Paranormal Crime Solvers Gain Interest in Popular Media Specially Among Female Audience

The supernatural is a subject that holds a great deal of interest for many people. It’s not hard to understand why – anything related to the unknown is inherently interesting. In fact such is the interest in the subject, that there are now a number of popular TV shows that are related to the paranormal. When you talk about paranormal TV shows most people will immediately think of The X-Files. However whilst that show dealt with a broad range of areas that related to the paranormal, there is now a new breed of television shows dealing specifically with mediums who use their ability to help solve crime.

Hit TV shows such as Medium, Psych and The Mentalist all deal with the idea of a person using his/her paranormal abilities (real or pretend) in solving crime, though in different ways. In Psych, a novice crime consultant with excellent observational skills is able to convince people that he solves crimes using psychic abilities when in fact he doesn’t possess any. It deals with the subject matter in a very light hearted way and is a million miles away from a show such as Medium, which deals with the subject in a much more serious way.

The subject of crime solvers with paranormal abilities isn’t limited to television shows however. There are also a number of books on the subject such as Mary O’Reilly’s ‘Paranormal Mysteries’. The reason this subject holds so much interest for people is that through solving crimes, mediums are seemingly able to prove that their abilities are in fact genuine. It makes for compelling subject matter regardless of the medium it’s presented in and the popularity of this area of the paranormal looks set to continue for a good while yet.

A recently published book “Phantom Dreams” by T. K. Harris is a continuation of this trend – it’s a mystery novel with a significant paranormal twist that involves a serial killer, a 35 year old FBI agent chasing that killer and a 29 year old woman, Kathy Gilliam, who sees excruciating details of those murders in her dreams, or rather nightmares since they are filled with pain and death. Oh, I almost forgot, there also a psychiatric twist since the serial killer has conversations with another “person” who just exists in his head.
Kathy, the women who sees these vivid and frightening nightmares, seeks psychiatric treatment, and based on suggestions of her health provider, she writes down the details of those dreams. After she confides in her close friend, realizes that the murders she dreamt of were real murders, and somehow her paranormal abilities allowed her to see those gruesome killings as dreams. In the book, when she approaches the authorities, first she is written off as an eccentric person seeking attention, but later, when FBI realizes Kathy knows the intimate details which were not disclosed to the public, they start suspecting her. However, they also realize that Kathy matches the height, age and features of the women who were killed; they wonder if she is the next victim.
The story ends with a surprise twist, a satisfying dramatic ending.

“Phantom Dreams” might be a perfect example of the success of this genre.

First of all, bringing in the paranormal factor gives the author more room to be creative, permitting him/her to cross the constraint of a rational normal world.

In addition, like some of the other successful paranormal media productions (such as the hit TV series “Medium”) “Phantom Dreams” spends as much energy about describing Kathy’s exhaustion her dual role as a caregiver of her ailing father and her work as it does over describing the gory details of the murders and mayhem. I believe most women readers can relate to the stress resulting from trying to find the balance between their work and their role as care givers, be it Kathy, a single 29 year old in “Phantom Dreams” who takes care of her father while also dealing with tons of issues at work, or the married Alison Dubois of a similar age in the hit TV series “Medium” who attempts to balance family life with helping the police solving mysteries using her special gift.
I think these two factors make this new twist to the paranormal mystery genre popular among women readers, who are looking for more than just a straight murder mystery, putting “Phantom Dreams” on a path of success and popularity among readers of both genders.

Healing Yourself

Everyone has had experiences that have hurt them. Some experiences are even bad enough to leave deep emotional wounds.

While there are many ways with which to cope with these emotional scars, such as support from family and friends and intervention from counselors, there is only one sure thing that will be able to heal these wounds - helping your own self to heal.

 Laila: A True Story by Mansoor Ali is one such tale of a man who wishes to recover from such emotional wounds. The story is intertwined with elements of the supernatural, giving a unique twist on the journey of self-healing.

Laila: A True Story is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Screwed Mind - An Espionage Thriller: The International Mystery of the Mossad and Other Intelligence Agencies

With continuous advances in technology, many have pointed to the demise of the espionage thriller novel. Luckily, there are still authors that are willing to tackle the topic, because people love them, but does it take a reader willing to suspend disbelief of reality to enjoy a modern-day spy novel, or an author with enough creativity to figure out a way it can be done realistically?

Traditionally, espionage novels had a main character who was in the practice of spying, employed by governments or special espionage agencies. They use a variety of techniques, including eavesdropping, undercover work, surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance, and in the past they impressed users with their arsenal of futuristic tools that helped them gather information on their foes.

Your typical thriller features a tough and resourceful protagonist that woks to undermine the antagonist that is out to destroy the spy, their organization or country, or even the whole world. Thrillers have an intense time-sensitive plot, which is dependent on the spy being able to avoid or escape traps and find and neutralize the bad guy before their evil plot succeeds.

The espionage thriller work best when the protagonist is unknown, so they can infiltrate the threatening organization, but is it even possible for someone to be unknown spy today? In the world we live in now everyone leaves a digital fingerprint, and if they have one wiped clean it would be a red flag for any organization recruiting someone. This is everything from online banking to telephone records, social media pages, and LinkedIn network contacts. These are just some of the challenges that authors face when crafting a believable spy story for readers of the 21st century.

The Witch - Modern Connotations versus Real Folklore

Mention the word witch today and it likely conjures up images akin to the Wicked Witch of the West – ugly, scarred with moles, dressed in black and purely evil.  However, the modern connotation of a witch is a far cry from the early history of witchcraft.  The term witch is believed to be thousands of years old, dating back to the time of worship of Mother Nature.  In ancient societies, people sought the services of a witch not just for magical powers, but for healing herbs, potions and other simple remedies.  In addition, witches often acted as talented midwives and healers whose knowledge was passed down through the generations.  These women were revered members of society, not the permutation found today.

The drastic change in the public’s view of witches likely began in early Christian times for several reasons.  First, witchcraft is in fact a type of religion whose followers worship the natural world, not the tenets of the church.  This fact lead to witches being labeled as pagans.  Second, witches directly competed with priests and other church officials as to who people turned to in times of need.  The Christian church proclaimed that a witch’s power came from the Devil himself and lead to the persecution and death of thousands of women branded as witches.  However, in many countries, witchcraft is undergoing a resurgence through the practice of Wicca.  To understand this resurgence, it is important to know the folklore and mythology of witchcraft.

The Virago Book of Witches ‘covers the subject of witches like no other.’ The book is the result of research into the subject of witches and includes folklore and mythology from 50 countries.  The book includes tales of both good and evil witches.  For example, Jewish folklore tells of Lilith, who in the strictest tradition is considered the first wife of Adam who rebelled against God.  Alternatively she is portrayed as a female succubus – a demon who seduces men.  She is found in the story “Lilith and the Blade of Grass.”  From Germany comes the tale of Mother Holle, who rewards hard work with riches and laziness with pitch.  The diversity of stories in The Virago Book of Witches is a must read for people who wish to know the real folklore of witches.

The Virago Book of Witches is available in the Kindle edition from Amazon – click here

Nobody Can Prepare for Love (Featured Kindle Romance: Gift of Love)

You can try to prepare for examinations, studying your notes and reading your books. You can try to prepare for a calamity, stocking up on supplies and teaching your family the proper ways to keep themselves safe. You can try to prepare for a business meeting, reviewing your client’s profile and creating a fabulous presentation.

For love? You can’t prepare for it. You simply just can’t.

With so many novels, songs and movies dealing with and trying to explain love, we really just can’t get a good grasp on how it works – simply because, perhaps, we are meant never to be able to. There are no concepts or rules that define love, which throws any form of preparation that you might have for it out the window.

Love can be as short as a blink of an eye, or it can last as long as a powerful dynasty. It can be as delicate as a breeze or as intense as a typhoon. It can be as adventurous as a grand epic, or as sad as the worst tragedy.

