Friday, 29 March 2024
Have a sneak-peek between the covers of Exsilium by Alison Morton
Monday, 25 March 2024
New Release - Riddle of the Gods by Eric Schumacher
By Eric Schumacher
Friday, 22 March 2024
Have a sneak -peek between the covers of Covered in Flour by Charles Presti
By Charles Presti
RACE RIOT
OCTOBER 1968
July of '68 was a cauldron simmering with civil unrest and racial tension. The nation and our city were still reeling from the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., the man who dared to dream of a different America, and Bobby Kennedy, a beacon of hope for many. It felt like the pillars of change were being knocked down one by one, and all that was left was a bubbling stew of disillusionment and anger.
That night was a long and violent night in our city. The powder keg finally exploded. Folks weren't just angry; they were desperate, feeling cornered. The clash between the cops and the Black Power group wasn't just bullets and fire; it was an outpouring of years of bottled-up frustration, now intensified by the void those two men had left behind.
At home that night, we saw things through the lens of a police officer's family. Dad stood before the full-length mirror in the hallway; his reflection caught between the light and shadow that filtered through the curtains. He adjusted the stiff collar of his dark blue uniform, its buttons fastened meticulously, each grabbing a glint of sunlight. The rustling seemed to echo a little too loudly in the silent house.
He made his way to the family room where my sisters and I were waiting. Mom appeared, her face tight and lips pressed into a thin line. She carried a thermos and a small bag, her hands trembling as she handed them to him. 'I made you some coffee...and sandwiches. Just in case.'
'Thank you,' he replied, setting the items beside his gear. He looked at Sandra, then at Sofie and Anna Marie. 'Girls, listen to your mother while I'm away.' Then he looked at me and said, 'That goes for you too, Carl.'
I nodded; my throat suddenly tight, unable to muster a word. After what seemed like hours, with fingers clenched, I dragged my feet closer to Dad. 'Is it going to be bad out there?' I asked, standing in the doorway, my eyes searching his. He paused, his hands on the helmet. 'Let's hope not,' he finally said, avoiding my gaze.
With a deep sigh and a final glance back, he reached for the white helmet resting on the table, turning it in his hands before placing it over his head. Each snap of the chin strap seemed to underscore the gravity of the situation. With the visor casting a shadow over his eyes, he stepped out, closing the door behind him with a subdued click. The house seemed to hold its breath, as if bracing for the uncertainty that awaited us all.
Pick up your copy HERE!
Charles Presti
Charles Presti, emerging from the sun-drenched shores of Pensacola, Florida, crafts narratives that echo with the richness of his varied life. His journey from a USF College of Medicine graduate to a storyteller is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Drawing from his days as a physician and informatics specialist, Charles infuses his writing with a rare blend of scientific precision and heartfelt emotion. His debut novel, "Covered in Flour," is a vivid tapestry of his Italian-American heritage, his experiences in the whirlwind era of the 1960s, and his personal journey as a gay man. These elements converge to create stories that not only entertain but resonate deeply with themes of family, discovery, and the delicate dance of life's everyday moments.
Charles's passion for storytelling is paralleled only by his commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. Alongside his husband, Mike Bruce, and their beloved Wheaton Terrier, Zoey, he is a vibrant force and founder of "Sunday's Child," a local charity dedicated to nurturing inclusion and empowering LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities through grants to local charities. A pillar in the Emerald Coast Writers group, he continually explores the nuances of identity, heritage, and a sense of belonging. Discover more about Charles's captivating world and "Covered in Flour" at www.coveredinflour.com, where each story is a window into a life lived fully and authentically.
Thursday, 21 March 2024
Have a sneak-peek between the covers of The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England by MJ Porter
hardback UK/epub direct from the publisher/4th April 2024 US and Kindle edition
Thursday, 14 March 2024
Have a sneak-peek between the covers of Cinnamon Girl by Trish MacEnulty
By Trish MacEnulty
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Have a sneak-peek between the covers of A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light by Judith Arnopp
By Judith Arnopp
Monday, 11 March 2024
Have a sneak-peek between the covers of Her Own Legacy (Château de Verzat Book 1) by Debra Borchert
(Château de Verzat Book 1)
By Debra Borchert
Paris, June 1789
Henri discovers Pierre is Geneviève
The floor shook with stampeding, cussing students heading for the door. I waited for Pierre and grinned. He tried to cover his smile but lost the battle. We clapped each other on the back and headed outdoors. Sunlight brightened the gray stone walls, but the wind was chilly.
