Sunday, October 6, 2013

Shades of Gray by Andy Holloman, Free Book Giveaway Sponsored by the Peak City Book Festival


Combine "Breaking Bad" and "Cops" with a disturbing, dark remake of "The Love 
Boat" and you have all the flavors of  SHADES OF GRAY

How far would you go to save your child's life?  Could you break the law?    What if your  business was suddenly in danger of going under because of 9/11?

A single father decides to partner up with woman from the opposite side of the tracks. Can their partnership deliver the cash they BOTH desperately need?   Could they fall in love? And will they survive to see the Summer of 2002?



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Reviews

January 2013 - #1 BestSeller, American Drama
July 2012 -- KBR Semi-Finalist for Best Thriller/Mystery
July 2012 -- Semi-Finalist for Readers Favorite, Suspense

April 2012 -- Shades of Gray hits #1 BestSeller on Amazon for Fiction - Men's Adventure..... Start your adventure.

"Debut novelist Andy Holloman speeds us on a journey with punch, twist, and emotional dilemmas straight from our worst fears. - Franz Wisner, NYT Best Selling Author
"Shades Of Gray by Andy Holloman is a wonderful suspense thriller that will hook you right from the very start." - Amazon Reviewer

"This was a great read! Enjoyed the characters and what a father would do for his daughter. Very much worth the price." - Amazon Reviewer

 -- April 2012 --  Shades of Gray  hits #1 BestSeller on Amazon for  Fiction - Men's Adventure..... Pick up a copy today and start your adventure.
    ----------------------------------------

Shades of Gray grew out of Author Andy Holloman's experiences as a travel agency owner, and the murder of a client. Suspecting she was a drug smuggler, a story sprouted in Holloman's over-active imagination: How far would a desperate person go to save their child and their business? A graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Holloman lives in the Raleigh, N.C., area with his wife of twenty years and three children. When he's not writing, Holloman is carpooling, keeping his wife happy, and attending school and sporting events. He loves the great outdoors, is an avid reader, and a social media goofball. Most evenings, he can be found tapping on his well-worn keyboard as he "births" his next novel. Visit AndyHolloman.com for updates on his latest writing ventures.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Fallen Prey - Release Announcement

Fallen Prey, the second book in the Sean Gray, Junior Special Agent Series by Columbia, SC author Ann Eisenstein is scheduled to be released at the Peak City Book Festival, on November 9th.

The contemporary mystery, aimed at 5th Grade+ explores the dangers of internet predators to today's unsuspecting children.

Pre-Ordering is and special pricing is available!

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Junior Special Agent Sean Gray is in a race against time. Could there be a connection between his testimony in the trial of an international child kidnapping ring and his mysterious accident?

While the sheriff’s department and the FBI are investigating, his new friend, Gabby, gets caught in the web of an online predator and disappears. She’s been missing for more than 48 hours, and the authorities have not been able to find her.

Sean goes undercover to bait the mysterious hunter. But when he becomes the prey, how will he rescue her?



About the Author



Ann Eisenstein lives in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop (SCWW), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizen’s Academy (FBICA), and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Citizen’s Academy (RCSDCA). For additional information about Ann Eisenstein, visit her website: http://www.AnnEisenstein.com



Press & Media

http://www.prlog.org/12096327-author-joins-with-law-enforcement-in-child-protection-initiatives.html

http://www.prlog.org/12051898-in-between-readers-have-new-best-selling-book-to-read.html

http://www.prlog.org/12039324-exclusive-release-of-hiding-carly-book-one-in-the-sean-gray-junior-special-agent-series.html

http://www.prlog.org/12025661-fifth-grader-works-with-fbi-to-solve-fathers-mysterious-death.html


Upcoming Events:

The author, Ann Eisenstein is currently at the SCBWIC conference in South Carolina.


  • Barnes & Noble:October 18th, 6 PM - Internet Safety with Educators
  • Peak City Book Festival:  11/07/13  from 11-5PM  - Creative Writing for Aspiring Young Authors


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sold As Is by Holley Trent - Free Chance to Win (No Purchase Necessary)

Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Sold As Is by Holley Trent, a contemporary romance!

About the Book

Mandy McCarthy is unlucky in love and hapless on the job. In six weeks, she couldn't sell a single used car at her stepfather's lot. Just when she begins to fret that her fortune will never turn around, her salvation arrives at Archie's A-1 Autos in a surprising form: the governor's son. Not only does Aaron Owen want to recruit Mandy to work for his car charity, but the two have an instant attraction that has them sneaking off for trysts during test drives. Unfortunately, Governor Owen plans to run for re-election and he expects his grown son to keep his nose clean. That means no shagging his staff, and definitely no falling in love with wildcards-at least not until after the election. Mandy doesn't want to play secret lovers and would rather let the love of her life go than hide as if she's a dirty little secret. With the governor blackmailing his son and threatening to pull his charity's grant funding if he doesn't drop her, Mandy figures her luck will run out again unless someone's willing to swing a U-turn. . .but who? 

Sensuality Level: Sensual

About the Author


Holley Trent is a Carolina girl gone west. Raised in rural coastal North Carolina, Holley Trent has Southern sensibilities, but in 2011 her adventurous spirit drove her to Colorado for new experiences.  She writes sassy, quirky contemporary romances and fantasy/paranormal romances set in her home state.

Her protagonists regularly fall victim to her odd sense of humor and find themselves in improbable situations (with happily-every-after outcomes). Holley's cast of characters tends to swear, drink and do a fair amount of carousing, but they're generally well-intentioned and obey all laws and ordinances. Usually.