However, it will rarely, if at all, come at a time or place that you expect it. Sometimes, you don’t realize that it's love when you see it – and sadly, sometimes, it’s already too late when you do.

“The Gift of Love” by Eris Field shows that can you never fully prepare for love, nor expect it to happen when you want or need it to.

The story revolves around Laurel, a 26-year-old pediatric nurse, and Andrew, a 39-year-old psychiatrist – two individuals that meet at the worst of times but soon find themselves needing to work together. Will they be able to discard bad first impressions and trust each other – perhaps, even let love in?

“The Gift of Love” by Eris Field is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Unusual Kindle Promotion Marks a Turning Point in eBook Evolution

                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle, Washigton. June 24, 2013 —The Center of Artificial Imagination, Inc., a leading publisher of Kindle eBooks, is running a Kindle eBook promotion  that is the first of its kind—they are giving everyone who purchases the Kindle edition of the Amazon memoir Inside the Giant Machine: An Amazon.com Story the print version of the book for free. 

This unique promotion marks the beginning of a turning point in the Book 2.0 evolution with launch of the Kindle eBook reader in 2007. 

So far, it has been common for media retailers and publishers to give away the digital form of media free with the purchase of the physical form such as book, DVD, or CD.  By giving away the physical form of the book with purchase of the electronic Kindle edition, this unique promotion acknowledges the many advantages of a book’s digital form.  

 “I am very pleased to see that my publisher is acknowledging that,  given the current state of technology, the electronic format of books has many advantages over the print format,” says Kalpanik S., author of Inside the Giant Machine.  “You can access your almost from anywhere in the world from the cloud, and read it on a multitude of devices such as your smart phone with a Kindle App, your Kindle eReader or even a browser without worrying about ever losing it. There is no weight to be carried around or mailed, and if you live in the tight living spaces of a modern metropolis, having your library stored on a Kindle or Kindle Fire device, which can fit in your pocket and is automatically backed up, is a great advantage by itself.”

Inside the Giant Machine: An Amazon.com Story holds an average rating of 4.2 at both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Authored by a former Amazon technologist and developed from a blog, the book shares the inside scoop behind Amazon’s impressive machinery. Kalpanik S. tells the complex story of his journey working within Amazon in a quirky but relatable manner.  His creativity and humor shine through, leaving his readers thoroughly entertained.

“The book is fast paced and easy to read, the author a likable guy,” says a review at Amazon.com by Linda Linguvic, a Hall of Fame reviewer. “Especially interesting to me was the Amazon.com working culture, which was indeed hard on the employees as Amazon created the mammoth business that it is today.”

Another reader, George A. Butler, from Redwood City, describes how “each of the hundreds of times” he purchased something at Amazon.com, he wondered at how smart the people who got it working must have been. He says the author’s depiction of the company invoked the same feelings as one gets towards a chess-playing software that can win against human players: “You acknowledge its superiority but don't admire it.”

“

 “This book does more than share facts and statistics,” says Linda Q. Chan, a reader based in San Francisco Bay Area.  “It shares the story of how the average modern-day man navigates his way through a massive corporation and comes out on the other end in one piece and with his sense of humor and determination still going strong.” 

Click here to find out more about this unique and unusual Kindle offer, or download the Kindle edition of Inside the Giant Machine: An Amazon.com Story, at Amazon.com.

New Kindle Book Captures Mystique and Beauty of New Orleans

Press Release

New Orleans, LA - Sept. 20, 2013 (KindleWire) / “Primal Creatures” by Eric Wilder vividly

describes the South in this book, capturing the beauty of New Orleans and Louisiana in a picturesque way. But New Orleans is not just famous for its beautiful landscape; there is lot of mystery and mythic surrounding it too. The book does not stop at just the exploring the beauty - in this instalment of Wyatt Thomas French Quarter Mysteries, you will find out about the monsters lurking in its wetlands – and how vivid the monsters are described as well!

