FEATURED AUTHOR: MILANA MARSENICH

It is my pleasure to welcome Milana Marsenich as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between December 18th - 20th, 2023. She is the author of the Historical Fiction novel, Beautiful Ghost (Sequel to Copper Sky), released by Open Books on  November 8, 2022 (217 pages).

Below are highlights of Beautiful Ghost,  Milana Marsenich's author bio, and an excerpt of her novel.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-beautiful-ghost-by-milana-marsenich.html

HIGHLIGHTS: BEAUTIFUL GHOST

 

Beautiful Ghost

(Sequel to Copper Sky)

by Milana Marsenich

Blurb:

During the fall of 1918, the influenza pandemic crosses the nation and reaches the mining town of Butte, Montana.

Marika Jovich, who wants to go to school to become a physician, works menial tasks for Dr. Fletcher. She feels useless as she tries to save friends and neighbors from the ravages of the flu. In the midst of the pandemic, she watches the town shut down, young and old perish, and her medical dreams all but evaporate.

Kaly Monroe used to be a half-good woman of the night. She left that life to raise her daughter, Annie, and live and work with her long-lost mother, Tara McClane. Kaly waits for her husband, Tommy, to return from the war. Word from the east is that soldiers are dying of influenza and she prays that Tommy is not one of them.

When an out-of-town woman named Amelia suddenly dies in Dr. Fletcher's office, both women try to learn more about the mysterious woman and the circumstances regarding her death. Is she another casualty of the pandemic, or the victim of manmade foul play? Who is this stranger, and is her demise a portent of the fate that awaits the residents of Butte?

Praise for Beautiful Ghost:

“Marsenich doesn't just describe the place and times, she conjures it up like time travel.”

~ Amazon Review by Ellen Leahy Howell

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m06BOJ

AUTHOR BIO: MILANA MARSENICH

 

Award-winning author, Milana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs. For the past 20 years she has worked as a mental health therapist in a variety of settings. As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky, her first novel. 

Copper Sky was chosen as a Spur Award finalist for Best Western Historical Novel in 2018. Her second novel, The Swan Keeper, was a Willa Award finalist in 2019. Her short story, Wild Dogs, won the Laura Award for short fiction in 2020.

She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, The Moronic Ox, BookGlow, and Feminist Studies.

She has three published novels, Copper Sky, The Swan Keeper, and Beautiful Ghost, and one popular history book, Idaho Madams. Her upcoming novel, Shed Girl: A Juliet French Novel, will be released January 2024. Her popular history book, Mary MacLane: Butte’s Wild Woman and her Wooden Heart, will be out sometime in 2025.

You can find her books and blog posts at https://milanamarsenich.com/

Author Links:

Website: https://milanamarsenich.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/milanamarsenich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilanaMarsenichAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milanammarsenich/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/milanamarsenich/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/milana-marsenich

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Milana-Marsenich/author/B07DTJRR2K/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/16544640.Milana_Marsenich

EXCERPT: BEAUTIFUL GHOST

 

Amelia clearly had her secrets, like everyone, but her secrets had led her to Butte and ultimately to some kind of violence and death. The flu might have killed her, but strong hands stopping her breath were not far behind.

She hadn’t been running from the flu. She’d been running to the flu. The striations on her neck had blended with the blue gray of her skin and, in the end, were barely visible. Amelia’s coat had been left in the sick room, folded, and put on a shelf. Marika covered her hand with a cloth and reached into the pockets to see if the woman had carried a clue to her identity, to her family in Philadelphia. Most travelers did. A piece of paper crinkled under Marika’s fingers. She pulled it out and unfolded it. The scribbled lead of the pencil had faded and fallen into the folds.

Still, it was readable: J.K., Butte, Montana.

Marika wrapped the paper in the cloth and put them both on top of the filing cabinet. Thinking of the nursing instructions command: wash your hands with soap and water every time you think the word “pee,” she rushed to the washroom to do just that.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: TWELFTH CAKE HOUSE

I am pleased to spotlight the book, TwelfthCake House, by Heidi Eljarbo in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held on December 18th, 2023. Twelfth Cake (Heartwarming Christmas) is a Clean Historical Christmas Romance independently published by the author on December 15th, 2023  (90 pages).

