BLOG TOUR: The Game Ain’t Always Fair by Camille Sanders

Time Reese has lived the good life for as long as her memory can recollect. Time’s undeniable beauty and affluent family background are merely masks for her promiscuous, abrasive and “out for myself” mentality. She makes for a great match with cold hearted kingpin Trell; and together the two go on to operate one of the most merciless drug enterprises Memphis has ever seen. But when a familiar face resurfaces, and digs up the demons of her painful past, Time finds herself at a crossroads that may force her to make the ultimate choice. Tearney Richards is struggling to raise her two kids, both from different men, on government assistance. A chance encounter puts her in the crosshairs of Ethan Kish, a big time record label Exec who gives her the one thing she’s always dreamed of- a record deal. Her life begins to change dramatically and the girl who once had nothing now has everything. But, at what cost? Brena Sheldon went from waiting tables to living in the suburbs with a successful attorney. After his jaw dropping secret life is revealed, Brena gets an attitude makeover, moves out of state and embraces a new life. She soon becomes engaged to hoop star Darrell, and believes she has met her Prince Charming finally. Is he who he proclaims to be or is it all just smoke and mirrors?

Take a ride with these three friends as they face the harsh reality that, The Game Ain’t Always Fair.

Excerpt:

Prologue

I never was the one to cry over spilled milk. And why should I? I mean, once the milk was out of the glass and on the floor, what good was it to me then? Actually I probably shouldn’t say that because here I am, headed down I-55 to do what? Yep you guessed it, clean up spilled milk.

The usual 3 hour drive from Memphis had been cut in half. I guess adrenaline makes you drive faster.

I took the exit that led to Byram, MS. It had been three weeks since my boyfriend Trell and I had sparked a deadly drug war against our rival competitors. This drug war was so ruthless, and so without mercy. But, it was effective. Like any war, sometimes the blood shed comes from that of one you love. I had lost my best friend in the midst of our fight to keep our reign as the king and queen of the Memphis drug game. But, that’s not what I was about to get revenge for. That had been handled. The execution I was about to deliver was personal for different reasons.

Once I saw the three mile long white fence come into view, I knew I had reached the ranch. I approached the front gates as they opened slowly, remembering all the times Trell and I had shown up here with our 18 wheelers moving weight in and out. A white 745 BMW was parked at the front entrance with its headlights on high beam. I let down the driver side window and watched as William Garrett, or Mississippi Willie as he was affectionately called him, got out of the Beamer and made his way over to my car.

“You sure you don’t want me to take care of it?” Willie leaned into my window. I saw his sharp eyes do a sweep of the vehicle. I could smell the scent of Black and Mild on his breath as he spoke.

I shook my head.  “Nah. I got this.”

He nodded. “What that nigga did was the ultimate disrespect. I know deadin’ him won’t resolve what you feel on the inside but at least he won’t get the chance to do it no more. I just don’t get why you wouldn’t tell Trell about this?”

I gave him a look that let him know to leave it alone. The less we talked about it, the better.

“Aight, now everything locked down, nothin comin’ in or leaving’ out. You got it from here?” he asked as he backed away from the car.

“Yeah. It’s not like I never done this before.” I reminded him. I gave him one last glance before putting the car in drive and taking off.

I breezed down the long gravel road until it ran out. The black SAAB that Willie’s aunt had rented for me, came to an abrupt halt as I reached my destination. I hated driving low budget cars, but times such as these called for me to be as low key as possible. I climbed out of the vehicle, decked out in all black–the ensemble of a true boss.  I looked up at the six thousand square foot plantation style home. I shook my head at the realization that after tonight, it would be nothing more than a pile of useless ashes.