In “Primal Creatures” Wyatt Thomas, the French Quarter’s favourite sleuth, takes on the rougarou – the Cajun werewolf. The story takes place in Goose Island, located forty miles south of New Orleans and five feet out of the shallow waters of south Louisiana’s wetlands. The island is home to the Tracists Monastery, as well as a resort that’s frequented by actors, screenwriters, and the who’s who in the flourishing Louisiana film industry.

However, a heinous death occurs on the island, which causes a movie producer to hire the services of Wyatt Thomas. What follows is a whirlwind adventure of epic proportions as Thomas fights against a faceless enemy that’s out to take his life before he is able to solve the mystery enveloping Goose Island.

Was it wild dogs that killed the victim? Or was it the rougarou, as a local voodoo woman tells Wyatt?  Who wants Wyatt dead? What do the monks of Tracists Monastery have to do with all the gruesome events? And what will Wyatt do about that deadly hurricane heading straight for the monastery?

If you are into fast-paced mysteries laced with shocking horror and heart-pounding suspense, then you will love Primal Creatures.

“Primal Creatures” by Eric Wilder is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com and is currently being offered at discounted price of only $2.99.

Contact Information:

Joi De Vera

Info@new-media.biz

New Orleans, LA, USA

The Machines of War

Just as technology has advanced to save lives and make the world a better place, it has also been used to get the better of others, strike fear into the hearts of people and, in some cases, even outright kill.

Here are some instances when technology is abused:

• Theft tools, which make it easier to steal things even in the tightest security.
• Recording gadgets, which can capture others in compromising situations.
• Online fraud and hacking, which abuses the Internet’s many flaws and security issues.
• Machines of war, which range from the smallest guns to the largest battleships.

Everyone knows about the machines of war, showing that man has long evolved from waging wars with swords and shields. It is a very disturbing trend, but it is required – how can you fight against such machines of war without having your own? How can you defend your mother country without resorting to the same technology that the opposing armies utilize?

And, amidst all these wars between armies, amidst all these machines and weapons, are the normal people – families with frantic parents and scared children, trying to keep themselves safe.

In “A Company of Tanks” by Major William Henry Lowe Watson D.S.O. D.C.M., the author takes us along a first-hand account of being in close proximity of one of the most dreaded machines of war – tanks.

The eBook also has detailed illustrations of the steel behemoths, which would have anyone in awe before you realize how frightening it must have been for a soldier to always be around these tanks.

Are these tanks, along with all machines of war, good use of technology? Or are they abuse of it? As always, it depends on how one sees them - as protectors of dreams or as destroyers of lands.

“A Company of Tanks” is is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Why We Love Heroes

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes – from caped crusaders to little boys, from the pages of comic books to people you come across everyday. We love heroes, both in fiction and in real life, because they inspire us and even possibly allow us to awaken the hero within ourselves.

Here’s why we love heroes.

• Heroes are ordinary. They always start off as “ordinary,” just like each and every one of us. We cheer for heroes because we share roots with them, as normal, run-of-the-mill, average joes.
• Heroes are unexpected. Who becomes a hero is always a surprise. Most often, the people that we expect to be heroes turn out to be the opposite. We never know who will turn out to be the true heroes.
• Heroes fight through adversity. They also have their fears, but heroes face them and fight through them. With each struggle overcome, heroes become immortal and inspiring in front of our eyes.
• Heroes show up in times of need. They know when they are needed the most, and they deliver what needs to be done. Heroes know when we are in the darkest depths of despair and they pull us out of there.
• Heroes fight for others. This is the most important of all – they are selfless, ready to defend and support those that can’t do it for themselves. Heroes always act for the greater good.

These are the reasons why we love heroes, and as more heroes emerge, so does the support that they receive.

In “Echoes of a Shattered Age” by R.J. Terrell, the story revolves around a small group of friends that are pushed into learning how to be heroes while discovering their unique abilities. However, they need to learn fast, as massive hordes of monsters threaten to throw the world into darkness.

“Echoes of a Shattered Age” is the first book of the Legend of Takashaniel Trilogy – a trilogy that chronicles the rise, struggles, and triumph of heroes.

“Echoes of a Shattered Age” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

For Immediate Release: Kindle™ Fire User Group Features Christian Fiction “Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs” as eBook of the week

San Francisco, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/02/2014 

San Francisco based Kindle Fire User Group, an independent organization which is open to membership to users of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Fire tablets has featured Author Lisa Boucher’s eBook Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs as the book of the week. 

Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs is a Christian fiction hit among those seeking renewal in their faith in humanity and themselves. The eBook by Lisa follows the journey of an elderly couple, Flo and Mo, as they journey across country to see a surgeon to correct an issue with one of Flo’s eyes, which resulted from a car accident. 

“The idea for Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs came to me after I had suffered for three years with Graves Disease, and yes, I had bulging eyes,” says author Lisa Boucher. “During that time I was running back and forth to Cleveland from Dayton and I realized how not looking well affected my self esteem. I found myself avoiding people and social situations because I could not stand the way my eyes looked. I wore dark glasses a lot! However, toward the end of the three years, and once my condition began to resolve, I also realized how I had been the one to reject people and social situations. Not one person had rejected me based on my looks. It also dawned on me that trite as it may sound, a beautiful spirit covers a multitude of flaws, and what most people remember is how you treated them, not how you look. I had imposed limitations on myself that ultimately kept me from living my life to the fullest. I realized I was my own worst enemy!”

Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs is a story with two central themes. First, it is a book about faith and trust in God. Second, the book is about letting go of issues that are holding one back and remaining open to the possibilities in life that happen when least expected. When Flo purchases a winning lottery ticket, Mo knows what he wants to do with the money – find a surgeon to fix the deformed eye of the woman he loves which has caused her to be overly self-conscious and held her back from enjoying life fully for years. The couple meets a cast of characters during their cross country journey whose faith has been diminished and being the good people they are, Flo and Mo help as many as they can. In the process, Flo learns valuable lessons about her self-worth in spite of her physical deformity.

Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs has received rave reviews from readers. One review called Flo and Mo Brown the most unusual, but charming and memorable main characters that will enter and remain in the heart long after their story ends. Another reviewer noted that this story makes the reader stop and think about how often people pass others by that need help, even if only small acts of kindness?

“We are glad to feature Ms. Boucher’s eBook as the eBook of the week,” said Ms. Ann Phipps, a spokesperson for California based independent Kindle Fire User Group. “The independent Kindle Fire User Group was established to serve the needs of users of the Kindle Fire, and bringing such books to them is one way we provide value to our members.”

About Kindle Fire User Group
San Francisco Bay Area based Kindle Fire User Group is an independent organization that allows users of Kindle™ Fire and Fire™ tablets to connect with each other on an unbiased social media platform. Kindle Fire User Group is not affiliated with Amazon and does not officially represent Amazon.com, Lab126 or any other subsidiaries. Amazon, Kindle, Fire and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Contact Information:
Ann Phipps
Ann@ebookexplosion.com
650-587-5883
San Francisco, CA

FreeebooksDaily.org Celebrates Halloween by Featuring Horror Kindle™ Books Everyday until October 31, Honors “The Virago Book of Witches”

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Sample Horror Deals at www.FreeeBooksDaily.org

Online Kindle Book deals website Freeebooksdaily is celebrating Halloween by featuring deeply discounted Horror eBooks on Kindle™ on its website every day from October 15th to October 31st, just in time for the chilling holiday. It has also created a special “Halloween/ Horror” section on its website that is visited daily by thousands of readers.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2014

San Francisco bay area based Freeebooksdaily.org is featuring Kindle™ ebook deals in the horror genre on its website every day until the end of October. This is in addition to featuring select Kindle books that are temporarily discounted or are being offered at no cost in other genres. It has also created a special “Halloween/ Horror” section on its website.

“People love to get into the holiday spirit and Christmas and Halloween are two of the biggest holidays celebrated,” says Ann Phipps, the Spokeswoman for Freeebooksdaily.org. “Halloween isn’t just about trick-or-treating, dressing up in costumes, or carving pumpkins- it’s also about facing our worst fears by reading scary stories. There are plenty of great Kindle eBooks out there that will send chills down your spine and keep you up at night, and many of those are being offered at a discounted price of$0.00 to $2.99. Our editorial team is painstakingly sifting through thousands of discounted Kindle books to feature the scariest books that will keep our subscribers glued to their eBook readers, although they might be hiding under the covers with it.”

Freeebooksdaily.org features bargain priced eBooks and alerts the website’s subscribers every day. The editorial staff sifts through thousands of Kindle™ books that are being temporarily discounted or offered for free, looking for the best reads for its 100,000 subscribers, fans and twitter followers. Subscribing to the email newsletter that is offered at no cost makes it easy for eBook readers to be alerted of new high-quality books and authors. Readers can grow their library without breaking their budget and be kept up-to-date on the latest popular books that are being offered at discounted prices with the help of Freeebooksdaily.

Freeebooksdaily is also honoring The Virago Book of Witches as the Book of the Month for October. Witches have a strong historic connection with Halloween. The tradition of lighting a candle inside pumpkins carved as Jack-o-lanterns is done to protect people and livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as they traveled the earth on Halloween night. The flames are deemed to have protective powers. What is now called Halloween was celebrated in Celtic cultures as Samhain - the transition between summer and winter. It is one of the Greater Sabbats, or High Holidays, in witchcraft and in modern times, it is celebrated as a day to remember and honor the dead.

"Witches are such varied and wonderful creatures - the outright terrifying to helpful ones but often mysterious,” says Shakrukh Husain, author of The Virago Book of Witches. “I have loved them and been scared, intrigued and enchanted by them since my childhood. They cater for every taste and age. The stories in this book are in different voices: rustic, funny, sophisticated and menacing. Enjoy them!"

Readers can check out the daily Halloween Horror selections through October and sign up for the Daily Deal Alert at http://freeebooksdaily.org/horrorhalloween/

Authors can submit their books for consideration for inclusion at http://freeebooksdaily.org/books-submission-2/


Note: Amazon, Kindle, and Fire are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Really Dude, a Surfer Terrorist? American Travel Overseas Becomes More and More Dangerous

It is an undeniable fact that Americans are avid travelers.  In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution virtually led to the formation of the travel industry in the U.S.   If you build it, they will come describes this time period – railroads, hotels, beach resorts and other new destinations sprang up in increasing numbers as American wanted to get away from their everyday lives.  International travel also became an option due to the invention of large ocean liners and then the airplane.  Each decade saw the creation of larger and faster travel options.  Europe could be reached in hours, not weeks.  Feel like a safari in Africa?  Sure, just jump on a plane and go.

Once upon a time, Americans were darlings – welcomed with open arms almost anywhere in the world, free to move and safe doing so.  Sadly, that world is now gone.  The danger to American citizens could no longer be denied after September 11, 2001.  Americans are now specifically targeted by an untold number of violent and extreme groups and stories of kidnappings and murders happen regularly.  Even in so-called friendly countries, the heightened state of alert regarding security means citizens may be mistaken for terrorists, with devastating consequences.

Who is one of the least likely American icons that anyone would think of as a terrorist?  The surfer, whose main objective is to catch the next wave and enjoy the ride.  But as the true story Surf Guns of Morocco illustrates, even the harmless surfer is not immune to violence against Americans overseas.  Catching a wave in Morocco they are forced to flee under a hail of bullets from AK-47s.  Thinking Spain would be safe, they travel there by ferry – only to be mistaken for terrorists and almost shot by the Guardia Civil.  Searching for the perfect wave suddenly also becomes searching for a way to survive.

Surf Guns of Morocco is available in a Kindle ebook edition at Amazon – click here