THE END OF CAMELOT--Book 3 of the New York Saga--Who Killed President Kennedy?

                                  THE END OF CAMELOT, a romance mystery

November 22, 1963, a day that changed America forever. Who killed President Kennedy?

          

I was six years old when President Kennedy was assassinated. Everyone who was alive that day knew exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. I was in my first grade classroom. The teacher got a call on the classroom phone and told us ‘the president was shot.’ A collective gasp went around the room. My grandmother was a huge JFK assassination buff. She’s the one who got me fascinated with this tragic event, at the time the biggest mystery since 'who killed the princes in the Tower?' (I'm a Ricardian; that's for another post).  She got me embroiled right along with her.

          She listened to all the radio talk shows (those who lived in the New York area might remember Long John Nebel, on WOR, WNBC, and WMCA, all on AM radio (FM was really 'out there' at that time). She bought whatever books came out over the years, along with the Warren Commission Report, which I couldn't lift at the time, it was so heavy. But my interest never waned in the 52 years that followed.

          In 2000, I began the third book of my New York Saga, set in 1963. The heroine is Vikki McGlory Ward, daughter of Billy McGlory, hero of the second book, BOOTLEG BROADWAY, set during Prohibition. This was my opportunity to write a novel showcasing all my current theories, and continue the saga. It took a minimum of research, since I remember all the 60's brands, (Bosco, Yum Berry, Mr. Bubble...), the fashions, the songs, and I even included a scene set on that unforgettable night when the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964.

About THE END OF CAMELOT   

The third in the New York Saga, The End of Camelot centers on Billy McGlory’s daughter Vikki, whose husband is murdered trying to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Vikki uses her detective skills to trace the conspiracy, from New York to New Orleans to Dallas, and at the same time, tricks her husband’s murderer into a confession. A romance with her bodyguard makes her life complete.

November 22, 1963: The assassination of a president devastates America. But a phone call brings even more tragic news to Vikki Ward—her TV reporter husband was found dead in his Dallas hotel room that morning.

Finding his notes, Vikki realizes her husband was embroiled in the plot to kill JFK—but his mission was to prevent it. When the Dallas police rule his death accidental, Vikki vows to find out who was behind the murders of JFK and her husband. With the help of her father and godfather, she sets out to uncover the truth.

Aldobrandi Po , the bodyguard hired to protect Vikki, falls in love with her almost as soon as he sets eyes on her. But he's engaged to be married, and she’s still mourning her husband. Can they ever hope to find happiness in the wake of all this tragedy?

An Interview with Vikki McGlory Ward, the heroine of THE END OF CAMELOT

What is your occupation?  Do you enjoy it? 

I’m living my dream as a housewife, but I design costumes for my father’s Broadway musicals. I’m also busy with our two kids—although Al and I decided we want four, so I’m hoping for twins. 

What is your family like? 

A bit crazier than others, mainly because my father was in the rackets in the 1930s and he’s a composer of Broadway show tunes.  I had an unforgettable childhood. My father took me to every Broadway musical that came out. We had famous people to the house all the time for dinner and cocktails, and to me, they were just folks, I didn’t care how famous they were, or if their albums played in the background. Dad gave me piano lessons, although it wasn’t my calling the way it was his—I preferred painting, sewing and designing fashions as a creative outlet. I never knew my mom, she died tragically and suddenly when I was an infant. But my father’s second wife Greta treated me like her own daughter. We went everywhere together, museums, hair salons, shopping, for long strolls through Central Park. But in school nobody cared whose kid I was. It was a strict Catholic school and I was in a uniform like everybody else. My family is Roman Catholic and we still have all the saints’ statues in the hallways and backyards. 

What did your childhood home look like? 

A stately Tudor in Bronxville, then a red brick colonial in Westchester County. My father also brought us to his beach house on the New Jersey shore, which he bought the year I was born. I don’t like to go there, though. It’s where my mother overdosed on pain pills and I don’t want to be reminded of that. She died in the hospital the next day. 

Do you have any hobbies? What do you enjoy doing? 