Her work is available from Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, Crimson Romance, and Lyrical Press.
She's a CIMRWA Abalone winner for her novel MY NORA, and a finalist in CRW's Award of Excellence contest.  When she has a bit of free time, she self-publishes cross-genre stories ranging from romantic chick-lit to spicy paranormal/romantic suspense.

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Tips on How to Use QR Codes to Market and Sell Your Book


A QR Code (abbreviated for Quick Response Code) is a machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares (color generators are available), which is typically used for storing URLs or other information. A bar code scanner app reads the code and directs the user to the site.

The QR code is handy tool to market and sell your book:



How to Use QR Codes:   



Define the objective of the material you are printing

○ Running a free giveaway or time bound promotion?  
§ Generate a QR code to the link to "make the sale"
○ Drive traffic to your website or blog?  
§ Generate a QR code to open your web page
○ Increase subscribers to your mailing list?  
§ Generate a QR code to sign up for the list
○ Increase your FACEBOOK likes?  
§ Generate to your FACEBOOK page

Create the marketing material with your custom QR Code. Common places to print your QR Code

○ Flyers and/or posters
○ Business Cards
○ Banners
○ Back Cover of your book



You can find free QR Code generators by searching Google or other search engines.  I use:  QR Stuff . com  With a subscription, you can also take advantage of analytics.  

I just found:  http://www.visualead.com/  - which looks like another great tool - it allows you to use custom photos in your URL.

Be sure to download a Bar Scanning App on your smart phone or table to test your QR codes.  

Friday, September 20, 2013

Meet the Author: Jennifer Hoh, Author of Brat Cat

Jennifer Hoh graduated from Rider University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Music.  She has been a teacher in New Jersey's Ewing Township Public Schools for seven years.  Jennifer has taught preschool, kindergarten, second grade, and is currently teaching first grade.  

In the summer of 2010,  Jennifer attended the National Writing Project's six-week intensive writing program.   This program focused on effective practices to enhance student and personal writing.  In the Fall, Jennifer was asked to present during NWP's writing conference.  Her presentation focused on teaching skills to develop student and personal writing.  

She is currently preparing to teach a conference once again for the Fall 2013.  Through these professional writing experiences, Jennifer found that she wanted to explore combining fiction for children with her unique "patchwork" artwork.  Jennifer is the latest author to release her first book through Peak City Publishing.  She hopes to enhance the reading and writing lives of young children and adults alike.  

About the Book
Brat Cat is a Read Aloud/Learn to Read book for children pre-K+. Available from Peak City Publishing in Fall, 2013.

What happens when Chewie's world is turned upside-down by a new kitten in his life?  

Written and illustrated by Jennifer Hoh

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Peak City Book Festival Spotlight: Life Protection Skills

Life Protection Skills
  • 2172 North Salem Street
  • Apex, North Carolina 27523
The Peak City Book Festival is fully funded by authors, businesses and organizations.  And, every week brings new sponsors which are posted to FacebookPinterest and the web-site.  


Today, we are spotlighting Life Protection Skills of Apex for their generous sponsorship and program: Life Saving Skills for the young and old.


The Apex Ki Do Kwan is a family owned and operated modern self-protection school that instructs individuals of all ages and abilities in skills to help keep safer and stronger. Their staff combines over 50 years of martial arts experience with practical experience in law enforcement and weapons training to provide the best possible curriculum. The Ki Do Kwan is unique in so many ways. There are no contracts, enrollment fees or testing fees. Belt ranks are earned through dedication and training and outreach extends to all persons interested in self-protection skills, regardless of their interest in long-term training.

Program for the Peak City Book Festival

Imagine the following:  You come into your classroom at school and your teacher has fallen and has been injured. She cannot communicate with you. What do you do?  The Life Protection Skills Demonstration Team will present a scenario-based 'story' teaching you what to do in such an emergency.  You will learn how the 911 system works, how to get others to assist you, how police and EMS respond and how to make a bad situation better for every one. This is important for your Life Protection Skills!  You will also see some cool martial arts thrown in at the end to highlight what else we do at the Life Protection Skills Training Center.

Join us for a presentation by the Apex, NC based Martial Arts Training Center at the #PeakCityBookFestival for Life Protection Skills Workshop.  Get hands-on experience and build your knowledge to write in life-saving scenes from an expert.


Monday, September 16, 2013

Writing for the Good - Author Ann Eisenstein, Child Advocate, Educator and Expert

One thing I absolutely love about the publishing business is seeing my authors prosper in the areas they are so passionate about; in this case:  Child Advocacy.  This author has been trained by the FBI Citizen's Academy, recently graduated from the Richland County Sheriff's  Citizen Academy and has now received her certification to present for NAMI, Parents and Teachers as Allies.


Author Ann Eisenstein
Author and educator,  Ann Eisenstein has received her certification as a presenter for NAMI's Parents & Teachers as Allies.  The program helps school professionals recognize and identify the warning signs of early-onset mental illnesses in children and adolescents.

She has also been has been invited by Barnes & Nobles to participate in multiple events to talk about the social issues she writes about in her books.  On October 18th, she will be discussing internet safety with educators, grades Pre-K-12th.  She will have her first novel in the Sean Gray, Junior Special Agent series:  Hiding Carly and discussing her next release in the series:  Fallen Prey.

Fallen Prey is in the queue for publishing-just in time for the B&N event and the #PeakCityBookFestival. 

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