I used Trell’s key to unlock the front door and walked across the marble floors that led to the staircase. I could smell the faint aura of Pine Sol, like someone had just done a thorough cleaning of the place. I placed my foot on the first step of the staircase and it made a creaking noise upon impact. I passed the open sitting area and tried not to look at the large oil painting of Trell, his mother, and Rayshawn that sat in plain view above the double doors that led to Rayshawn’s sleeping quarters. Could I really do this? Could I really murder my man’s brother in cold blood?, I asked myself. I opened the doors quietly and immediately knew the answer to my question once I saw Rayshawn sleeping peacefully in bed. I moved closer. His face was as beautiful as a summer in Costa Rica even with the scar on his eyelid. To look at him, a person wouldn’t even believe the horror he was capable of.  I reached for my .45 and cocked it back, triggering a slight noise.  Rayshawn shot up in his sleep, and opened his eyes. His fair complexion turned even paler.

“What the….-BLAOW!  I sent a bullet through his right kneecap. He wailed out in pain, reminiscent of a woman pushing a baby through the birth canal without an epidural.

I cocked my head to the side and raised the gun higher.

“Did I say you could talk?” I asked.

He held his wounded knee and grimaced. “Time how you get in here? Why you doin’ this shit?” he shouted.

“Why did you do what you did to me? Huh? I’m askin’ the questions today…get that understood!”

“I thought you was feelin’ me! Everybody ‘round the way said you was a freak and you liked it rough so I went for it! It wasn’t personal!”

That did it. Damn him for trying to justify what he did to me. I snapped, and for a moment I was no longer in the bedroom, but back in the barbershop on the cold floor. I could feel the cool air hitting the torn skin of my vagina as he violently forced himself on me. I thought about the two STDS I had contracted in the process. The lustful look of satisfaction on his face, bought it on home. I retrieved the silencer from my jacket pocket, screwed it on and released bullets until his bloody image replaced not only the agony of the rape but all the horrifying demons that haunted me daily. All the memories I couldn’t bear to remember. I shot until they were no more.

I stared into his now lifeless eyes and spoke in a pained whisper, “It was ALL personal to me.”

I dashed out of the house and back into the night. I went around the back of the house to ensure that the bomb was in place. Everything was trained and ready, just like Willie had promised. I walked back to the car, and got in.  I put the car in reverse and backed up further down the road and turned into a driveway that led to an open field, used for rodeos. From this spot, I could watch the show easily. Burn in hell.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds and rested against the headrest. I was ready for this to be over. I was tired. I opened my eyes and caught sight of a black Mercedes SUV coming to a stop in front of Rayshawn’s house.  How did that car get in here? What kinda watchmen does Willie have? A pack of royal dumbasses! They’re all good as dead. I put on my high tech binoculars. I was all set to let whoever was occupying the car go up in flames until the driver got out. It was Tearney. My heart began to beat loudly in my chest. I felt nauseous and light as a feather, like even the slightest wind could blow me over. The feeling escalated when I saw chubby Ishmael resting on Tearney’s left hip. My hands shook violently as I started the car and floored the pedal, veering in the direction of the house. I felt as though the car was not getting me there quick enough, so I got out and sprinted forward, yelling out to Tearney.

“Tearney get away from the house!” I screamed waving my arms over my head.

Tearney turned around and when Ishamel saw me, he immediately scooted out of her arms and began trotting in my direction. Tearney ran behind him.

“Come on Ishy! Come to Teetee Time baby! Come here!” I yelled running towards him with my arms outstretched.

He smiled brightly at me, totally oblivious to what was going on. Tears streamed down my face, and in that moment everything that had happened earlier seemed so small. In fact, nothing mattered except his safety. Strangely my father’s last words came to me, “That unforgiving spirit of yours is going to be the death of you, and when you finally realize it, life will have passed you by completely.” I wept openly as I briskly swept Ishmael into my arms and took off running without a thought. I looked behind me, and watched Tearney sprinting behind us.

“Time! Time! What the hell are you doing here? Stop running!” she exclaimed.

I wanted to tell her I that stopping was not an option. I wanted to tell her our lives were flashing before us. But, I couldn’t. There was simply no time. I glanced back again, and for the first time I noticed Tearney’s protruding belly. She was pregnant. Oh God, what had I done? The emotions that I had buried my entire life, had finally burst to the surface. Compassion, humility, regard for human life, sympathy, and love for someone other than myself. But, these feelings had all come far too late.  Seconds later, the bomb exploded.