Tour Schedule Link: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-twelfth-cake-house-by-heidi-eljarbo.html

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: TWELFTH CAKE HOUSE

 

Twelfth Cake House

(Hearwarming Christmas)

by Heidi Eljarbo

Blurb:

Even a clever matchmaker may need a push in the right direction if she’s to find true love. When she’s asked to find a match for herself, it proves to be the most difficult task she’s ever undertaken.

Mid-December 1796.

Sixty-year-old spinster Miss Jemima Thurgood has three weeks to finish the preparations for her annual Twelfth Night party. In her position as a matchmaker, for over forty years she has assumed a grave responsibility. Luckily, she’s a shrewd observer of people, and many happy reunions have come about due to her exceptional talent for nudging kindred hearts in the right direction.

Every year, Jemima invites twelve carefully selected men and women to her festivity, and each guest is assigned a dinner partner. The days before the merrymaking are constantly disrupted by one unforeseen event after another. Jemima must work hard to be ready in time, and more importantly, to provide the kind of celebration her chosen guests deserve.

But this year, what Jemima doesn’t know is that her life is about to take a sudden change of course—one she could not have predicted or planned for. As the days pass, several gentlemen indicate they are interested in becoming better acquainted with her, but only a very special man can charm a matchmaker.

A sweet romance novella set during a witty and enchanting Georgian-Era Christmas, Twelfth Cake House is a story about traditions, goodwill, and finding hope and the courage to change and take a chance on finding true love.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6lWzJ

AUTHOR BIO: HEIDI ELJARBO

 

Heidi Eljarbo is the award-winning author of dual-timeline historical fiction with heartwarming clean romance, wit, and adventurous mystery.

Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and never imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, danced on the BYU Ballroom Dance Team, and still sings in choirs.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, and fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.

Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

Sign up for Heidi’s newsletter at https://www.heidieljarbo.com/newsletter!

Author Links:

Website: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiEljarbo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorheidieljarbo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorheidieljarbo/

Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/heidieljarbo/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heidi-eljarbo

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Eljarbo/e/B073D852VG/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16984270.Heidi_Eljarbo

 

 

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Celebrate Reading with Colorado Authors at

Barnes & Noble Boulder Colorado

Childrens, Suspense, Action, and How-to Books Await You!

Perfect for Holiday Shopping

 

Located In:  Crossroads Common

Address:  2999 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80301

Time:  9 am TO 5 pm

Award-winning and bestselling local authors will be gathering at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Saturday, December 16 at the Barnes & Noble Boulder Colorado to sign books in support of the Colorado Author's Hall of Fame from 09:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

 

Barnes & Noble has been a generous supporter of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. Books and other store merchandise purchased by visitors to the store on Saturday will generate a donation to support the Colorado Author's Hall of Fame, which will provide funds to support Aspiring Authors Scholarships that will be awarded in September to residents of Colorado aged 20 and beyond.

The book signing event will feature many other local authors of all genres including children’s books, inspiration, mystery, techno-thrillers, young adult fantasy, historical fiction, historical fantasy, horror, and more.

For more information about the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and the Aspiring Authors Scholarships, visit Colorado Authors' Hall of Fame.

 

 
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FEATURED AUTHOR: ANN BENNETT

It is my pleasure to welcome Ann Bennett as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between November 23rd —December 14th, 2023. Ann Bennett is the author of the Historical Fiction / Historical Romance / Women’s Adventure and Romance novel, The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu (Echoes of Empire), released by Andaman Press on October 31st, 2023 (356 pages).

Below are highlights of The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu, Ann Bennett's author bio, and the prologue of her novel.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-the-fortune-teller-of-kathmandu-by-ann-bennett.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE FORTUNE TELLER OF KATHMANDU

 

The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu

(Echoes of Empire)

By Ann Bennett

Blurb:

A sweeping wartime tale of secrets and love, mystery and redemption, moving from the snow-capped Himalayas to the steamy heat of battle in the Burmese jungle.

Perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries, Victoria Hislop and Rosie Thomas.