Designing costumes, going for bicycle rides with my husband and kids. I love to sing opera arias, although I’m not trained, and I make sure I’m alone when I do it. Fortunately, Al and I share a lot of interests - opera, painting, fashion—and one that most couples don’t share—guns. We have contests at the shooting range to see who’s the best shot. He also likes to hunt, which I don’t. But I’m good at cooking the venison he brings home. 

  Who was your first love? 

My first husband Jack Ward. I stayed in D.C. after I graduated Georgetown, still thinking I wanted a career in politics. I got a job as a political consultant with a couple of ex-CIA agents. Jack was a reporter for the Washington Post. I always enjoyed his articles—they had a clever undertone of cutting-edge humor. Sometimes he mentioned personal details: his close calls as a stunt pilot, his solo in a sailboat around Cape Horn, the political and show business parties he attended…I was hooked. I couldn’t wait for him to reveal another personal item, like the next installment in a serial. Then he became a television reporter for NBS. I was in my glory, able to see him every night at six and eleven. When So Far So Good came out—that was his memoir—I took the day off from work to read it. I devoured it, tore out the pictures and taped them to my walls. On television, he was as commanding and powerful as any president, and that was it—I had to meet him. So I spent every spare moment in front of NBS Studios waiting for an ‘accidental’ encounter. Finally it happened. First it was eye contact and a little small talk, ‘I’m your biggest fan,’ that kind of stuff. I had to talk fast. One day I just blurted out an invitation to my place for dinner. He was so surprised, he accepted. I had him over the next night, and he fell in love with my lasagne. I was already in love with him.  

 What's the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Losing Jack. He was found dead in the bathtub of his Dallas hotel room the same day President Kennedy was shot. He wasn’t supposed to be in Dallas. He never took baths. I immediately knew he’d been murdered. I found his notes and his tapes, and learned that he was embroiled in the plot to kill JFK—but his mission was to prevent it. From that horrific day on, I vowed to find out who was behind the murders of JFK and my husband. Bringing that bastard to justice became my quest, and once I found him, I knew Jack could rest.

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not? 

To be a wife and mother, and indulge my passion for painting, designing costumes and seeing them on the stage. I must say I am living that dream, despite having lost Jack so tragically. But I know everything happens for a reason. Al told me many times if he hadn’t met me, he doesn’t know if he’d be alive today. 

 Who is your role model? 

My stepmother Greta. She rescued my father when he was still deeply grieving for my mother. She brought him back from the brink and gave him two beautiful kids.

  What is your deepest desire?

To give my kids a normal life, and I hope they never have to face crime or murder or even greed. 

 What is your greatest fear? 

That some underworld figure will come after me. It’s an irrational fear, but when you learn your father was a gangster, and my having met killers such as Jack Ruby and underworld figures on my quest to find Jack’s killer, that fear never leaves you.

An excerpt from THE END OF CAMELOT

November 22, 1963

Larchmont, New York

Vikki entered her foyer and dropped her shopping bags on the floor. As she locked the door and kicked off her alligator pumps, the phone rang. She answered it in the kitchen, so she could raid the pastry box while she chatted.

“Vikki, it’s Linc Benjamin.” His ragged voice came over the line. “I have terrible news. Jack is dead.”

“What?” She couldn’t have heard right. “What did you say?”

“Jack was found in the bathtub of his hotel room this morning—”

She dropped the phone and slid down against the wall. Her glasses fell off her face. The room spun. Sunlight glared. She smelled the new coat of wax on the kitchen floor.

“Vikki? Vikki?” came faintly from the dangling receiver. She crawled over and grasped it. He would tell her it was a mistake, they had the wrong man, or it was another of Jack’s practical jokes.

“My Jack?” she whispered.

“Vikki, I’m so sorry,” he sobbed.

“Linc—no, please. Tell me it wasn’t Jack. Are you sure? There must be a mistake. Not Jack.” Her heart thudded like a hammer. A stabbing pain pierced her chest. She held the receiver away from her ear.

 “Vikki, are you there?” His voice came through the earpiece. “If you want, I’ll be right over. I can tell you everything when I get there, or right now, whatever you want.”

“Now!” she demanded.

