Tag Archives: Blood Sweat and Fears

Uncategorized

Spring Fever Induced Writer’s block

Leave a comment

Yep, that’s exactly what I have.  I have so many things I need to do, but I find my attention span is uncharacteristically quite short.  I find sitting down to the computer for any length of time a terrible struggle.  As long as it’s light outside, which in Montana is a lot longer than average, I feel compelled to mess around in the vegetable garden or the flower beds or even just play with the dog.

Since I just released my new book on May 1, “Blood, Sweat and Fears” people are always asking me what I have planned next.  I imagine they think I’m just being coy when I say that I don’t know, but I really have no clue.  I tend to be a little Schizophrenic when it comes to writing projects, I always have three or four ideas started, it just seems to be hard for me to sit down and commit to perfecting one of those ideas into a real page turner. 

I try to use the early morning before I go to work, and before everyone else in the household is up, to at least, get my daily writing chores done.  Unfortunately, I usually find that to be a struggle as well.  My computer has a spectacular view to the east and the sunrise is pretty amazing coming over the mountains to the east, so once again I find myself mesmerized.

What is the cure for Spring Fever Induced Writer’s block you ask?  Sorry, there is no cure.  My therapy has been to give in to my urges and enjoy life.  Every sunrise, every little honeybee flitting from flower to flower is a beautiful thing, a bit of inspiration for our next project.  So next time you feel frustrated with your writer’s block, take a break, enjoy the sunny day outside.  Inspiration is everywhere.  Most likely it is somewhere other than in front of your computer.

Jean Stanberry-guest blogger Kingsmuir Press

jeanstanberry.com   @jeanstanberry

 

Image

Uncategorized

Yes, Cruises are Safe!

Leave a comment

Ever take a picture and not realize the significance?  Just a week before my own cruise vacation I wrote an article about cruising being a safe vacation.  I still maintain that cruises are a safe and economical vacation for just about anyone, but of course, the cruise industry was destined to be in the spotlight once again and I had no idea just how close I would be to the action.

My family and I took a nine night cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean”s Explorer of the Seas.  After a wonderful trip, complete with nearly perfect weather we were returning to our port in Bayonne, NJ.  We splurged for a balcony room this time and found it to be a wonderful upgrade.  As the sun rose on our last morning at sea I went out on our balcony to get photos of us pulling into harbor and the NYC skyline at dawn. 

I snapped photos of another cruise ship, probably a mile ahead of us that was also heading into the NYC harbor area and on to the Hudson river.  I would learn later that the ship I was snapping photos of, was the Norwegian Breakaway, the cruise ship that was soon to make headlines after mechanical difficulties greatly delayed it’s docking, and it was found to have a dead whale on it’s bow.

So at some point my ship made a hard left and docked in Bayonne, while the Breakaway continued into the Hudson River and though it’s mechanical difficulties were quite minor and no one was in any danger, the media jumped all over it’s difficulties like fleas on a dirty dog.

I’m not sure that a delayed docking is exactly news.  I mean, it seems to me the equivalent of a bus getting a flat tire.  Remember the old saying, shit happens?

Anyhow, I still highly recommend a cruise vacation to anyone who might be considering it.  I spent nine nights falling asleep to the sound of the ocean, having my meals brought to me and reading my new Kindle paperwhite in the sun.  If my arrival in Bayonne had been delayed for a bit, I seriously doubt I would have cared.  

Jean Marie Stanberry-Guest Blogger

Jean is author of “Laying Low In Hollywood”, “One World United”, “The Illusion of Order” and just released, “Blood, Sweat and Fears”.  You can learn more about Jean and all her books on her website jeanstanberry.com or you can follow her on Twitter @jeanstanberry

Image

 

Uncategorized

A Blockbuster Book Release

Leave a comment

Sending out congratulations to our fabulous author, Jean Marie Stanberry.  Her newest book “Blood, Sweat and Fears” was officially released on May 1 with very little fanfare, but sales were still brisk placing it at #5 in Kindle sales for the day of release.  It topped the sales not only in the US, but also Brazil and Great Britain.