Hampshire, UK, 2015. When Chloe Harper’s beloved grandmother, Lena dies, a stranger hands her Lena’s wartime diary. Chloe sets out to uncover deep family secrets that Lena guarded to her grave.

Darjeeling, India, 1943, Lena Chatterjee leaves the confines of a strict boarding school to work as assistant to Lieutenant George Harper, an officer in the British Indian Army. She accompanies him to Nepal and deep into the Himalayas to recruit Gurkhas for the failing Burma Campaign. There, she discovers that Lieutenant Harper has a secret, which she vows never to reveal.

In Kathmandu, the prophesy of a mysterious fortune teller sets Lena on a dangerous course. She joins the Women’s Auxiliary Service Burma (the Wasbies), risking her life to follow the man she loves to the front line. What happens there changes the course of her life.

On her quest to uncover her grandmother’s hidden past, Chloe herself encounters mystery and romance. Helped by young Nepalese tour guide, Kiran Rai, she finds history repeating itself when she is swept up in events that spiral out of control...

"A great read" Advance Reader.

" Thank you so much for allowing me to read the advance copy. I could barely put it down!" Advance Reader,

"What a wonderful book... I loved it. The dual time lines were delineated to perfection... the settings were perfectly rendered." Advance Reader.

Buy Links

This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/tftok

AUTHOR BIO: ANN BENNETT

 

 

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. She was born in Pury End, a small village in Northamptonshire, UK and now lives in Surrey. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise and Bamboo Road:The Homecoming, The Tea Panter's Club and The Amulet are also about the war in South East Asia, which together with The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also author of The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Forgotten Children and The Child Without a Home, published by Bookouture.

The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India in the 1930s and WW2, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina during WW2, make up The Oriental Lake Collection.

Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and works as a lawyer. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.annbennettauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annbennett71

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annbennettauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annbennettauthor/

Amazon Author Page UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00D21SJ7A

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1951323.Ann_Bennett

PROLOGUE: THE FORTUNE TELLER OF KATHMANDU

 

There was little natural light in the cell-like room, tucked away in the back of an ancient building in the maze of narrow, cobbled streets in the heart of old Kathmandu. Despite that, Devisha had the sense that daylight was fading quickly outside, and that darkness would soon envelop the neighbourhood.  

It had been quiet that day. But the usual mix of people had made their way through the backstreets and alleyways to her door, crossed the outer chamber lit only by flickering candles, and drawn back the velvet curtain that divided Devisha’s alcove from the chamber. As they did every day, they had sat down opposite her with their timid, hopeful faces, extended their palms across the table, raised their eyes tentatively to hers before she dropped her gaze to read the future mapped out in their lines. The Line of Life, the Line of Fate, the Line of Heart, the Line of Fortune. The mounts of Jupiter, Saturn, Apollo, Mercury and Venus. Devisha knew every permutation of every line intimately, as well as what they signified. 

Today had been much like every other day. There had been the young daughter of a rice farmer from Nagarkot who had arrived with her mother. They'd walked the length of the Kathmandu valley to Devisha’s rooms. They wanted to be sure that the girl’s chosen betrothed was auspicious, and to get Devisha’s advice on the best date to set the wedding. There had been the old, stooping carpenter from Bodinath, his brow furrowed with worry. His business was failing as well as his health. He’d asked if things would pick up in the future. Then, there had been the middle-aged woman from Thamel who’d already lost three babies in childbirth. With a pleading look in her eyes, she’d wanted to know if the one she was now carrying would survive. 

All Devisha could tell them was what she saw in their palms. She could usually see, as soon as she turned a hand over in her own, peered at the palm and traced the lines with her own fingers. Their futures played out in her mind. She would try to tell them exactly what she saw, what they craved to know.  

It wasn’t always easy living with the gift that had been passed to her down the generations. She’d learned it at her mother’s knee and her mother from her grandmother before her. To witness the pain in people’s faces when she told them what she could see was sometimes hard to bear. Their heartache would often become her own. She knew she would be thinking about the woman from Thamel long into the night. But in amongst the pain was joy too, joy and light and hope for the future. She’d foreseen that the rice-farmer’s daughter’s marriage would be happy and prosperous, and that she would have a long, rich life, filled with love and laughter. 