“The Dallas police found him drowned in his hotel bathtub—”

“Dallas? What was he doing in Dallas? He’s supposed to be in Chicago doing a story on the FBI!” she screeched, beyond rational thought. No, this had to be a mistake!

“I don’t know, Vikki. The maid found him. The Dallas police tried to call you all morning, but you weren’t home, so they called here, at the network. Do you want me to come over and—”

“Wait!” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Now—where is he now?”

“Parkland Hospital. They’re going to bring the bod—er, bring him back to New York after the autopsy.” His voice broke again. “God, Vikki, I’m so sorry. I feel like I lost my brother.”

She went blank, too stunned to think. Her hands shook so much she could hardly hold the phone.

“Vikki, do you want me to come over—”

“No.” She released the receiver. It swung away and banged against the wall. She curled up on the floor as the ticking clock echoed the thudding of her heart.

She wept in unbearable grief. Shutting her eyes tight, she cradled her head in her arms. A jumble of thoughts rendered her helpless.

“Please, God,” she prayed, “Let it be a mistake and Jack will come walking through the door.”

The doorbell rang. “Jack?” She forced her eyes open.

 “Vikki!”

Her head throbbed with each pound on the door. 

“Vikki! Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

The voice was her father’s, and as much as she wanted him with her, holding her, rocking her, the present was too much to bear. She wanted one last visit to the past with Jack, happy and alive and free from harm.

 But the raw truth seared her soul: The past is gone, and so is your beloved Jack!

Too weak to walk, she crawled to the door, reached up, and unlocked it.

Her father rushed in and knelt beside her. “Vikki, honey?”

She collapsed into his arms, heaving gut-wrenching sobs.

“It’s okay, I’m here,” he crooned, like he was singing the songs he wrote for her.

“Dad, Jack—” She couldn’t bring herself to say it yet. The words were too ugly, too real.

“Yeah, I know. He got shot. When I looked in the sidelight and saw you lying on the floor, I thought you were hurt.”

She gulped. “I answered the phone and it was…” That seemed like a hundred years ago already.

He helped her up, and she forced herself to gulp enough air to stay conscious while he said, “I’ll turn on the TV and see what the news says about the shooting—”

“No, he wasn’t shot! They found him in the tub—”

 “Vikki, here, let me get you on the couch. Come on, babe, that’s it.” He helped her off with her coat. “Now, what are you saying?”

“Dad—Jack…”

“I know.” He nodded. “JFK was shot in the head. The governor of Texas was shot, too.”

“No. My Jack! They found him—” Sobs burst from the depths of her soul.

“Huh? What…your Jack?”

Unable to speak any further, she nodded.

“Something happened to him?” He sat her down on the couch.

She drew in a ragged breath and he grasped her hands.

“Oh, God. Oh, Jesus Christ, Vikki.” He held her and stroked her hair as she sobbed, her tears staining his scarf. “Okay, Dad’s here, I’ll stay with you. I’m sorry, I thought you were talking about President Kennedy. He just got shot.”

“President Kennedy?” She shook her head in disbelief. “No. Jack’s friend from the network called, and—” She couldn’t go on.

“Don’t talk. I’ll get you a brandy or something.” He glanced over at her liquor cabinet.

She didn’t even want him leaving her for a few seconds. He hung her phone up and it started ringing instantly. She heard spurts of conversation. His voice sounded like an echo in a marble tomb. He finally stopped talking and came back with a brandy bottle, a snifter, and her eyeglasses. “I found your glasses on the floor.” He took her into his arms and rocked her back and forth. “You’ll be okay, you’re strong, you’re my girl,” he murmured, and she wished he’d sing to her.

Instead he explained that President Kennedy had been shot on the motorcade route in Dallas.

Purchase The End of Camelot

Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Barnes & Noble Nook

Connect with me:

My Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

LinkedIn

GooglePlus

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

 

On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. But a phone call brings even more tragic news to Vikki Ward in my romance thriller THE END OF CAMELOT — her TV reporter husband Jack, a friend of the president's, was found dead in his Dallas hotel room that morning. Vikki learns Jack was embroiled in the plot to kill JFK—but his mission was to prevent it. When the Dallas police rule Jack's death accidental, Vikki vows to find out who was behind the murders of JFK and her husband.