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” was originally slated to release in December, but it’s debut was held up by our legal department.  After the decision was made to put the brakes on “Blood” we made the decision to release “The Illusion of Order” instead, which was meant to be the second book of the “Heart of a Phoenix” series.  “Blood, Sweat and Fears” was reworked and written from the dual perspectives of both clashing main characters and it was approved for release.  If you have not yet read “The Illusion of Order” you might want to read “Blood, Sweat and Fears” first, but it is not necessary as all Jean’s books stand alone brilliantly.

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” is a dramatic tale of one young woman’s betrayal and exploitation by her own parents as she is thrown into life in the fast lane, too young and clueless to be completely on her own, far away in a foreign country where she knows no one and barely speaks the language.

Unfortunately, her parents aren’t the only one’s determined to exploit her for their own purposes.   A co worker hailing from communist USSR has arrived in Paris with his own elaborate plan in place.  A plan that if executed correctly,  will allow him to defect to the United States.  Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan…

I am completely certain you will enjoy Jean’s riveting new book.  This novel is not ideal for young teens as it does contain some sex and graphic violence.  I believe all others will find this book is hard to put down.

Uncategorized

Coming soon!

Leave a comment

 

Image

When people lose faith they become hopeless, after hopelessness comes desperation. At this point it seems there is nothing left to lose.  In here, lies the danger.

Jean Marie Stanberry’s new novel “Blood, Sweat and Fears is an action packed thriller that will leave you breathless.  The year is 1980 and tensions are running high in the communist USSR.  Alexander Peterov has a plan to escape his dreary life there and defect to the USA.  He has engineered a plan to seduce a young co worker and marry her in an attempt to get US citizenship.  His elaborate plan backfires when it becomes evident that this young women isn’t as easily manipulated as Alexander has imagined she might be.  As weeks pass and he seems no closer to his goal than ever, Alexander is beginning to get very nervous.   He is not wiling to give up his quest for the perfect life in America.  Before long, his casual attraction has developed into a full fledged obsession and he is becoming more desperate by the moment. 

Jenna Bruce, the object of his affection, seems to be completely unmoved by his attempts to seduce her.  In fact, she files a complaint of sexual harassment against him and despite their close working arrangement, she has been doing everything she can to avoid him.  When another man makes the moves on Jenna at their “Farewell to Paris” celebration, Alexander becomes consumed with jealousy.  As his mental status begins to crumble he finally succumbs to his baser urges and the night ends in a shocking crescendo of violence.

When Alexander finally regains his senses and realizes what he has done he is remorseful.   Unfortunately, he is still not ready to throw in the towel and give up his plans to defect from the USSR.  The deception grows deeper as he weaves an even bigger web of lies to to justify his actions and avoid imprisonment.

Coming to bookstores and all major e-readers on May 1, 2014.  Visit:   jeanstanberry.com or follow her @jeanstanberry

Uncategorized

Obsession, deception and passion

Link Leave a comment

The world can be a cruel place when you are alone and on your own.  Jenna Bruce has always felt like a stranger in her own family, an unwanted child forced to bounce back and forth between her own home and both her grandparents homes.  When she gets the opportunity to perform in a world renowned ice show for the summer, Jenna is very excited.  Shortly after her arrival in Paris she begins to have second thoughts, have her own parents set her up for failure, or is this just part of a larger, devious plan to be rid of her forever?

Alexander Peterov has a plan.  If his plan goes off without a hitch, he can leave his dreary  life in the U.S.S.R far behind and defect to the U.S.  The pawn in Alexander’s plan is fifteen year old Jenna Bruce.  She is in Paris with a fake passport, pretending to be much older than she really is.  Alexander plans to seduce Jenna and marry her to attain U.S. citizenship, he thinks he has found someone young, naive and easy to manipulate.  He’s about to find out he’s very wrong.

When things don’t move along the way Alexander would like he begins to fall victim to desperation, threatening his very sanity.   Soon his goal has turned into a full blown obsession and it’s only a matter of time before Alexander melts down and goes completely over the edge.

When victim becomes the criminal it seems the whole world is taking sides and the deception just keeps getting deeper and more demented.  When strong willed people face off, neither is going down without a fight, but who will win this battle?

Kingsmuir Press is pleased to announce the release of “Blood, Sweat and Fears” the second book in the Heart of a Phoenix series, by Jean Marie Stanberry, coming to bookstores and E-readers May 1.