With a sigh, Devisha got up from her chair. It was time to get ready to go home. But as she held back her veil and stooped to blow out the first candle, she heard the click and creak of the outer door. Then came footsteps. Someone was walking slowly across the chamber towards her. The footsteps stopped and, as often happened, the newcomer hesitated for a couple of seconds before pulling back the curtain and peeping through.  

The face of a stranger appeared in the flickering candlelight. A young woman, with soft dark hair and pale skin. She looked different to most of Devisha’s customers. She wasn’t local, and in this hidden quarter, it was rare to see a foreigner. Although the newcomer had Indian features, she was wearing western clothes. Devisha noticed the scepticism in the woman’s narrowed eyes, but there was a hint of curiosity, and a sort of yearning there too. 

Devisha quickly sat down and beckoned the young woman forward. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ she said. ‘Please, come in. Sit down. Give me your hand.’ 

The girl’s eyes flickered hesitantly, darting around the room, taking in the smoking candles, the incense and the wall hangings. Then she took a couple of steps forward, sat down in the chair opposite and extended her right hand across the red tablecloth.     

Devisha took the soft, manicured hand in her own, studied it for a few seconds. Her eyes widened and she stifled a gasp.  

This was unusual indeed. There was a lot to see in this palm. There was everything there she’d expected from such a subject, but there was more. Much, much more.

Devisha narrowed her eyes and peered closer concentrating deeply. Whatever it was, was elusive. She traced the Line of Luna with her long, painted fingernail, letting it rest briefly on the Mount of Mercury. 

This young woman would be tested, that was clear. But she was strong too. Stronger than she looked. There was something more there though… something dark, something troubling. Something that even Devisha couldn’t fathom, not straightaway. She bent forward, her many necklaces clanking against the table, and looked closer.

 

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Bluesky Handle: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

 
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FEATURED AUTHOR: KIMBERLY BURNS

It is my pleasure to welcome Kimberly Burns as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between November 28th – December 15th, 2023.  Kimberly Burns is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Redemption of Mattie Silks, released by Thomas Bard Publishing on October 25, 2023 (315 pages).

Below are highlights of TheRedemption of Mattie Silks, the author bio of Kimberly Burns, and the historical research she did for her novel.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-the-redemption-of-mattie-silks-by-kimberly-burns.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE REDEMPTION OF MATTIE SILKS

 

The Redemption of Mattie Silks

by Kimberly Burns

Blurb:     

SEEKING REDEMPTION, SHE FINDS RETRIBUTION

In 1892, running one of the West’s fanciest brothels is a rough game. In a town filled with brazen criminals, corrupt police, zealous politicians, and morality committees, Madam Mattie Silks makes her fortune catering to Colorado’s gold and silver millionaires.

Notorious crime boss “Soapy” Smith is at the top of the Denver underworld. There are no rules for Smith’s gang. They solve problems with bribes and bullets. When Mattie’s husband stumbles into Soapy’s dealings, she struggles to protect him.

Gold is discovered in the Yukon and Mattie seizes the opportunity for adventure and profit. But Skagway, Alaska, is even more lawless than Denver. Mattie must use all her business sense and street smarts to safeguard those she cares about. Will it be enough? Or will Lady Justice again turn a blind eye?

Based on a true story, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is an action-packed tale of a woman succeeding in a man’s world even when the cards are stacked against her.

“The research on the era shines through, as do the grit and spirit of the characters. …A colorful and enthralling journey.” ~ K.T. Blakemore, award-winning author of The Good Time Girls series

“A nice, nuanced portrait of the complex underworld with fine and witty turns of phrase. A great Western romp!”~ Randi Samuelson-Brown, award-winning author of The Bad Old Days series

Buy Links:

This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlpKRv

AUTHOR BIO: KIMBERLY BURNS

 

Kimberly Burns grew up in Colorado hearing stories about the colourful characters of the Old West. She has degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Hartford. Kimberly is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Western Writers of America, and Women Writing the West. She lives with her husband and black Lab in Leesburg, Virginia.