Someday I’d thank LaGarde for the title of my next article. I needed to get some quotes from the common man, first. “Palais-Royal?” I asked Pierre.
He nodded.
“Fouquier!” LaGarde leaned against a column. Two noble students flanked him.
“Careful,” I whispered.
Pierre marched straight at him. “Yes?”
“The law states you must address me by my title.”
“Class dunce?” Pierre tilted his head.
My hands jittered. Pierre was half the brute’s size.
LaGarde withdrew his rapier from its jeweled scabbard and slowly brought the blade above his head. I reached under my waistcoat for my pistol. LaGarde brought the rapier forward, resting its tip at Pierre’s jabot. Pierre did not blink. I withdrew my pistol.
With one deliberate swipe, LaGarde sliced through Pierre’s waistcoat and tunic, which fell away, revealing two breasts bulging over the edges of a lace corset.
My mouth dropped open. A thin line of blood wandered like a silk thread, trickling down Pierre’s chest, detouring over a pale swell of flesh. My breeches grew tight. The wound did not seem deep. But—.
With one hand, Pierre calmly clutched the edges of the waistcoat. His—her face was calm.
LaGarde and his companions stood, jaws dropped, eyes bulging. He—she had fooled us all. What a charade. What nerve.
“You are a…” LaGarde blustered.
“Woman?” Pierre smiled. “Have you not seen one before?”
“Women have no right to enter Université.” LaGarde’s rapier vibrated. “Salope!”
Like I was in a tunnel, darkness fell around everything but the glinting rapier. He’d called her a whore. “If this woman passed the exams to enter, she deserves the right to attend—the same as any man.” My thumb pulsed on the pistol’s hammer as I brought it up.
“This is a fight for swords, not guns. Where’s yours?” LaGarde spat.
“Even peasants know only nobles may wear them.” Pierre spat at LaGarde’s feet.
LaGarde’s face reddened. “Why don’t you go back to the squalor of Saint-Antoine, Detré?”
Pierre—whatever her real name was—stood straight and tall. “As you’ve proven, LaGarde, being a noble does not mean one is a gentleman.”
“You going to allow a salope to fight your battles, Detré?” The brute moved to the en garde position.
“Regardless of whether or not I’m entitled to carry a sword, I’ve no need of such encumbrances.” I aimed the pistol at his face. “I’m an expert shot. You’ll be dead before your body hits the ground.”
He pointed his rapier at me. “I shall deliver your lettre de cachet myself.”
“And I shall kill you before your next breath. Sheathe your sword.”
“LaGarde, do you know my father’s name? It may assist you at the Châtelet.” Pierre gave him a coy smile. “My father is prosecutor there.”
I broke into a sweat. The torture chambers deep in the bowels of that prison were something I never wanted to see.
Pierre crossed his arms over his…her…breasts. “He has been influential, not only in the courts, but also with tortures and executions.”
LaGarde’s rapier quivered.
Pierre walked to within a foot of him. “Does the name Antoine Quentin Fouquier de Tinville sound familiar?”
Relief at not being in LaGarde’s shoes washed over me like warm water. The two noble students standing behind LaGarde ran.
LaGarde’s jaw slackened. “If your father knows you attend Université, why do you dress as a man?”
“To protect myself from idiots like you.” She could have the dolt arrested, put in a dungeon, tortured, and left to rot, if he survived the torture. “I don’t think my father will like the new cut of my waistcoat.”
“Excuse me, Mademoiselle, I did not know.” LaGarde gawped like a landed fish.
“Unless you’d like to receive a lettre de cachet yourself, I suggest you take Monsieur Detré’s advice and sheathe your weapon.”
He did so and stood at attention, as if the prosecutor stood before him.
“Monsieur Detré, would you kindly walk me to my father’s office?”
Debra Borchert
Debra’s the author of the Château de Verzat series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Legacy published 2022, Her Own Revolution published 2023, and Her Own War will be published in 2024. A passionate cook, she also wrote a companion cookbook to the series: Soups of Château de Verzat, A Culinary Tribute to the French Revolution, 2023.
A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical fiction. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle, named after a fine French Champagne.
Connect with Debra:
Check out Lake of Widows by Liza Perrat #HistoricalFiction #WomensFiction #DualTimeline #HistoricalFrenchFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
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