Banned Books Week Giveaway!

I can't believe it's banned books week again! 

In honor of Banned Books Week, I am giving away my trio of Phantom books to a random commenter (to be chosen by Random.org). The winner may choose the format: digital, paperback, or audio (GREAT NARRATION ON THIS SERIES, just sayin') 

BE SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN NOTIFY YOU IF YOU WIN! (Giveaway ends Oct. 2, 2016)

GOOD LUCK now GO OUT AND READ A BANNED BOOK JUST FOR FUN!

Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot http://ow.ly/rkYrw

Book Two Phantom Student http://tinyurl.com/d47a8hs

Book Three Crybaby Bridge http://tinyurl.com/n7pusfw

Audio http://tinyurl.com/p7fdpjm

I'll bet everyone is familiar with certain banned books like Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man about the horrors of racial discrimination, 

but did you know the chunky children's book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See was once banned by the Texas Board of Education. Author Bill Martin Jr. happens to Texas Board of Ed because Bill Martin, Jr (the author) has the same name as a Marxist theorist and no one checked to see if they were the same person. Talk about oversight. Sheesh!

For another surprise, check this out. In 1987 the Anchorage, Alaska school board voted to ban the American Heritage Dictionary because of entries for slang words like "knocker," and "balls." I may be twisted, but I think that's funny. As if any self-respecting teen would check out the dictionary to learn new slang.

Those are only a few of the strange reasons books get banned, and while my Phantom series hasn't been banned--to my knowledge--it did have several religious references cut by the publisher. I've restored some of those references in the first book, but not all. 

Afterthought: Censorship comes in many forms.

Luck of the Irish $250 Cash Giveaway

It's all about the GREEN - $250 Cash - Enter over and over again. Good luck! Luck of the Irish $250 Giveaway March 17th to 31st $250 Amazon.com Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash   Thanks to this Awesome Group of Authors & Bloggers have joined with me to bring you this fabulous prize!! Sponsor List I Am A Reader Magical Cool Cat Mysteries Kimber Leigh Wheaton Author MK McClintock Jennifer Faye - Romance Author EskieMama Reads Theresa DaLayne Melissa Haag - YA Author Glistering Bs Blog Simple Wyrdings Why Not? Because I Said So!(Sheila Staley) Lisa Wainland, Author Aubrey Wynne: Romantasy Through the Ages Prism Book Tours Krysten Lindsay Hager author Books R Us Ann Swann Nikki Jefford D.E. Haggerty Lori's Reading Corner Heather Gray, Author Author Deb Atwood Poppy Lawless Coupons and Freebies Mom Melanie McFarlane Books Everly Frost, YA Author Leora Krygier author Vicki L. Weavil Beck Nicholas Jennifer Bardsley Stacy Claflin, Author Diana's Book Reviews J.L. Weil Joshua David Bellin Bella Street Time Travel Romance Bonnie Blythe Christian Romance Rockin' Book Reviews Lonna @ FLYLēF Book Reviews Author Inger Iversen Lise McClendon Annie Cosby, YA Author Katy Haye Paisley Piranhas Giveaway Details $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card Ends 3/31/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter "End Game" New Horror Writing Contest!

Inkitt's latest Horror writing contest "End Game" is now open for submissions!

Inkitt is a free writing platform that aims to help writers achieve their fullest potential. On July 13th the site launched a new Horror writing contest:

End Game

Submit your scariest and most menacing original horror stories! Petrify readers with tales that will trap and drown them in your world of helpless terror, but somehow leave them itching for more. Come. Play.

There is no minimum or maximum word limit, and, as always, no entry fee.

Contest guidelines

Authors will retain all rights to any and all works submitted in the contest.
Submissions close on August 10th, but voting will continue for an additional week

Original stories of any length are accepted.

Entries must be posted on the Inkitt contest page to be considered eligible.

The top 10% based on reader votes get the chance to be picked by the Inkitt staff for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.

All entrants will have the chance to show their work to a rapidly growing community of authors and readers hungry for high-quality fiction.

Submit your stories here: www.inkitt.com/endgame

You can also read more horror stories for inspiration in Inkitt's horror section.