Camille Sanders is a native of Coldwater, MS. She attended TougalooCollege after high school for two years, and went on to attain her Bachelors Degree from the University of Memphis in 2012. Camille discovered her love for writing in the 4th grade, when she and a group of classmates compiled a series of short stories that they dreamed would one day be made into a movie. Camille became engrossed in Urban Literature when she was 13 after reading, ‘The Coldest Winter Ever’ by Sister Souljah. After carefully researching the publishing industry, she was inspired to start her own publishing company, Madam Millie Productions. The ‘Millie’ in the name of her company is in memory of her maternal grandmother Millie, a woman whom she never had the honor or pleasure of knowing. Camille currently resides in Northern Mississippi with her daughter, Addison and often times, her darling niece Madeline Grace. Get to know Camille:

1. When did you first begin writing?

I started writing short stories in elementary school with a group of friends. I’ve always been an introverted person, so I used writing to express myself.

2. What inspired you to write your first book?

My father inspired me to take my writing to the next level. He loved to read my poems and short stories. I read my last poem I wrote for him at his bedside, two days before he slipped into a coma. He told me to promise him that I would “do something” with my writing. So, completing and publishing my first book was keeping my promise to him in a way.

3. Tell us about your new book, The Game Ain’t Always Fair.

TGAAF is an urban tale with an original storyline about three young women. It’s a coming of age tale with a lot of twist and turns. What I love about this book is there is something for everyone. From romance to drama to tragedy to sisterhood, it’s all there.

4. Do you write from personal experience?

Yes and No. Some of the things in my book, are based on personal experiences and some are not. For example, one of the girls is a single parent, and I found myself venting some of my frustrations I had towards the whole “deadbeat dad” thing through the character. On the other hand, one of the characters is very cold and unfeeling, and can kill a man and not think twice about it. I’ve never done that. (laughs)

5. What new authors have caught your eye and/or gained your interest with a new release?

Although her book came out a few months back, and has been out a while, I loved Love Lee’s Already Taken. I have been antsy for the sequel since I read it.

6. What kind of advice would you give someone looking to break into the literary industry?

I would say do your research and seek counsel from productive sources. If you are interested in self-publishing I recommend reading manuals and how-to books that offer guidance. There are plenty of them out there, and remember ‘google’ is your friend. Life Changing Books also offers an online boot camp for those authors who are interested in self-publishing. No matter which route, you take never give up and stay the course. You will get discouraged at times, and hear a lot of “No’s” before you see any results. No matter what, is this is what you desire to pursue, keep pushin’ against all odds.

7. How can readers contact you and where can your book be purchased?

I can be contacted or reached at:

www.facebook.com/camille.a.sanders

www.twitter.com/literarydiva89

www.camillesanderswrites.com

misscamille2007@yahoo.com


My books can be purchased at: Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, Smashwords, or iBooks.


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BLOG TOUR: Sleeping In Sin

Zakiya, a heart-broken, Christian, southern girl leaves her small hometown and her faith for the big lights and sins of the Big Apple. She has a problem trusting men because of the betrayal of her first love, so she is quick to run away from someone getting too close. In the Big City, there is only one King of New York and that is Jarlath, who is a very powerful and ruthless man who also doesn't trust anyone because he has been accused of murdering one of the biggest names in Hip-hop, Kilo. Of course there is always someone trying to knock the king off his throne, introducing Detective Khalon, New York s finest best. In this rollercoaster, Zakiya interacts with both, leaving Jarlath, who has fallen for her, after one night of passion, taking a secret with her and falling into the arms of the top cop who has his own secrets that will affect them all. Believing that she has found perfect love and wants to trust again and not live in sin. She gives her heart to Khalon. In this suspense thriller filled with deceit, murder, lies and the trigger, love comes a novel from Cornelia Smith, that will keep your eyes glued to the pages as you turn to find out why Zakiya can get hurt Sleeping in Sin.