In print, on Kindle and on audio with the animated Nina Price.

getBook.at/NewYorkSagaBookThree

Meet Prolific Author Kara O'Neal and Read About THE PRINCESS’S KNIGHT, Book 17 in the TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE’S RUN Series

 A Note From Kara: 

THE PRINCESS’S KNIGHT is book 17 in the TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE’S RUN series. And it almost never existed. 

I started writing the Texas Brides series in the year 2000 and had no plans to give a story to Madeline Talbut. Because…well…Madeline is the “mean girl”, and I had every intention of keeping her that way. 

Except as I went through the series, little tidbits popped up about her, and she ends up with a backstory that is pretty heartbreaking. I felt for her. I thought, “Well, perhaps she does deserve redemption.” 

But I hadn’t any idea who her hero ought to be. 

Then I wrote book 8 – THE EDITOR’S KISSES – and Carl Dawson, a sixteen-year-old, know-it-all who preferred a wandering life to getting hitched declared that he’d never settle down, least of all with someone like Madeline. 

And that was it. THE PRINCESS’S KNIGHT was born. 

I enjoyed messing up Carl’s plans, and I really enjoyed watching Madeline redeem herself. That was something I didn’t know if I could tackle correctly. I feel as if Madeline’s arc is well-done, but readers will have to tell me the truth!

About Kara

Award-winning author, Kara O’Neal is a teacher and lives in Texas with her husband and three children She write stories with strong family ties, lots of romance and guaranteed happy endings! Please visit her at www.karaoneal.com.

About THE PRINCESS'S KNIGHT

Pike’s Run, Texas, 1890

Carl Dawson finds himself in a Georgia prison with only one way out – get Madeline Talbut, the viperous ice princess and his childhood nemesis, home to Pike’s Run, or lose a year of his life in jail. He takes the deal and finds her playing hostess on a magnificent showboat.

 Madeline Talbut has a past she’d like to forget, and she can do that while taking care of the guests aboard the Princess. But, as she sails the mighty Mississippi, a newcomer infiltrates her space, shaking up her heart, awakening the desire she’d thought dormant and reminding her that the past must be dealt with.

Carl learns there is more to Madeline than he’d once thought, and she’s becoming more important to him than he wants. But he must hide his identity from her, or she might not return to Texas and all the pain it holds. And, even worse, if she discovers who Carl really is, he might lose her. Forever.

Excerpt 

 “Miss Talbut has taken on all my duties aboard the Princess,” Mrs. Cole explained to Carl, “and I’m so grateful to her. And, as you can imagine, I can’t have anything happening to her.” She sniffed, then with care, she smoothed the hair at Madeline’s temple. “Tell me, Mr. Dawson, what do you do for a living?”

Not an odd question, but he felt it was going to lead somewhere. But what could he reveal without giving away who he was? He continued to sense it was better that Madeline not know his connection to her. At least, not yet. “I don’t have a profession. I travel, do odd jobs here and there.”

Mrs. Cole smiled at him. “And save damsels in distress everywhere you go, I bet.”

He’d aided ladies, yes, but not everywhere.

“I’m quite certain you’re nothing but a gentleman. A true knight,” Mrs. Cole remarked, while Madeline shifted uncomfortably.

“I try, ma’am,” Carl answered.

Mrs. Cole removed her hand from Madeline’s tightly linked fingers and leaned forward. “I have complete faith that you do, and I must ask for your assistance.” She gazed at him in earnest. “Would you watch over Miss Talbut for me? Be her protector while she carries out her duties?”

Well…damn it all. Relief poured through him. He glanced at Madeline again and saw her lips had pinched, and she looked ready to argue. But…she didn’t. Another revelation.

“I’ll pay you, of course, and it’s temporary. My husband will get better, and no one would dare harm Miss Talbut when he is present.” Mrs. Cole gave a sharp nod to emphasize her statement.

He studied Madeline for a brief second, realized she would abhor him guarding her. But did he have any other choice? “I’ll take the job.”

“Wonderful!” Mrs. Cole exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Madeline looked ready to spit nails.

