Blog Your Blog Marketing - Where Spirit Meets World with Divya Chandra

Where Spirit Meets Art is now on Blog Your Blog Tour and we are pleased to introduce you to Divya Chandra. Stop in and follow Divya's blog and enjoy the tour as we learn more about her. 

Welcome Divya!

Divya Chandra is the Director of BooGio11 Productions and member of the " Happy to Help Theatre Company". Divya's explorations have led her to the stage, to dancing, singing, theater movement, yoga and energy work. Divya works out of New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, London and New York.

Divya's journey as an actor, director & playwright has given her a unique eye and an understanding in to the limitations we put on ourselves. As an actor, Divya is committed to work on projects that break the certified notions of glam and affectation prefixed with the profession, framing new foundations of transformative-mission oriented art. As a writer & director she aims to create work that transcends cultural confines in story-telling, co- creating opportunities for like-minded artists to explore and re-define ‘performance’ as a movement for self-discovery & empowerment. Divya has worked on several Indian and international projects,collaborating with directors, filmmakers and artists to create conscientious work escalating both the ‘self’ and societal awareness. Working with people from all ages and backgrounds, through her workshops she facilitates a more conscious connection with the self and helps participants tap and explore their aspirations and potential.

Where Spirit Meets Art

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

It worries me, exposing my sisters and daughters to this kind of archaic garbage. There is really no other word for it but GARBAGE.

I believe these soaps have regressed our Indian society back in to the dark ages; instead of focusing on the opportunities that this century has brought us; they focus on the petty aspects of human baseness, moral repugnancy and ratings motivated melodrama.

There are of course some that are exceptions to the rule, but unfortunately most serials that are being mass produced; are like fast food - taste good but offer little content and even lesser or no nutritional value.

According to the last census of 2011 there are 58,64,69,174 women in India.

It is frightening to see the hidden messages in the characterization and sub plots of these soaps that are being sent out to young women today.

If viewed unconsciously the underlying messages are:-

1. Power can only come from position and hierarchy and through plotting and manipulation.
2. Women have to fight amongst themselves to establish their worth and position in the family.
3. That manipulation, back biting and game playing are the tools for succession.
4. That there are 2 kinds of women the vamp or the victim; women have to be segregated in to stereotypes and treated accordingly.
5. Everyone around you determines your worth; you are what people think of you, so as long you pretend to be virtuous on the outside, it doesn’t matter who you really are when no one is looking.
6. Respect is bought by virtue of position and doesn’t need to be earned through intent or conduct.
7. Do anything to make everyone else happy even if it goes against your own beliefs or happiness
8. Suffering in silence, sacrifice for the sake of others and general martyrdom (or the appearance of it) are the mark of a true ‘Bharatiye naari.’
9. And of course the age-old gold digger’s mantra - marry a rich man for an immediate lifestyle upgrade, better yet make sure you marry the eldest son for complete and total domination.

Read more:http://wherespiritmeetsart.blogspot.com/#ixzz29n7XDLKr

Blog Your Blog Tour

October 21 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog
October 22 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
October 23 - Interviewed at Blooding Book Reviews
October 24 - Promotion Feature at My Escape
October 25 - Featured at Mass Musings
October 26 - Interviewed at Talk Story TV
October 27 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.
October 31 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
November 2 - Interviewed at Minolta White's Blog
November 3 - Fun Facts and Fav Recipe at Writing Innovations E-zine

Chatting with Author Toni LoTempio - Raven's Quest Virtual Book Tour and #Giveaway

“In 1995, I joined the staff of SUSABELLA PASSENGERS AND FRIENDS, where I have been a staff reporter for over 10 years, winning their Margaret Sutton Award for Distinguished Writing in 1998. I joined the staff of NIGHT OWL REVIEWS IN January 2011 as the suspense reviewer/columnist. My column, DARK STREETS, is featured on a monthly basis.