Her debut novel The Mrs. Tabor won numerous awards including the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best New Novel, a gold medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a silver medal from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards.

Kimberly and her unruly heroines make for an entertaining book talk. She is available to discuss her novels with book groups in person or online. Email her at info@kimberlyburnsauthor.com.

Author Links:

Website: www.kimberlyburnsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072454670660

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyburnsauthor/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kimberly-Burns/author/B09G4S8N2L

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21851914.Kimberly_Burns

HISTORICAL RESEARCH OF THE UNDERWORLD

 

Painted ladies, soiled doves, jeweled birds… How do you research a historical topic that people didn’t like to talk about, referring to it in veiled terms?

My latest novel, The Redemption of Mattie Silks, is based on the true story of the Old West’s most successful madam and her feud with notorious con man Soapy Smith. While over one hundred books and magazine articles were written about Smith and his gang, less was written about Mattie and her shady ladies. To learn about these gals, I had to walk the streets (so to speak.)

I visited three of the four museums of Old West prostitution. I prowled the avenues and allies of Denver and Skagway, Alaska. The staffs at the Denver Public Library and History Colorado, the state history museum, were wonderful about sharing their knowledge, resources, and opinions. I found and read eleven books on the topic. Finally I googled subjects like “contraception in 1800s” and “home remedies for STD.” I’m pretty sure that now I am on a government watch list as a big weirdo.

Through all this research, I did learn an eyebrow-raising a thing or two. For example, there was a strict hierarchy among the demimonde. Among those who sold themselves, parlor house fancy women sat atop that precarious pyramid. They were the most beautiful and well-mannered and were expected to be entertaining. They often began each evening acting as hostesses to gentlemen callers. In the front sitting room, they made conversation, played games, or performed music.

Parlor house madams ran their businesses as efficiently as any modern corporation. Mattie Silks realized she could charge a premium for healthy, clean, nicely dressed, well-fed girls. So she purchased elegant gowns for her ladies of the evening on credit. They paid her back from their wages. Mattie also offered her employees two meals a day, provided laundry service, and had a doctor on retainer who conducted monthly exams. This 1890s version of a benefits package was far better than factory workers received.

Below parlor houses were common brothels or bordellos where the women’s profit lay in volume. Living by the old adage that time is money, these gals burned seven-minute candles to signal the end of a gentleman’s visit.

At the bottom the social heap, were crib girls who operated out of small rooms and streetwalkers who transacted business wherever they could. It was nearly impossible to improve one’s position on this career path. Most women “tumbled down the row,” moving to increasingly grimier circumstances as they aged and lost their good looks.

Not all goodtime girls were prostitutes. Hurdy-gurdy, saloon, and dancehall girls were paid for dancing and earned a percentage from the drinks they sold. However, some saloons had rooms upstairs where girls sold their favors. As a result, dancers developed a bad reputation. The saloon girls of Cripple Creek, Colorado, were so offended by the insulting assumption they were of loose morals they banned together and formed the Dance Hall Girls’ Protective Association. They wrote letters and petitioned the local government to recognize theirs as a legitimate occupation and not a crime. It must have worked. The police stopped arresting the dancers.

Old Hollywood movies glamorized and sanitized the lives of Old West working girls. In reality there were few career choices for females in the 1800s—school teacher, servant, nurse, prostitute, or wife. Although vice could pay the best, the life of a fallen angel was dangerous and short. Any woman considering a life of ill-repute had at least a thread of desperation running through her. As my character Mattie Silks believes, “Working as a madam was a profession, but working as a prostitute was an act of self-preservation.”

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Celebrate Reading with Colorado Authors at

Colorado Blvd Barnes & Noble

Children, Suspense, Action, and How-to Books Await You!

Perfect for Holiday Shopping!

I will be joining award-winning and bestselling local authors at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Sunday, December 10th at the Colorado Blvd. location in Glendale to sign books in support of the Colorado Author's Hall of Fame from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Barnes & Noble is a contributor to the five Aspiring Authors Scholarships that will be awarded on September 16, 2024.

