The Day After... by Author Grace Augustine #OurAuthorGang

Photo courtesy of Ticketspace

Today is not Earth Day...but yesterday was the 48th anniversary of the first Earth Day.  I remember it well.  As part of the day's curriculum, all of the teachers and students from the junior and senior high schools in my home town hit the streets and parks with garbage bags and "cleaned-up" our town.

For those of you who are saying "What the heck is Earth Day?", let me explain. The information below was taken from the https://www.earthday.org/about/the-history-of-earth-day/  site.

A United States Senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, was appalled after witnessing the devastation from the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. He was inspired by the student anti-war movement and decided he could ride the energy of their coattails to raise interest in the environmental issues: air and water pollution, oil spills, garbage along the interstates and roadways.

photo courtesy of pinterest

His next step introduced the "national teach-in on the environment" to the media. He persuaded Republican Congressman Pete McClosky to be his co-chair and Denis Hayes from Harvard served as the national coordinator. Hayes'staff of 85 people promoted events across the US, and April 22nd was chosen as "the" day because it was between spring break and final exams.

On April 22,1970, 20 million people across the United States took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to protest for a healthy and stable environment. Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, and by the end of the year, the first Earth Day led to the creation of what we know today as the EPA...Environmental Protection Agency as well as the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

photo courtesy of Pinterest

In 1990, Hayes was asked once again to spearhead another campaign..this time a global effort. 200 million people in 141 countries gave voice to recycling and also paved the way for the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro where then President Bill Clinton awarded Senator Gaylord Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom for founding Earth Day. The award is the highest award that is given to civilians for service.

Earth Day's current status as the largest secular observance in the world is celebrated by more than a billion people every year,

photo courtesy of the SNS College of Engineering

2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. I encourage all of you to get involved in this movement. Our planet is in serious trouble, and if we don't do something to help her, she won't be around for future generations.

In honor of this milestone, the Earth Day Network is launching an ambitious set of goals to shape the future of the 21st century environmentalism.  You can find out more about this at https://www.earthday.org/earthday/countdown-to-2020/

Our Guest Today is Author d. Nicole King #ourauthorgang

Welcome, Ms. King. We're so glad you could join us today.

d. Nichole King has always loved the world of books: fantasy, horror, romance, mystery...it didn't matter. If it looked interesting, she'd read it. 

At the age of twelve, King decided to give writing a try. Her first book, KATE'S DIARY, was hand-written and kept secret in a purple three-ring binder. Later, this story was written and became King's best-selling novel, LOVE ALWAYS, KATE.

King writes mostly in the romance genre, bridging the gap between young adult and new adult. She's best known for her ugly cry books and heart-clutching plot twists.

When asked to describe what she writes, King says: 

"I'm a dreamer, an inspirer. I find beauty in weakness, brokenness, and heartbreak. In life, and joy, and happiness. These moments don't define us, but the choices we make in these moments do. I write about these moments, about the choices we make and the paths we tread...about the circumstances that make us who we are and the experiences that will lead us to who we will become.  I write about life, love, pain, and hope."

d. Nicole loves hearing from her readers and may be reached at:

Facebook "friend" page:  https://www.facebook.com/d.nicholeking1

d's Devoted Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2wT0MrY

Goodreads:  https://bit.ly/2hxd7Y8

  

http://a.co/7rQTVLd

Moments.

Every life is made of thousands of them, each one strung together with the next. Some are yellow and happy, some are blue and sad, and some…

Some wipe out color altogether.

“I love you,” is what I should have told Maverick.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m still fighting.”

Instead I just watched him leave.

Now my husband, my everything is battling for each breath, and all I can do is stare at the machines as the clock ticks off precious minutes.

The doctors said the first twenty-four hours are critical—but every moment is critical.

You never know which will be your last.

This is our story, and I’m not ready for it to end.

Our Guest Today is Krista Ames

Krista Ames

 I reside in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan with my family.  Please feel free to drop me a note at krista@kristaames.com and introduce yourself.  I'm fairly new to the writing world but i hope to meet many new faces, writers and readers, and make many new friends.
You can find out more about me on my web page or my blog.

Her work An Unexpected Twist is featured in the romance collection Spring Fling.

Spring Fling
A Limited-Edition Collection of Romance

Winter is fading into the distance and the season of love is upon us.

With desires building, passion explodes in this collection of steamy and must-read romances.

Come and join us, won’t you? Spring is in the air…

Order here:
Amazon

Teasers from Featured Stories:

Hero by Stacy-Deanne
She ran her fingers through his hair, touching his scalp. “I’ve wanted you since you first came to my house.”
“When you were flirting?” He chuckled, massaging her breasts. “How does this feel?”
“Good.” She leaned back on the shelf, moaning. “Kiss ‘em.”
Scott kissed her breast, tracing his tongue along the brown areola.
“Yes.” She got that swishing motion in her stomach as if she were falling over a cliff. “Yes, Scott.”