In 2007, Whiskey Creek Press published BOUND BY BLOOD, a tale of possession, and EBONY, which deals with zombies and the dark side of man. EBONY was #2 on the Fictionwise bestseller list for e-books for the month of July 2007, beating out Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story. In 2010 I self published NO REST FOR THE WICCA, which made Amazon’s list of top one hundred in Occult in March 2011, (and has been there for 33 weeks!) and my short story, THE SACRIFICE, appears in the e-published anthology KISS ME KILL ME, and another, a follow up story to NO REST FOR THE WICCA, appears in the anthology EVERY WITCH WAY BUT WICKED.  Proceeds of sales of EWWBW benefit Nathan Fillion’s charity, KIDS NEED TO READ!

Currently single, I work full time and live in Clifton, NJ, with my muses: Rocco, Maxx, Gata and Trixie. Rocco is also known as Rocco the Sci-Fi Blogging Cat and has appeared on the Sci-Fi Saturday Night website and radio show, and also on the Kids Need To Read website where he holds the distinction of being the first (and possibly only!) blogging cat to support this charity.”

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads

MM:  Many authors relate their characters to people they know.  Is this the case with your characters and do you see yourself in any of them?

TLT:  Oh my I am always basing my characters on people I know. Everyone I come in contact with gets fair warning that they may appear in a book someday LOL.  And yes, I do puta bit of myself into each of my heroines – for example, Raven gets her strong personality and sarcastic sense of humor from yours truly.

MM:  Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

TLT: That is like asking me to choose one of my cats over the other, LOL. They are all my favorites, because I created them.

  

MM:  Who is your most favorite character from any book of all time?

TLT:  Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind.  I can absolutely identify with her independent spirit.

MM:  If you could dive into the pages of any book, which book would it be and what character would you be?

TLT: Any Perry Mason or Midnight Louie mystery. I’d love to be Paul Drake (or Midnight Louie) and prowl around and solve the case!

  

MM:  If your book was to become a movie, which actors/actresses do you see playing the parts of your characters?

TLT:  I honestly havent’ given this question much thought, believe it or not! But I think for Raven, I could definitely see Megan Fox in the role! As for Finn – he’d have to be a redheaded hunk and a half. And a Scottish accent wouldn’t hurt, either.

  

MM:  What can we expect from Toni LoTempio in the future? Any new projects?

TLT:  I’m working on a new paranormal romantic suspense series I hope to release in April 2013 via Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

  

MM:  Where can readers connect with you?

TLT:  Website under construction, so the best place is ROCCO’s blog, which is updated weekly. www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a wonderful pleasure.

In this short novella, Shapeshifter Raven Grace and her psychic lover, Finn McPhee, are back, traveling to parallel time in search of a demonic killer.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

EXCERPT

The woman staggered into the center of the floor, weaving like a drunk. She looked to be in her early thirties, her full red lips matching the nearly non-existent dress she wore of the same color. “Death to all” she rasped, staggering forward. Her hand shot upward, and the large butcher knife there gleamed with fresh, red blood.

Raven pushed forward, her eyes darting around the large room, desperately seeking Finn. She caught sight of him. He’d been pushed back against a marble pillar, and was slowly inching forward.

His voice, inside her head: Got your weapon?

She nodded grimly, even as her fingers reached inside the useless purse slung carelessly across one slim, bare shoulder. She pulled out her weapon, cocked the safety, and plowed forward.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hedy do the same.

And then the air was rent with another, commanding voice, a feminine one.

“Drop it. Drop the knife now.”

The knife wavered wildly in the air as the woman took a step backward, her eyes glazed over and glassy. The speaker moved into the center of the room, and both Raven and Hedy stopped in their tracks, taking in the tableaux before them. The woman who stood calmly training her stunner on the knife-wielder, was thirty if she was a day and looked to be in perfect shape, if the curves beneath the form-fitting white Dior number she wore gave any indication. Her black silk fall of hair, parted in the middle, framed a face Raven knew George would describe as “million-dollar”, but there was a steely set to her jaw, a coldness in the thin set of her lips, that kept her from being beautiful. Still in all – she was a package no man would kick out of bed, of that Raven was certain.