Barnes & Noble has been a generous supporter of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. Books and other store merchandise purchased by visitors to the store on Saturday will generate a donation to support the Colorado Author's Hall of Fame, which will provide funds to support Aspiring Authors Scholarships that will be awarded in September to residents of Colorado aged 20 and beyond.

The book signing event will feature many other local authors of all genres including children’s books, inspiration, mystery, techno-thrillers, young adult fantasy, historical fiction, fantasy historical, horror, and more.

 

 

 

For more information, click Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and learn more about the Aspiring Authors Scholarships. 

 
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HOLIDAY BOOK BAZAAR

 

Join me and other local authors from the WRITING HEIGHTS AUTHORS ASSOCIATION 

at our annual holiday book bazaar

Stock up on books for the whole family and support local authors!

Saturday, December 9th, 10am - 3pm 

Loveland Museum

503 N. Lincoln Ave.

Loveland, CO

For more information about the Holiday Book Bazaar, click on Facebook

For those who are out of town, you can also order books of featured authors on Bookshop Store
https://bit.ly/41dqfHm

FEATURED AUTHOR: JUSTIN NEWLAND

It is my pleasure to welcome Justin Newland back as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between December 4th – 15th, 2023.  Justin Newland is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Mark of the Salamander (The Island of Angels), released by The Book Guild on 28th September 2023 (256 pages).

Below are highlights of The Mark of the Salamander, Justin Newland's author bio, and the historical background to his novel.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-the-mark-of-the-salamander-by-justin-newland.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER

The Mark of the Salamander

(The Island of Angels)

Justin Newland

Blurb:

1575.

Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder.

Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan hides in London, before he is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind.

Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hordes of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.

THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

Buy Links:

Universal Link  •   Barnes and Noble   •   Waterstones   •   Kobo   •   WH Smith

Saxo DK.  •   UK Bookshop   •   Wordery   •   Blackwells   •   Foyles

AUTHOR BIO: JUSTIN NEWLAND

 

Justin Newland’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. His stories explore the themes of war and religion, and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

The historical thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) was another historical adventure and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it’s an epic tale of England’s coming of age.

His work in progress is the second in the series, The Midnight of Eights, the charting of the uncanny coincidences that led to the repulse of the Spanish Armada.

Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin appears on LitFest panels, gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts.

Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.justinnewland.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustinNewland53

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-newland-b393aa28/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinnewland/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/justin-newland

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Justin-Newland/author/B06WRQVLT8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jnewland

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER

 

I wanted to write a novel telling the extraordinary tale of Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation. In researching the voyage, I discovered that one of his crew was a Flemish immigrant by the name of Little Nele aka Little Nelan.

So, how did a man from Northern France end up on the Golden Hind? That intriguing question inspired me to write the novel, The Mark of the Salamander, the first title in a two-book series, The Island of Angels, which tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

What drove Little Nelan to leave his homeland and flee to England? I conjectured that he did so in 1568. Why that year? What were the forces at play in Europe that would force a family to emigrate to England?

Well, religion for one thing, and politics for another.

Here’s a snapshot of the historical backstory.

In the late 15th Century, the stability of European statecraft was changed irrevocably by the introduction of new technology – in the shape of the printing press. Johannes Gutenberg in Strasbourg was the first to print copies of the Holy Bible (see the image).

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, was sponsored by Spain to travel west across the Atlantic in search of the East Indies and led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. For the Europeans, this single event expanded the size of the world, and the size of their psyche. The world was now their oyster.

In 1522, Martin Luther produced the first version of the New Testament in the vernacular – in this case, in German. It meant that you didn’t need to be able read Greek, Latin or Hebrew to read the Bible, making it more available to the populace than ever before.

In the 1530’s King Henry VIII of England split from Rome and joined the other Northern European nations participating, like the Calvinists in the Netherlands, in their own religious revolution.

The Protestant Reformation had truly arrived; and the stresses and pressures that it posed eventually led to the break-up of the imperial domains of the Holy Roman Empire, which up until that point had been the anchor-point of the era.

In 1556, Emperor Charles V split the imperial domains of the Habsburg dynasty – namely the Austrian – inherited by his brother, Ferdinand – and the Spanish – inherited by his son, Philip II of Spain. One of the territories inherited by King Philip was the seventeen provinces of the Netherlands.