Well, he’d seen her tantrums. He could handle them.

 Purchase THE PRINCESS'S KNIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Alicia Dean and Read About "You’re Invited: A Halloween Horror Short Story"

About Alicia

Alicia is a suspense and paranormal author in Edmond, Oklahoma. She wrote her first romance at age 10 (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. In addition to reading and writing, Alicia loves watching and re-watching her favorite television shows, among them Dexter, Justified, The Vampire Diaries, Ozark, Friends, Seinfeld, and Everybody Loves Raymond.   

Connect With Alicia 

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com  

Website

Blog 

Facebook 

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_  

BookBub 

About "You're Invited" : 

Morgan Michaels and her friends invite an unpopular girl from their high school to a Halloween party as a joke…but the joke backfires, and the girl ends up murdered.  

One year later, they receive an invitation to a mysterious Halloween party. It’s all fun and games at first, but Morgan soon discovers there’s a psycho in their midst, and he’s slaughtering them one by one, using a prop from each of their costumes.  

 

Now the killer is in hot pursuit of the remaining survivors. Can they unmask the maniac before they, too, meet an untimely end? 

 Excerpt:

WTF…where was he? She took her phone from her pocket. At least it provided her some light. She wished she’d checked the time when he left so she’d know how long she’d been waiting. And, she wished she had his phone number. She could text and see when he’d be back. Because she was really getting scared. And he’d been gone, like, forever. Screw this. She was going back. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get lost.

She stood and headed back the way she thought they’d come. There wasn’t really a path, Axel had just forged his own. And she hadn’t paid attention because her mind was occupied with other things. Was this the right way? She peered through the darkened woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of Axel’s house. Even with the fence surrounding it, she should be able to at least see some lights—

A crack sounded behind her, and she whirled, her heart diving into her stomach. She knew that was something…someone…?

“Axel?” Her voice trembled. Maybe he was back and couldn’t find her. “I’m over here. Sorry. I wasn’t sure you were coming back, so I—”

Something lunged at her from between the trees. She couldn’t make out the features, but it was definitely human—a man.

She opened her mouth to scream, but he grabbed her and clamped his hand over her mouth. A sickening horror rose when she felt him reach for the dagger in her pocket. She whimpered, begging…crying…but the sound was muffled beneath his hand.

 Purchase "You're Invited":

Amazon

Other Retailers

Get Ready to Howl with Werewolf Chills: Moonlight Becomes You by my Guest Robert Herold

I invited my author friends to send me entertaining posts suitable for the Halloween season, and Bob, one of my fellow The Wild Rose Press authors, replied right away—meet Bob and read about MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU. 

Bob and werewolf buddy

About Bob 

The supernatural has always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since my mother refused to allow me, as a boy, to watch creature features on late night TV. She caved in. (Well, not literally!)

While other kids my age wanted to grow up to be doctors, firefighters, spacemen, and the like, I wanted to be a werewolf. As a child, fresh snow provided me the opportunity to walk out onto neighbor’s lawns halfway and make paw prints with my fingers as far as I could stretch. I would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn! (They were skeptical.) 

I have pursued many interests over the years (including playing the sax and flute, and teaching middle school history for 36 years), but supernatural writing always called to me. You could say that I was haunted. Ultimately, I hope my books give you the creeps, and I mean that in the best way possible!

 Get Ready to Howl with Werewolf Chills: 

Moonlight Becomes You

Werewolves and vampires have lately been portrayed as tragically lovelorn beings with a big heart but a tendency to do love bites. Moonlight Becomes You, on the other hand, returns to classic themes where the monster is just that, and the love-interests are between humans in jeopardy. The story involves 19^th Century ghost hunters who are asked to stop a werewolf that is terrorizing a Black community. The monster is scary. In fact, so are some of the humans, given the involvement of KKK. The book recently received a 5-star review and a Crowned Heart of Excellence Award from In D’Tale Magazine. It is also the recipient of two first-place wins by the Southeastern Writers Association, including Best Novel!

If you are looking for some honest chills this Halloween, look no further! Moonlight Becomes You is also on sale this month for only $.99!! Now that’s something to howl about!