The newcomer moved with the speed of a striking cobra, gripping the knife hand and twisting it backward. “I said drop it.”

Fingers went limp, and there was a sharp clink! as knife met floor. The woman whipped one hand out, and the next second shiny handcuffs had been slapped on the offender.

“I need help here,” the brunette snapped. “She needs a doctor, she’s obviously drugged. Someone get a medic – what are you all waiting for?”

On the podium, Sully cleared his throat. “You’d all best listen to her, and get used to it. I realize this isn’t exactly the best introduction, but…” His arm swept out, indicating the woman. “My successor…Captain Darla Barnes.”

Communing with the dead is an everyday occurrence for PI Morgan Hawkes. A half-Wiccan witch who can commune with spirits of those caught between worlds, Morgan uses her talents to exorcise the trapped ghost or demon as part of the Paranormal Investigation Squad – until a string of murders with a voodoo slant prompts the Special Forces Agency to ask for her assistance. Someone’s killing pureblood witches- and the SFA’s convinced Morgan’s heritage (her father was a voodoo priest) could be instrumental in solving the mystery. Teamed with dashing SF agent Cole St. John – an Inheritor Vampire that sets her blood racing – the two of them fight their attraction for each other as they race to stop a madman from unleashing a demonic force upon the world.

Raven Grace was a college senior with ambitions of a career in law enforcement when she met the demon Aega, whose bite turned her from mortal to Shapeshifter. Now a member of the Recovery Organization, Raven keeps the peace between humans and errant Hellhounds, trolls, wizards and the like while trying to track down Aega and bring him to justice. After a particularly dicey encounter one night with a Hellhound, she goes to the aid of a girl who’s been attacked and near death—and is amazed to find Aega’s bite mark on the girl’s arm. Determined to get to the bottom of this, she revisits the victim’s apartment and there discovers her closet is a portal to a parallel universe, where people she knows lead vastly different lives. She also gets a glimpse of the Recovery Captain there—a six foot, redheaded Scotsman named Finn McPhee, whose sexy accent and even sexier bod sets her senses aflame. Seeking answers, Finn takes Raven to the magickal underworld, where an ancient fae informs them the demon’s quest is rooted in Scottish mythology and magick. As they delve deeper into legend, the truth comes to light—Aega is only a pawn, subservient to another, darker demon…a being who knows the truth about Raven’s heritage, and who orchestrated her return to this parallel universe for the ultimate showdown. Now, Finn and Raven find their passion for one another must take a backseat to Raven’s battle with a dark force who won’t be satisfied until he’s claimed her soul for his very own…

2 giveaways at each stop for choice of E-book above:
No Rest for the Wicca
Raven's Kiss (Book 1)Raven's Quest (Book 2)

October 24 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog
October 25 - Interviewed at Mass Musings
October 29 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
October 31 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words
November 2 - Interviewed at Immortality & Beyond
November 6 - Interviewed at From The Mind of Omegia
November 8 - Book Feature & Excerpt at All Things BooksNovember 8 - Book Feature & Excerpt at My Escape
November 12 - Book Feature & Excerpt at For The Love Of The Reading
November 13 - Book Feature & Excerpt at Two Fantasy FlooziesNovember 15 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
November 19 - Guest Blogging at Waiting On Sunday To Drown
November 21 - Interviewed at Angels & Warriors Radio
November 23 - Review & Guest Blogging at A Book Lover's Library

Blog Marketing Tour - Where Spirit Meets Art Blog Your Blog Tour

Where Spirit Meets Art is now on Blog Your Blog Tour and we are pleased to introduce you to Divya Chandra. Stop in and follow Divya's blog and enjoy the tour as we learn more about her. 