In the 1560’s, I imagined that Nelan’s family moved from Sangatte near Calais in Picardy to the Dutch town of Leiden.

Inevitably, the rise of the Protestant religion in opposition to Roman Catholicism resulted in open conflict. In 1567, in the Netherlands, the Calvinists incited a rebellion against the Spanish invaders. To oppose it, King Philip sent the Duke of Alba at the head of an army of occupation. When he got there, he instituted the Council of Troubles (see the image), a special tribunal to punish the ringleaders. His reign of terror condemned thousands to death.

The Dutch renamed it the Council of Blood.

Nelan’s (fictional) mother, Agnes, was one of the hundreds of innocent men, women and children randomly chosen to suffer execution by the Spanish.

On that day in September 1567 in the town square in Leiden, when the fires of the inquisition burned Agnes to death, Nelan’s father knew it was time to flee. He was probably not alone. Soon after, the family fled to Queen Elizabeth’s England, where European Protestants were welcomed with open arms.  

These were some of the political and religious influences that drove Little Nelan and his father across the Narrow Seas to the safety of England.

How he ended up on The Golden Hind is another story.

You can read about it in The Mark of the Salamander.

Justin Newland

3rd December 2023

Instagram Handle: @cathiedunn

Bluesky Handle: @cathiedunn.bsky.social

 
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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: HOW TO DRESS LIKE A TUDOR

I am pleased to spotlight the book How to Dress Like a Tudor by Judith Arnopp in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held between December 4th - 6th, 2023. How to Dress Like a Tudor is a Historical Non-Fiction published by Pen and Sword Books on September 2023 (224 pages).

Below are highlights of How to Dress Like a Tudor and Judith Arnopp's author bio.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/11/blog-tour-how-to-dress-like-a-tudor-by-judith-arnopp.html

HIGHLIGHTS: HOW TO DRESS LIKE A TUDOR

 

How to Dress Like a Tudor

By Judith Arnopp

Blurb:

Have you ever hankered to dress like a Tudor lord or lady, or perhaps you prefer the status of goodwife, or costermonger, or even a bawd?

For beginner historical reenactors, the path to authenticity can be bewildering and sometimes intimidating. Judith Arnopp uses her own experience, both as a historian and a medieval/Tudor lady, to make your own journey a little easier.

The author traces the transition of fashion from the relatively subtle styles popular at the court of Henry VII, through the carefully constructed royal grandeur of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I to the pinnacle of majesty and splendid iconography of Elizabeth I.

In contrast to the magnificence of court come the ordinary folk who, subject to sumptuary laws and regulations, wore garments of a simpler cut and cloth – a strata of society that formed the back bone of Tudor England.

This brief history of 16th century fashion examines clothing for both rich and poor, adult and child, and offers tips and tricks on how to begin to sew your first historically inspired garment, this book is aimed at helping the beginner learn How to Dress like a Tudor.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: mybook.to/howtodress

 

AUTHOR BIO: JUDTIH ARNOPP

 

Judith writes historical fiction set during the late medieval and Tudor period. Her usual focus is on the women who lived close to the monarch, women like Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth of York and Mary Tudor but more recently has been writing from the perspective of Henry VIII himself. Her books are on Kindle, Audible and Paperback.

You can find her fiction books here: http://author.to/juditharnoppbooks

She also writes non-fiction, her work featuring in many anthologies and online magazines. Her latest non-fiction, How to Dress like a Tudor published by Pen & Sword Books is available now.

Judith is a founder member of a reenactment group The Fyne Company of Cambria, and began making Tudor costumes for herself, her husband, John, and other members of the group. It was this that inspired How to Dress like a Tudor and she hopes to write more non-fiction Tudor history in the future.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.judithmarnopp.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudithArnopp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetudorworldofjuditharnopp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/judith-arnopp-ba999025

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tudor_juditharnopp/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jarnopp.bsky.social

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judith-arnopp

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Judith-Arnopp/e/B003CGLWLA/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088659.Judith_Arnopp

 

 

Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub

Bluesky Handle: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
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