About Author: Cornelia Smith is a Native of Atlanta, Georgia; she was born on October 4, 1989. While growing up she faced many challenges from living in urban poverty, being raised in a single parent household, and being exposed to traumatic events such as watching her mother get shot and suffer a bullet wound. During these tragic events in Cornelia’s life, her mother enforced that she and her oldest sister move to Jackson, Georgia to be raised by her aunt. As years passed, the author relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Parks Middle School and later graduate from Carver High School. Prior to attending Carver High School, she became a member of the national honor society, Principal’s list and remained in the top ten percent of her class during high school. Upon high school graduation, Cornelia decided to attend Everest College to become a medical assistant. However, the hopes of pursuing a career in nursing changed once she began to realize her ambitions for writing novels. As a result, she chose to pursue a career in writing and in less than two years she has developed ways to express the art of writing. Now Cornelia is on the rise of publishing her first Novel entitled “Forever Sistah’s”. She has persevered continuously and even won song writing contests, has a demo published, and is diligently working towards implementing a book club.

Favorite Quote: Don't tell me the skye is the limit when there is footprints on the moon Favorite Reads: "The child called it", "Rich Dad Poor Dad", "The Coldest Winter"

How did you start out your writing career?

I self published my first book title "Forever Sistah's" just because I wanted to be apart of every step in the process. It is so important to be literate on your craft, plus it made me grind harder. I depended on no one but myself.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned to be careful what you ask for.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I'm hoping to accomplish a larger fan base & a bestseller, that's always the goal.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot?

Why? The plot came first. I was feeling really bored with Atlanta and I just wanted to move but my financial wasn't allowing me to spread my wings like I desired. So my best friend and I was talking about how leaving would be such a release & she said to me "What if we leave & it turns out to be the worst thing ever?" That kind of stuck to me and that's where my plot originated from.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I think the responses from my friends and loves ones is the most surprising since I never told anyone I wanted to be a writer. In fact no one knew until they received the invite to my first book launch celebration dinner.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: LaVerne Thompson

LaVerne Thompson is an award winning, best-selling, multi-published author, an avid reader and a writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances. She also writes romantic suspense under the pen name Ursula Sinclair. She is currently working on several projects.

She has a daughter in her first year of college and a senior in highschool, so technically she has more time to write. Visit her website at http://lavernethompson.com to read excerpts of her books. She's also discovered the world of interactive storytelling and can also be found online at http://rpworldgroup.org as herself.

Can you hear the dragon's roar?

Over a thousand years ago Draakar was forced to leave Earth, now he has no choice but to return. The dragon lord, whose world teeters on the brink of destruction, must find his truemate. The one woman with the power and love fated to save them all. The woman he left behind.

Maya Trent was abandoned on Earth, apparently human but so much more and unaware of her dual heritage. Once Draakar awakens her dragon within all she wants to do is kill him. Yet they must work together to save mankind as well as the brethren. But first Draakar has to convince her that the truemate bond between them is real, as is his love for her. She just has to believe in him.

Click To Read LaVerne's interview in the JAN/FEB issue of SORMAG Digital

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Get You Good Virtual Book Tour

Tell us about Get You Good.

Get You Good is the story of Sydney Isaacs and her rather dysfunctional family. When we meet her she seems like a successful enough woman with a growing business. But the more time we spend with her the more we realize that there is a lot of family dysfunction and resentment in her life that nobody is dealing with. And then Sheree enters the picture. She is Sydney’s new sister-in-law who in a short period of time manages not only to upset the relationships in the family, but also to totally destroy Sydney’s business and her family legacy. When Sydney and her sister Lissandra decide to make things right, they cross over from what is wrong to what is very wrong, and that is where the excitement begins.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

I was actually mulling over Genesis 34, the story of Dinah and trying to figure out if there was a way to make that relatively short chapter into a whole novel. There are so many issues around family and doing what is right versus what is honourable that I think are so important for today. So I kind of updated the story, flipped a few details, and out came Get You Good.

Did you have to do quite a bit of research for this book?