Welcome Divya!

Divya Chandra is the Director of BooGio11 Productions and member of the " Happy to Help Theatre Company". Divya's explorations have led her to the stage, to dancing, singing, theater movement, yoga and energy work. Divya works out of New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, London and New York.

Divya's journey as an actor, director & playwright has given her a unique eye and an understanding in to the limitations we put on ourselves. As an actor, Divya is committed to work on projects that break the certified notions of glam and affectation prefixed with the profession, framing new foundations of transformative-mission oriented art. As a writer & director she aims to create work that transcends cultural confines in story-telling, co- creating opportunities for like-minded artists to explore and re-define ‘performance’ as a movement for self-discovery & empowerment. Divya has worked on several Indian and international projects,collaborating with directors, filmmakers and artists to create conscientious work escalating both the ‘self’ and societal awareness. Working with people from all ages and backgrounds, through her workshops she facilitates a more conscious connection with the self and helps participants tap and explore their aspirations and potential.

Where Spirit Meets Art

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

It worries me, exposing my sisters and daughters to this kind of archaic garbage. There is really no other word for it but GARBAGE.

I believe these soaps have regressed our Indian society back in to the dark ages; instead of focusing on the opportunities that this century has brought us; they focus on the petty aspects of human baseness, moral repugnancy and ratings motivated melodrama.

There are of course some that are exceptions to the rule, but unfortunately most serials that are being mass produced; are like fast food - taste good but offer little content and even lesser or no nutritional value.

According to the last census of 2011 there are 58,64,69,174 women in India.

It is frightening to see the hidden messages in the characterization and sub plots of these soaps that are being sent out to young women today.

If viewed unconsciously the underlying messages are:-

1. Power can only come from position and hierarchy and through plotting and manipulation.
2. Women have to fight amongst themselves to establish their worth and position in the family.
3. That manipulation, back biting and game playing are the tools for succession.
4. That there are 2 kinds of women the vamp or the victim; women have to be segregated in to stereotypes and treated accordingly.
5. Everyone around you determines your worth; you are what people think of you, so as long you pretend to be virtuous on the outside, it doesn’t matter who you really are when no one is looking.
6. Respect is bought by virtue of position and doesn’t need to be earned through intent or conduct.
7. Do anything to make everyone else happy even if it goes against your own beliefs or happiness
8. Suffering in silence, sacrifice for the sake of others and general martyrdom (or the appearance of it) are the mark of a true ‘Bharatiye naari.’
9. And of course the age-old gold digger’s mantra - marry a rich man for an immediate lifestyle upgrade, better yet make sure you marry the eldest son for complete and total domination.

Read more:http://wherespiritmeetsart.blogspot.com/#ixzz29n7XDLKr

Blog Your Blog Tour

October 21 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog
October 22 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
October 23 - Interviewed at Blooding Book Reviews
October 24 - Promotion Feature at My Escape
October 25 - Featured at Mass Musings
October 26 - Interviewed at Talk Story TV
October 27 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.
October 31 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
November 2 - Interviewed at Minolta White's Blog
November 3 - Fun Facts and Fav Recipe at Writing Innovations E-zine

The Next Big Thing & #Giveaway with BK Walker

The Next Big Thing

Thank you Lorrie Struiff for inviting me to take part in The Next Big Thing series. I've been asked to answer the following questions, and then share 5 author links that I know you will love. 

So here it goes...

What is the working title of your book? 

To Love A Wolf.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

A dream, as most of my characters speak to me that way.

What genre does your book fall under?

Paranormal Erotica Romance :) My first dabble.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Wow. Let's see, I actually have a few that come to mind. Here goes:

Jake Gyllenhaal as Cevin, the male heroine.

Emma Stone as Sam.

She fits her description and is sassy enough to play 

the part I think. 

Sam is sure of herself, and can play the game well, 

just like Emma.