Inner Girl Rising by Jan Springer
“You like it, don’t you, having the two of us taking you?” Andrew whispered. His voice was dark and deep and its huskiness rippled along her sensitized nerve endings. Andrew’s palm moved away and fingers teasingly trailed around her slit. Involuntarily, Paisley bucked against him, needing penetration.
Andrew chuckled.
“Spread your legs wider, sweetheart. Nice and wide,” he ordered.

An Unexpected Twist by Krista Ames
“Don’t be sorry Kelsey, you are beautiful and I love touching your body. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”
While she watched, still straddling his thighs, he pulled his t-shirt off, then picked her off his legs and laid her on the bed beside him.
“Can I take these off?” His fingers were hovering at the waist band of the shorts that he’d never be able to wear again without picturing her.
“If I can take off yours?”
He jumped off the bed in a split second, grabbed her ankles and pulled her closer to the edge. “Have at it.”


Love Potion by Cara Marsi
She wanted him suddenly, wanted all of him, body and soul, in a way she’d never wanted any other man. Hungrily she wound her arms around his neck and lifted her face for his kiss. He was quick to deliver. His lips, soft at first, grew more demanding, and Nicole’s whole body seemed to come alive at his touch. She opened to him, twining her tongue with his in an erotic dance. When he slid his hand up her ribcage to caress her breast through the thin fabric of the tank top, she groaned. He lay back, pulling her with him until she was on top of him.


Fiery Kisses by Khardine Gray
You never forget your first love.

Mister Write Now by Nikky Kaye
Sophy cleared her throat and opened the book again, projecting her voice to the far corners of the library. “Clarissa reached out and tangled her fingers in his soft hair, pulling him closer to her quivering nest of desire.”

Somewhere in the distance she heard a gasp and she blinked at the words swimming on the page in front of her, realizing she had lost her place. She would not be embarrassed.

Her voice rose as she skipped ahead a few sentences to finish the paragraph. “—she melted against the scratchy straw at her back and her body tensed in anticipation.”

When she turned back to Max, she saw the strangled expression on his face and the small flush in the hollow of his throat, exposed by his starched white shirt. Even though he looked as though he wanted to crawl under the table and die, he gazed at her with a mixture of fascination and something more dangerous.

The Millionaire by Lisa Marbly-Warir
“What are you doing here?” Quisha asked as she opened the door with a towel wrapped around her still damp body.
Without answering he kissed her. She gave in to the kiss. The chemistry between them had been slowly growing and neither of them could deny it. He picked her up and carried her to her bedroom and removed her towel...

Why Not by Dana Kenzi
The pleasure was too much for her, and she screamed when her climax hit. Her back arched off the bed, and Ryan thrust his fingers deep into her. His mouth somehow remained attached to her clit, and he licked her through her orgasm.
His attentions carried her through the waves until she felt too sensitive to continue. Ryan pulled his fingers out and kissed her stomach.
Sadie was exhausted, but she wanted him to know how satisfied she was.

Without Reservation by Lynn Burke
“Give us one night,” Jack said. “Please.”
She peered into his eyes, temptation swirling through her body. Just one night. She wouldn’t see them again, anyway, right? No harm in one little fling. Checked off number one bucket list desire…
Trevor kissed her palm. “Please.”

Tempting Asher by Ja’Nese Dixon
I mistakenly look into his chestnut eyes, stepping forward and I freeze. Accepting the heated offer in his eyes would only make this awful situation worse. I can’t crack.

I can’t pretend I asked, and he agreed. Asher couldn't possibly love me and grant a hall pass. Could he?

Bossy Boots by Nicole Morgan
He thrust forward. Pushing himself inside, reaching parts of her he’d only ever dreamt about. Her body arched into his. Their breaths heavy, their bodies hot and sticky despite the cool desert wind. Neither of them spoke, each of them pushing against and with one another.

Amazon:   http://a.co/8TSPN9F

The Gang

Our Author Gang

We are a small group of authors who write various genre books.

What brought us together on this blog:

First and foremost, our shared love for writing.

We like to "hang out" together, helping each another other by promoting each other's books, blogs, events, and doing whatever we can to support one another.

We take turns posting about our books, the rewards as well as the difficulties of publishing and book promotion, and about things we enjoy in everyday life.

We need your support, please visit our blog often, comment on our posts and share our posts.

Thank you!

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/mary-anne.html

Mary Anne Yarde is an award winning author of the International Best Selling Series — The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Briton and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, the Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed.

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/joe.html

Hello out there in cyberspace! I write Heroic Fantasy, Space Opera, Sword & Planet Sci-Fi, Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Children's Books, and I also dabble a bit in Horror stories.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/grace.html

My fascination with the written and spoken word began as a 6th grader. I was like a sponge. I couldn’t get enough spelling, sentence diagraming, and literature. This passion followed me through junior high and high school and into adulthood.

I’m a Jill of most trades: co-owned a weekly newspaper, administrative office work, kitchen design, custom jewelry creation, wedding planning, floral design, preaching sermons, public relations and marketing, designing social media promotions, copy and manuscript editing, and now add the title author to this mix.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/erika_5.html

I became an avid reader at a very early age, thanks to my dad who introduced me to many great books. I write alternate history, romantic fantasy, magical realism novels as well as fun, educational, and bilingual books for children ages 4-12 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them. I also like to encourage children to use their imagination and daydream about fantasy worlds.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/ruth.html

I originally studied fine and commercial art, way back when dinosaurs walked the earth and eBooks weren't even a gleam in Amazon's eye. I started my career as a graphic artist as the sign maker at the old Nut Tree in Vacaville, California. After a stint at a print shop (ouch), I began working as a book designer for Bill Yenne at American Graphic Systems. While working for Bill, I wrote my first two books, "Ghost Towns" and "100 Medical Milestones That Shaped World History."

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/toi.html

Hi there, Toi here. I’m the self-published author of 10 books and counting. I’m also a blogger and vlogger who loves to interview other creatives. A geek girl at heart, I’m also a bit of a techie and foodie, I was born in Texas but consider Virginia to be my home. I enjoy reading, cooking, painting, geek culture, collecting vinyl records, and spending time with my family. 

I also work as a special education teacher’s assistant and find comfort and peace of mind in chocolate, green tea, and naps. My husband and I have been married for twelve years and share our home with a tortoise named Betty and a Redbone Coonhound named Margie, who’s totally taken over the house.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/nikki.html

Nicola McDonagh is known for her unique writing style and is the author of the unconventional sci-fi/dystopian Song of Forgetfulness action adventure series. She loves to play around with the written word and the visual image and has been a photographer, actor, director, scriptwriter and other less exciting things, (worst ever job – dishwasher in a trendy bar in Liverpool) before settling in Suffolk with her musician husband, plethora of rescued cats and chickens.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/rebecca.html

Rebecca is an award-winning author, blogger, and book reviewer. While fantasy tends to be her primary genre she also dabbles in paranormal, romance, and sci-fi. Currently Rebecca has one epic fantasy series titled The Chronicles of the Coranydas. Rebecca likes writing in the the first person as well. Her paranormal fantasy For Their Sins and her Sci-fi action/adventure Neutral Space are both written in this style.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/christina-weigand-joins-grow-generation.html

Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a teenage daughter. She is also Nana to four granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania after a short sabbatical in the lovely state of Washington.

She received her BS in Interior Design in 1995, but after a few years of working in the industry God redirected her path with the addition of a fourth child to the family. So she returned to being a stay at home mom, but having been out in the world of school and work she realized she needed a little more, so she took several writing courses and started her second career as an author.

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/rich.html

Rich Feitelberg is a poet and novelist, author of the fantasy series, the Aglaril Cycle. He also has four short story collections and a collection of poetry available at fine booksellers everywhere. 

Rich is an avid map collector, and student of popular culture. Growing up on a steady diet of comic books, science fiction, and fairy tales of all kinds, Rich soon began weaving his own tales at a young age. These activities continue to this day, as Rich is working on the next installment of the Aglaril Cycle, and writing more poems and short stories for your enjoyment.

Inspired by comic books, part 4, the finale by Toi Thomas

"Hellboy" image by Paolo Rivera via Pinterest 

from the My Geekdom board

I’m so thrilled to share with you the fourth, and final, installment of my “Inspired by comic books” series. Today, I’ll be talking a bit about indie comic books. (If you missed part one,  two, and three, please check them out).

Sourced from Wikipedia.com

First, I’d like to mention some of the more popular or well-known indie comic book companies; what I often refer to as the Big Indie 3 of Comics: Dark Horse, Valiant, and Image. All of these presses have been around for a while and have had plenty of success, yet have not become as mainstream as D.C. and Marvel, and I’m kind of glad. I think one of the reasons these indie, or lesser known, though highly profitable and successful, presses have done so well, is because they each appeal to a very specific or niche audience or create products that appeal to niche audiences. Because these presses aren’t trying to appeal to the masses, they achieve the one thing all in the publishing industry strive for, hardcore fans.

Dark Horse, for me, was the one indie comic press that seemed a little dangerous as I was growing up. Those were the comics I didn’t want my parents to know I was into, but as an adult, I’ll tell the world, “I like it.” They are probably most known for such series or character titles as Hellboy, Sin City, Tank Girl, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Valiant Comics logo.
Designed by Rian Hughes.
Sourced from Wikipedia.com

Valiant Comics, to me, still kind of seems like that underground press that has produced an amazing amount of content and created a layered and complex universe that leaves you wondering, “Why aren’t more people reading this?” I even put myself in that category having recently discovered their Unity series, which combines many of their staple characters into a team-up comic in the vein of Justice League and Avengers. They are probably most known for their Harbinger series and all its spin-offs plus X-O-Manowar, who’s part of the Unity team-up.

Then there’s Image Comics, who’s totally kill’n it in new, edgy, and creative content as of late. Where Dark Horse was dangerous, Image always seems a little naughty. Growing up I never actually read any of their comics, but I wanted to. I especially remember wanting to read a Spawn comic but being too afraid to bumb one from a friend (I wasn’t going to buy one). Today, they are probably most known for The Walking Dead and Saga, though two of my favorites are Paper Girls and Montress (this comic is so beautiful, you almost forget that the story is very violent and a bit twisted).

 Sourced from Wikipedia.com

Lastly, I’d like to mention a few indie comic presses and or comic titles that I like, to which you are welcome to look up: Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter from WannaBe Press, AlterLife from Village Comics, and Vessels from Card Shark Comics. If you want to discover indie comic book content, try searching on Facebook or Kickstarter. It’s not ideal, but that’s where I’ve found most of my indie comic book content outside of attending live Cons and vendor events.

Before I conclude this geek-a-thon of comic book praise, I want to point out a few things about indie comic books and how they influence me. As an indie author, I find that I have a lot to learn from indie comic writers and artists. Looking to them for inspiration and insight has helped me be a better salesperson and has helped me learn how to appeal to a specific audience. Indie comic writers and artists have helped me to think outside the “traditional publishing” box to find a way that suits me best. And lastly, indie comics have taught me how to stretch the limits of an idea without being afraid of going too far. Indie comics are a way to tell stories that just aren’t meant to suit everyone; however, they will be amazing for someone in particular. That’s what I’m striving for in my own writing.

Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon | Goodreads | The ToiBox of Words | YouTube | See a list of my other posts here.

COMMENTS

Stream

Nikki McDonagh

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

So many books I haven't heard of, but would like to read. Thanks for a really interesting series, Toi.

 

 · 

Reply

Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Toi shares the finale of her four part series on comic books and inspiration. Great stuff!!

+

1
2
1

 

 · 

Reply

Ruth de Jauregui

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I always liked Dark Horse and the small comic book companies. Not so much the biggies. Great post, thank you!

 

 · 

Reply

Joe Bonadonna via Google+

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas winds up her series on how her writing has been inspired by comic books.

+

2
3
2

 

 · 

Reply

Joe Bonadonna

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

This has been a great series, Toi. Sorry to see it come to an conclusion. I was (am) a big fan of Dark Horse, having read Hellboy, Alien, and a few others. I look forward to what you treat us with next time.

+

1
2
1

 

 · 

Reply

Erika M Szabo

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Aw... it's over? I really enjoyed this series and learned a lot. Thanks Toi!

+

3
2
3

 

 · 

Reply

Toi Thomas

9 months ago

 

 

Thank you so much. I could write about this forever, but that's all for now. Perhaps I'll return from another angle down the road.

Grace Au

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

sad to see this series end...thanks for your insight into the world of comic books from inception to current day.

+

2
1
2

 

 · 

Reply

Toi Thomas

9 months ago

 

 

Glad to know you enjoyed it.

Mary Anne Yarde

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Such an interesting post!

+

3
2
3

 

 · 

Reply

Toi Thomas

9 months ago

 

 

Thank you.

Chris Weigand

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

You continue to supply me with new info. I am going to have to check these out.

+

3
2
3

 

 · 

Reply

Toi Thomas

9 months ago

 

 

Yeah, there's a whole comic world out there people don't know about. I especially love the educational comic content out there.

Chris Weigand via Google+

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

..Indie Comics? Who knew? Learn more about them with Toi

+

2
3
2

 

 · 

Reply

Rich Feitelberg via Google+

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

+

2
3
2

 

 · 

Reply

Rich Feitelberg

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Very nice. Over the years there have been many independent publishers. I liked First Comics and Amalgam once upon a time. Great job on this series.

+

2
1
2

 

 · 

Reply

Toi Thomas

9 months ago

 

 

Yasss!. I too enjoyed Amalgam. Good stuff there.

Toi Thomas via Google+

9 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today, I talk about indie comics; the naughty, dangerous, and edgy comics that may not be mainstream but demand respect from hardcore fans.

+

2
3
2

 

 · 

Reply