal of time in the woods, mostly within walking distance of my home. Last year, I came upon a lone grave in the woods, which inspired my paranormal tale. From years of weathering, the inscription was barely legible, it read, “Rachel Peterson, 1801 to 1899”. I changed the spelling of the last name and made my ghost character a young girl, which I feel gives the story a more realistic touch, while making the tale that much spookier.

            But what is really ironic, and eerily enough, my story revolves around 39-year-old sports writer Christian Kane, who becomes outraged when The Pittsburgh Post Gazette overlooks him for a well-deserved promotion. Kane quits the Paper and moves to the country to write fiction. Inspiration flows from a grave he stumbles upon in the woods, with the headstone having the dates 1851 to 1853, which means the girl died during the Civil War. He is then compelled to pen The Legend of Rachel Petersen, a fascinating and horrific story based on the dead twelve-year-old girl laid to rest beneath the weathered tombstone. His book quickly climbs the best seller lists; then Hollywood makes it in to a blockbuster movie. Kane becomes rich and famous only to have Rachel rise from the grave, seeking revenge on him for slandering her name! Or does she?

The Legend of Rachel Petersen is available both as an e-book at Damnation Books, http://www.damnationbooks.com/people.php?author=135, or in paperback at your favorite online bookstore such as Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Rachel-Petersen-J-T-Baroni/dp/1615725431, or visit my website, www.jtbaroni.com and check out my movie trailer on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVOmw2vH4gg. However, I forewarn any potential readers, I wrote this story with a mature audience in mind; it does contain adult content, and one scene in particular may be disturbing for young readers. Two specific stories majorly influenced my plot structure, The Devil’s Advocate and The Sixth Sense; both of which are my all time favorite movies. Therefore, two unforeseen twists come out of nowhere at the end of the story and smack you upside the head.    

            I would like to graciously thank everyone who helps support my cause; raising a puppy to Leader Dog status is extremely expensive, averaging forty five thousand dollars per sponsored dog.

            In conclusion, thanks again for having me, Su, and I hope everybody enjoys my novel!

Author Bio:

Living in Western Pennsylvania all his life, J. T. Baroni has been an avid Whitetail hunter since he was old enough to tote a rifle, which is also about as long as he’s had a fondness for word games and literature. While hunting last year, Jim actually did stumble upon a weathered tombstone in the middle of the woods. Waiting patiently for any deer to cross his path gave him plenty of time to think about that lone grave’s inhabitant and ponder her story, which he was then driven to write. Eerie enough, this is the premise of The Legend of Rachel Petersen, his first published novel. Jim has also composed several songs that are currently signed with a music publisher. His home is Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a small town outside of Pittsburgh. Jim and his wife Becky are both proud members of the Lions International. They share their house with their son, Skyler, and two boxers.

Hellbound is out!

Hellbound is a collection of 3 horror stories connected to each other on a very subliminal level, for all 3 lead to Hell!
Hellbound is a month too early, but it is out with an awesome, kickA$$ cover.  Here it is:

 and here's the trailer:


Blurb:
One-way ticket to Hell.

Bart is a greedy morgue attendant with money on his mind. He gets more than what he bargains for when he chances upon a pain-letter, one he must pass on or bear the consequences of his inaction.

Stan is a chiseler, a fake medium, preying on his unsuspecting clients' earnings through bogus channeling sessions. When he meets mysterious Joanna Stark, he believes her promises of powers beyond his comprehension, powers blessed by the Netherworld.

Jenna gives up her old life and career to settle down as Troy's loving wife. He is a God-fearing man who will consent only to marriage. Except fate maps a different ending to their love story, a conclusion that takes them both down and never up again.

Bart, Stan, and Jenna are destined to go on a long and abominable journey that sinks them below their expectations and forces them to endure pain and anguish beyond their worst nightmares.

On the paths leading to the depths of Hell, their sins don't matter!

• Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
• Publisher's link: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-932-6
• Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Hellbound-ebook/dp/B0077CTWW6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328881279&sr=1-1

3 in 1- Guest blog + Giveaway + Contest

Author Kandie Delley is visiting with us today to share the importance of the Internet and how we can use it to our advantage. Not only authors, her suggestions cover other lines of business as well.

On to you, Kandie!

 

 Make the Net Work for You!

The internet has created several viable means to make a profit for nearly anyone.  It doesn't matter how unique your gifts, products, or interests are, there is bound to be someone in the world who will use, buy, or share your contribution with the world (if you’re getting the word out –Marketing). Put those people—consumers, readers, customers, etc—on the internet and they are more accessible than ever before. 

I learned to utilize information gained from hobbies, past creative pursuits, and newly developed skills towards my writing career. You really have to think outside the box. One of the best  experiences that helped me on my path to publishing was my actor's journey.

As an actor, I learned about having my own space on the “information super-highway.” By displaying demo reels, headshots, and resumes, this self-promotion increased my marketability and expanded my networking circle. I even acquired a film agent for representation! 

On the whole, using my experiences in film, music production, and freelance writing has provided me with imaginative ways to market my books and run a business. The main lesson I learned is, the world is your oyster. An idea or concept will take time, determination and, great promotional and marketing skills, but eventually, you will find your pearl.

Overall, technology is FABU—online videos, social media, podcasts, interactive forums, movies, and in some cases 3D! However, it can be TABOO if you’re not decisive. You’ll need to:

·       Maximize your time and resources using the least amount of manual labor.

·       Plan ahead by pre-scheduling blog posts and newsletters.

·       Strategize the marketing and promotions of your product by building your network & deciding who complements your style, product, and beliefs.

·       Recognize that you are a business from product development, admin and operations to customer service and public relations. 

Know your product and think about the five keywords that describe it. Use those key words in marketing and follow the tips I’ve given in my previous blogs (see Spooktacular Web Tour) to combine all that information to manage your digital brand! 

Happy Halloween! 

About Tempestuous Tales:

 

An urban legend becomes a nightmare when three women face tragic consequences:  an unexplainable vanishing, a sadistic marriage, and a visit from beyond the grave, after an ancient talisman grants their wishes. Tempestuous Tales  adds a modern twist to three classic short stories: The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs, Night Drive by Will F. Jenkins and Bluebeard’s Bride by Sarah Holland, based on the works of Charles Perrault.

Paperback coming November 2011. Download a free Tempestuous Tales mobile phone or desktop wallpaper here.

Tempestuous Tales is available on:

·  AMAZON KINDLE

·  BARNES & NOBLE NOOK 

·  SMASHWORDS 

GIVEAWAY

Su has chosen a free MP3 music download of the song Breathe. You can listen to a sample here.

You can download Breathe here.

CONTEST

Leave a comment with your email address on this blog and be entered into a drawing to win free graphic design services worth $50 courtesy @KanDel_Media on twitter. For samples click here.

I will announce all winners on Nov. 1^st on my blog.

Thanks again Su, for allowing me to visit your blog and have a blessed holiday season.

AUTHOR BIO

Kandie Delley 

Mystical lands, adventurous, kick-butt divas, and super-hot romances are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to author Kandie Delley's imagination. With the release of her paranormal suspense short story compilation, Tempestuous Tales, she is definitely capturing readers' attention. Her stories feature strong, witty, and successful women, their adventures and the men who love them. Kandie lives in North Texas and takes care of two rambunctious dogs, Isys and Ramsey. She works as a commercial accountant for a Dallas-based media company during the day. For more information visit:  http://www.kandiedelley.com