Elizabeth Hurley as our villainess.

She's sexy and has the perfect sex 

appeal and attitude to be an Alpha Wolf.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

The first bite of the wolf may just surprise you.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Self-published through Amazon. I am really liking their KDP Select Program.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Because I'm so busy, it's taken me a year to write this one, and I'm still adding the final touches.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Oh gosh, I would compare this to Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton, Scanguards Vampire Series by Tina Folsom. Those are my inspirations anyway, and I think it fits right in with them.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Tina Folsom, my favorite Erotica PNR author! I love how her stories draw you in, and how much you can connect with her characters.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

It's got Werewolves. Not your average paranormal, and no vampires this time :).

And from me, I'm adding a fun question if you choose to use it.

If you won fifty million dollars in a lottery, what is the first thing you would purchase?

Can time be purchased? No seriously, I need more of that in a day. Okay, that was out 

there. I guess the first thing I would buy would be a car for each of my kids, then I 

would invest in their education. What can I say? I'm a mother first ;).

Thanks so much for stopping in. Thanks again Lorrie for inviting me to do this wonderful Hop. You can check my authors next Wednesday, so mark it on your calendars and save the link. 

1. Cindy Vine 
2. Louise Wise
3. Patti Hultstrand
4. Sylvia Van Bruggen
5. Stephen Wilson

Jack of all trades, master of none. BK Walker is first and foremost a mother and a wife. With three beautiful children and a wonderful husband, she enjoys her days living on their farm in Eastern Pennsylvania. When she’s not writing, she manages her time organizing virtual book tours for other authors, and helping her husband as a consultant in their jointly owned business. Putting most of her time into research, BK is always seeking for the most effective ways to market and promote books and business alike. Art is a secondary love, and you may often find her sketches popping up on one of her blogs, or simply catch her reading the magic created in the pages of a great novel. Who knows, it just may be yours.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Leave a comment with your email address and tell me what you love about Halloween! I love Halloween!

Chatting with Senica Evans - Married to Him (VBT Cafe' Tour)

Welcome to Mass Musings Senica! Senica is currently on virtual book tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and is giving you a chance to win a copy of her book, Married to Him.

MM:  Many authors relate their characters to people they know.  Is this the case with your characters and do you see yourself in any of them?
SE: Of course… Married to Him is based on my tumultuous marriage. It’s my journey from deceit and abuse to peace and deliverance. 


MM:  Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
SE: Since Married to Him is a memoir, I’m a little biased. I think I show great strength and humility but must admit… I make some serious mistakes along the way. 


MM:  Who is your most favorite character from any book of all time?
SE: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love her journey through spirituality, food, and learning to love herself


MM:  If you could dive into the pages of any book, which book would it be and what character would you be?
SE: Jodi Picoult’s Handle with Care. Her book had me emotionally bound. I cried, empathized, and laughed. I felt every characters pain and sadness. I can’t remember the mom’s name but I would be her. As a mother, I understood her fight. I felt her desire to do anything she could to save her child and provide a best quality of life. While I didn’t agree with everything she did, I still felt connected to her character. Must be the bond of motherhood.  


MM:  If your book was to become a movie, which actors/actresses do you see playing the parts of your characters?
SE: Hmmmm… I could see Sanaa Lathan playing me and Mike Epps – after seeing his role in Sparkle - playing Spank. Both of these actors embody our characteristics. 


MM:  What can we expect from Senica Evans in the future? Any new projects?
SE: I have a couple book projects I’m working on right now; Woman Free Yourself and Bourgeois Diaries. 

Woman Free Yourself: A Guide to Healing from Divorce or a Heart Wrenching Breakup by Starting Over, Rediscovering You, & Crushing Bitterness, Anger, and Resentment is a practical guide to assist women in overcoming a relationship’s demise and how to get back out there successfully. This book includes real life examples and exercises.  