Purchase MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU for .99 on Amazon

Excerpt

Doc Curtis fought for every reserve of strength and managed to quicken his pace. He could hear them shouting behind him and dared not look back, fearing it might slow him just that much more.

He made it through the field and emerged onto a rough access road running between the cultivated land on one side and the woods on the other. The doctor dashed across the dirt road and through the weeds and scrub bordering its opposite side. The trees stood twenty yards ahead. He would make it, find a thick trunk to hide behind, and fire a warning shot. If he could drive them off, it would be best. If not, he would do what needed to be done. Life had reduced itself to its most basic terms: kill or be killed.

Just five yards from the trees, a gigantic black beast bounded from the woods and landed before him. The doctor skittered to a stop, and his feet went out from beneath him. The creature stepped closer, looming. Its eyes glowed red, and the skin around its muzzle drew back, revealing a mouthful of sharp canine teeth.

The Klan had come at him in two directions, the doctor realized.

He raised his pistol and fired into the snarling face above him. 

Connect with Bob

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

email@robertheroldauthor.com

Animated Book Trailer (17 seconds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Author and Historian Harlow Giles Unger and Read About THE LAST FOUNDING FATHER, His Biography of James Monroe

 

About Harlow

I met Harlow in a Facebook book promotion group, and am becoming a big fan, as a huge history buff myself. He is the author of twenty-seven books, including more than a dozen biographies of America’s Founding Fathers and four histories of the early American republic. A veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian, he is a former Distinguished Visiting Fellow in American History at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and was named one of America’s premier presidential biographers. He is a graduate of Yale University and was a journalist the New York Herald Tribune Overseas News Service before becoming a full-time author.

This post features THE LAST FOUNDING FATHER, his biography of President James Monroe.

About THE LAST FOUNDING FATHER

The epic story of James Monroe—the last of America’s Founding Fathers--who transformed a small fragile nation beset by enemies into a glorious and powerful empire stretching “from sea to shining sea.”

A fierce fighter in the Revolutionary War, Monroe suffered a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, survived the cruelest winter at Valley Forge, and fought heroically at the Battle of Monmouth. Decorated by Washington for his courage, Monroe went on to serve America as its first full-time and life-long politician—a member of Congress, minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and, finally, fifth president of the United States.

With his courageous first lady at his side, Monroe took command of a nation nearly bankrupt, its people divided, its borders under attack, and its capital in ashes after the British invasion in the War of 1812. Monroe rebuilt national defenses, expanded the military, ripped Florida from Spanish control, and added six states to the Union, extending national boundaries to the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean.

Monroe climaxed his presidency—and startled the world—by proclaiming the landmark Monroe Doctrine, which closed the Americas to foreign incursions and colonization. Secure from foreign attack, Americans streamed westward to claim a share of America, producing the largest economic expansion and redistribution of wealth in U.S. history.

The only president other than George Washington to win reelection by unanimous vote, Monroe led the nation and its people to greatness and created an “Era of Good Feelings” never seen before or since in American history.

A New York Times best-seller, Unger’s The Last Founding Father is both a superb read and stellar scholarship—action-filled history in the grand tradition.

Excerpt

On December 2, 1823, Monroe strode into Congress to deliver his seventh annual message to that body. He had aged noticeably—still tall and fit, but his hair had grayed and deep worry lines had etched his face. Still wearing knee breeches, silk hose, and buckle-top shoes while his audience wore ankle-length trousers, he seemed out of place—out of the distant past, come to ensure his own legacy. Members of Congress stood to applaud—and cheer—some of them trembling with awe as they watched him make his way down the aisle—the Last of the Founding Fathers.

Silence gripped the hall as he prepared to speak. In a voice that seemed more forceful than in previous years, he began by calling the years of his presidency “the golden age of this republic”—a time in which the United States had maintained “peace and amity with all the world.”

To maintain peaceful, friendly relations, he continued, his voice rising, he proclaimed United States supremacy in the Western Hemisphere, describing a line in the oceans around North and South America and warning the rest of the world—as his Virginia regiment had the British in 1776—Don’t tread on me!

In a two-hour speech aimed at foreign leaders as well as Congress and the American public, the president formally closed the Western Hemisphere to further colonization, saying that America’s political system differed from Europe’s, and that the United States would consider any European attempts to extend its system anywhere in the Western Hemisphere as a threat to the United States. From its origins, he said, the United States had sought nothing but peace—for its citizens to fish, hunt, and plow their fields unmolested. The United States had never interfered in Europe’s  internal affairs and would not do so—indeed, wanted no part of Europe’s incessant wars.

Purchase THE LAST FOUNDING FATHER

(Web site includes buttons, each connected to a major book-seller.)

Connect with Harlow

Website 

Facebook

Meet Sue Wright and Read About PEACEMAKER'S DREAM: THE TRUE FIRST LADY OF AMERICA--Pocahontas

 About Sue

Sue is a Psychologist by profession, and was the founder of the first online therapy system in the UK.   Since retiring she has devoted a lot of her time to writing Historical Novels.   He first novel 'Tempest' - Bermuda 1609 is about the founding of the Island of Bermuda where she grew up.  She loves to research history and imagine what it was really like - and what better place to start than the founding of her childhood home.  Her second novel 'Peacemaker's Dream' continues the story and she is writing a third - so watch this space!   

She now lives in Buckinghamshire, UK and is a Yoga Therapist teaching Yin Yoga and Chair Yoga.  

She has a husband, three daughters, nine grandchildren, and a retired racing Greyhound.  Never a spare moment!

About PEACEMAKER'S DREAM

HISTORICAL ADVENTURE ROMANCE  THAT WILL GRIP YOU FROM BEGINNING TO END

She was gutsy and determined, but nothing could prepare her for the wrath of the invading Colonists.  Kidnapped, and forced to marry an enemy, her heart would always belong to her childhood sweetheart.

 In captivity at the tender age of 19 she was grieving and broken hearted. The only glimmer of affection in her life was from the man she had been forced to marry. He loved her with an overwhelming passion.  Was she strong enough to survive in an emotional desert? Would loving another betray everything that she stood for?

Based on details previously only passed down by Native Americans, this book gives pause for thought about what really happened to the young Powhatan Princess who fought for peace with love in her heart.  

Excerpt

He smiled as she looked up at him with big black eyes that were glistening with fear and anticipation. Her tiny naked flat chest was rising and falling as she waited, hoping that he could take from her the weight that had suddenly crashed down on her tiny shoulders. Hoping he would say it was alright and that she had misunderstood.

He sighed as he stooped down and lifted her up onto his knee and put his arm around her, drawing her into him. She felt his strong firm body and his still and calm presence, and sighed. This was her father; this was the strong warrior that she knew. He would make it better. She relaxed into him.

 He looked down at her. "It is alright Pocahontas. The Spirits will always protect you and give you what you need. You are only a messenger.  It is not your message that we are waiting for - it is the message that will be given to you by the Manito Aki.  All you must do is open your heart.”

Pocahontas screwed up her face. "I do not really know what it all means, father. I don’t know how to open my heart. Say I am given a vision and I tell you the wrong thing?” Her mouth turned down and she sat up and stared into the fire, drawing her eyebrows together. 

Powhatan pulled her back and gave her another hug. "Before you were born, it was prophesied that you would be a Beloved Woman whose Dream Visions would foretell the biggest changes in the world for hundreds of years. When the Spring Equinox is with us, you will go to a Hobbomak and you will stay there, not eating for many days. It is then that the Spirits will send you the vision.”

 Their eyes met. Her face was long, and her eyes were watery, remembering what her Uncle had said.

“But father, I am only a child, I cannot do these things. I don’t know enough.”

"I know you will worry. It would be strange if you did not. All I can tell you Pocahontas, is that this is a process that has been going on for thousands of years. The spirits have said that you will be very special, and your name will be remembered for generations to come. There is nothing that you can do to stop this - the Spirits have spoken."

“But I don’t feel special, I just want to play and have fun. Can’t you choose someone else?”

Powhatan enveloped her in a bear like hug, smiling, but her body remained stiff, her eyes staring into the fire. She had known she had special powers for a long time. She saw things that others could not see. But she had ignored it, hoping it would go away.  She wanted to please him so much, but she feared telling him about the visions she had already seen, ...   She shivered, but not from the cold. She was beginning to realize that the nightmares that came to her day and night, were not just dreams, they were prophesies –  and silent  tears slid down her face as it became clear that Powhatan could not take it all away.

Purchase PEACEMAKER'S DREAM on Amazon

Connect with Sue:

Website

Email

Meet Prolific Award-Winning Author Ken Farmer & Read About THE POND, Book 3 of the Three Creeks Mystery Series

I met Ken when I joined his Facebook group Writers Roundup. Read about Ken's amazing life and Book 3 of his award-winning Three Creeks series. 

Ken didn't write his first full novel until he was sixty-nine years of age. He often wonders what the hell took him so long. At age seventy-nine…he's currently working on novel number forty.

He has written in several genres...Military Action, Police Procedural, SyFy, Western, and now, Southern Noir Mystery.              

Ken spent thirty years raising cattle and quarter horses in Texas and forty-five years as a professional actor (after a stint in the Marine Corps). Those years gave him a background for storytelling…or as he has been known to say, "I've always been a bit of a bull---t artist, so writing novels kind of came naturally once it occurred to me I could put my stories down on paper."

His writing style has been likened to a combination of Louis L'Amour and Terry C. Johnston with an occasional Hitchcockian twist…now that's a combination. Ken just likes to say, "I'm a storyteller." 

"I don't write about outlaws and peace officers...I write about people."

At age seventy-nine, he released novel #37 on Sept. 19th...THREE CREEKS. it just may be his opus. He has released #38, book #2 in the THREE CREEKS series...RED HILL ROAD, followed by #39, book #3 in the series...THE POND, Feb. 19, 20021. The THREE CREEKS series is late 1940s Southern Noir Mysteries in the vein of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Rock Hole by Reavis Wortham. The first in the series, THREE CREEKS just won the Firebird Award for Best Mystery of 2020.

Novel #36 was SKINWALKER JUSTICE, a Western Supernatural thriller, book #5 in the Silke Justice series.  STEELDUST, started the BONE & LORAINE spin-off with modern day detectives, Bone and Loraine being accidentally transported back in time to 1898. Current WIPS are #39, DALIA MARRH, book # 6 in the Silke Justice series and FRIENDS, book #4 in the THREE CREEKS MYSTERY SERIES.

Writing has become Ken's second life: he has been a Marine, played collegiate football, been a Texas wildcatter, cattle and horse rancher, professional film and TV actor and now...a novelist. Who knew?

In addition to his love for writing fiction, he taught acting for 17 years, still teaches voice-over and creative writing workshops. His favorite expression is: "Just tell the damn story."

"Ken is a magnificent writer. I enjoy everything he writes whether it is about the old west, southern noir mysteries, or about the modern Black Eagle Force. - Israel Drazin TOP 1000 REVIEWER & VINE VOICE.

Ken Farmer's dialogue flows like a beautiful western river…it's the gold standard…Carole Beers

About THE POND

Best friends Foot and Hutch discover a 35 year old skull while swimming in Uncle Dud's pond in the woods...there are more.

Two thirty-five year old murders…High stakes game of murder...What do historical artifacts have to do with it?

Foot and Hutch discover the skeletons in a spring-fed pond, deep in the piney woods of southern Arkansas—each with two bullet holes in their foreheads, in 1950. Who were they?

Foot's favorite cousin, Francis Ann, comes from Texas to visit. He calls her 'Red' because of her long flaming red hair. She, Foot and Hutch are all the same age.

Who is Motshan Bieler and why are members of the new Nazi party from Argentina determined to find him?

What is he hiding?

Are best friends Foot, Hutch, and Foot's ten year old cousin from Texas, Frances Ann, in danger?

Does their friend, WWI Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient, Tom Rayford, come to their aid? Only time will tell.

Find out in the third thrilling addition to Three Creeks, the Southern Noir Mystery series,…THE POND when all the pieces come together.

Purchase THE POND on Amazon

Connect with Ken on Facebook