I did do a little research. The main character in my novel is a pastry chef who makes a living creating these delicious and complex cakes for weddings and special events. As a result I had to learn a little about the whole process of cake making and decorating. I didn’t necessarily put a lot of that detail into the novel but it helps to know it while I’m writing. It creates context for my character and lets me know that I can’t have her take a couple hours to make a wedding cake because that process usually takes much longer.

What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading Get You Good?

I guess when I think about Get You Good, I think about that old adage that there is a little bit of bad in the best of us and a little bit of good in the worst of us. In Get You Good it is easy to see how generally reasonable people can lose control when the right amount of pressure is applied to them. I hope readers will realize the importance of having a life that has Christ as the moral centre. Because if we don’t believe that He is able to take care of even the worst situations, then chances are we will try to take care of them ourselves, and if we are like Sydney the results are likely to be disastrous.

Okay, a not-so-fun question. How important are reviews to you as a writer?

Very important. An author spends months with a book before it appears on the shelf. After all that time chances are you will either love it blindly, or hate it blindly. Either way it will probably take input from others for me to know whether it is good or not. In addition, while it’s great to write for one’s own pleasure, as a published author I’m also writing for an audience and reviews are one of the ways I gauge if I am serving that audience. Finally reviews really help me improve my craft. There are things people mentioned in reviews for my first novel that I definitely took into consideration when writing my second novel, and from the reviews I got I know that in those areas I was able to improve.

Do you have upcoming events for readers? Please tell us.

I am currently on virtual tour so you can find me at a lot of different spots online. Stop by my website or facebook page to get the full listing. Tomorrow, March 21, I will be chatting with Tabitha Vinson live on PWICU TV (pwicu.com) at 9pm EST. I will also be on blogtalk radio chatting with Cyrus Webb on March 27, Ashea Goldson on March 28 and Faith A Beliver Virtual Book Club March 25. Hope you can join me!

What's next for you?

Well I am currently working on my fourth novel, which is something of a follow up to Get You Good. You can look forward to seeing a lot of the same characters again, but from a slightly different perspective.

Where can readers find you online?

You can probably find me most easily on my facebook page, facebook.com/MsRhondie. You can also check out my website rhondabowen.com. However if you want to get to me directly I am very good with email. Hit me up at rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com

More About the Book

Sydney Isaacs has two priorities: her family, and Decadent, the gourmet pastry business they founded almost three generations ago. But both are in jeopardy when her brother, Dean, announces his sudden marriage to the conniving Sheree Vern. Furthermore Dean's inheritance of the ownership of Decadent from their father, despite Dean's lack of interest, leaves Sydney with few options. Now Dean and Sheree are selling the store to finance his music dreams—or so Dean believes… Thanks to Sheree, Dean’s plans, the business, and his marriage, soon implode in ways he never expected—leaving Sydney determined to salvage whatever she can and fix the mess left behind. Her only solace is her romance with Hayden Windsor. But Hayden is Sheree's half brother and it doesn't take long for Sydney to wonder: what if Hayden knew about Sheree’s scheming all along? Soon Sydney creates a deception of her own to find out the truth. Her strategy is working, until the consequences threaten to destroy everything she values most—including her faith. Overcome with guilt, can she make things right with her brother, with Hayden, and with God?

About the Author

Rhonda Bowen is a writer and event planner living in Toronto. She enjoys spending time with her family, trying on shoes she can’t afford, and enjoying life’s unexpected twists and turns. You can reach her by dropping a note in the comment box below or emailing her directly at rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com

Purchase the Book Online at:

Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com

Visit the author online at:

rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com

View the blog tour schedule at: http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/xdHYy

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FEATURED AUTHOR: M.J. Kane

M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader, this stay at home mom never lost the overactive imagination of an only child. As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006 that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free. Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple strait jacket. And the rest, as they say, is history.

No longer a television addict, if M.J. isn’t reading a book by one of her favorite authors, she’s battling with her creative muse to balance writing and being a wife and mother. She resides in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and art, and supporting her husband’s music production business, 3D Sounds.

Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge.

When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust.

Click To Read M.J. Kane's interview in the JAN/FEB issue of SORMAG Digital



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