Bourgeois Diaries takes readers on a journey through a woman’s desire to mend her bourgeois facade with her mediocre lifestyle. She portrays the opulent lifestyle in her dress, mannerism, and even the men she chooses but there’s one problem… she’s living on a shoestring budget with barely enough money to pay her rent, let alone afford this bourgeois lifestyle. She has to make some decisions and quick or she runs the risk of being found out by those around her especially Jonathan, her uber successful boyfriend who believes he’s met his equal. 



MM:  Where can readers connect with you?
SE: I blog at www.sennysen.com and readers can connect with me on Twitter @SennySen11 or on Facebook. 

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a wonderful pleasure.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author:

Senica Evans as author, relationship coach, radio host, and speaker is passionate about helping women overcome the destruction in their life to reveal their true beauty and greatness. As a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, and destructive relationships, Senica founded SennySen to be a guiding light to women and teen girls. Senica is the author of Married to Him, an autobiography of the destruction she faced in her abusive destructive marriage.  Senica is preparing to release her second book later this year; Woman Free Yourself: A Guide to Healing from Divorce or a Heart Wrenching Breakup by Starting Over, Rediscovering You, & Crushing Bitterness, Anger, and Resentment. Visit her at http://www.sennysen.com .

Married to Him by Senica Evans

Retail $9.99

ISBN: 978-1475010152

Published via CreateSpace July 31, 2012 (Originally published December 2011)

Non-Fiction/ Memoir & Inspirational

Purchase – Amazon  |  B&N   |   Book-A-Million  

About the Book:

One woman's story of overcoming a marriage filled with deceit, infidelity, and abuse to living a life filled with joy, peace, and deliverance.

From Senica Evans, comes a riveting, heartbreaking, drama filled autobiographical tale of her tumultuous marriage to Spank. He is verbally and mentally abusive and can't seem to control his incessant cheating. But it didn't start that way! They met and became the best of friends. Almost inseparable from the start. As Spank's true self was slowly being revealed the relationship picked up speed and eventually began to spin out of control. She saw the signs but her desire to keep her family intact was far greater. Despite the craziness, her love for him fueled the drama fire and his selfishness was the wind that kept it ablaze. There was a lesson to be learned from all of this and she was determined to figure it out.

Excerpt:

“The butterflies were swarming and I was warming up on the inside. He sat back on the couch and began to swirl his finger around the curls in my hair. He pulled me back to him and his lips touched mine. The kiss was so passionate it sent jolts through my body. Then all of a sudden he abruptly pulled away from me. “Go ahead and finish eating. I have more planned” he said with great confidence.”

“On one of the rare occasions  he would actually open up and talk to me, he told me, “sometimes you have to put things on the back burner to get what you want. Once I got you, I moved everything from the back to the front.” This explained it all! I was just something to be conquered. He didn’t love me, not one bit. It was all a game. “

 “You’re so silly! Why aren’t you taking pictures? What woman doesn’t take pictures on vacation? You’re just walking around looking like you’re a man or something. What was the point of you bringing the camera?

I didn’t know picture taking was gender specific! If you aren’t happy with the amount of pictures I’m taking or the lack thereof you are more than welcome to take them yourself.

I’m not doing anything. You’re the woman so you are supposed to do it. I don’t know why you want to be a man so bad. Senica you aren’t a man. You can’t be the man.

Huh?!? Ok whatever Spank!”

Follow The Tour

September 27 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog

October 2 - Interviewed at The Official Blog-zine of Terra Little

October 4 - Guest Blogging at Margaret West's Blog

October 9 - Guest Blogging at Cindy Vine's Blog

October 11 - Interviewed at Mass Musings

October 15 - Guest Blogging at A Book Lover's Library

October 17 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.

October 19 - Author Fun Facts & Fav Recipe at Writing Innovations E-zine

October 22 - Guest Blogging at Cafe' Creations

October 24 - Interviewed at From The Mind of Omegia

October 26 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner