by Admin | Feb 16, 2015 | Unelmoija
For many years I have admired manatees, one of Florida’s most endangered creatures. To share my interest in these marine mammals with readers I even mentioned them in one of the Weeia Series urban fantasy books.
These gentle creatures should be observed without disrupting their natural behavior, according to Save the Manatee Club, a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) based in Florida – click to enlarge
I’ve been wanting to show you how special these marine animals are, but my photos from shore don’t display the manatees to their best advantage. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing with you manatee photos courtesy and copyright of (c) Patrick M. Rose, Save the Manatee Club, and the information below about Florida manatees from Janice Nearing, director of Public Relations, Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Florida. Thank you Janice (and Patrick)!
A Florida manatee close up – click to enlarge
A large gray creature inhabits Florida’s winding inland rivers, freshwater springs, and salty estuaries and bays. This marine mammal is one of the most gentle and easy going in the entire animal kingdom – the manatee.
Manatees are slow-moving animals. They have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Manatees are endangered and a high number of fatalities are from human-related causes. Most human-related manatee fatalities occur from collisions with watercraft. Other causes include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter, and monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, loss of habitat is the most serious threat facing manatees in the United States today.
In 1981, Save the Manatee Club, a nonprofit advocacy group, was co-founded by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett to protect manatees for future generations. Sadly, the manatee population has suffered significant losses in recent years, particularly from cold stress and red tide outbreaks. Learn more about this fascinating animal and adopt-a-manatee at www.savethemanatee.org.
by Admin | Feb 11, 2015 | Unelmoija
Click to enlarge
Do you enjoy ebook trailers? If so, check out the new Book Trailer Love Fest from Samantha LaFantasie, fantasy author, featuring the ebook trailers of 30 authors, including some USA Today bestsellers. You can watch the trailers, vote in the polls, and share the contest with your friends. The voting is live from February 15th to February 22nd.
A winner will be announced on the February 23rd. Samantha established the “fun, free contest made to support authors!” So hop on over to http://booktrailerlovefest.com and get your vote on! Be sure to look for the 30-second trailer of Unelmoija: The Dreamshifter, book one of the Weeia Series, at the bottom of the page.
by Admin | Feb 7, 2015 | Unelmoija
Reader Lani Houston has finished all the books published so far in my Miami urban fantasy series. Below is her five-star review (with her permission) of Unelmoija: The Timeshifter. Thank you Lani!
Still with her intricate details and wonderful imagination we see thru the characters eyes the beauty
Five stars is not enough for the 4th installment of the Weeia series!!!!! The author takes us from 0 to 60 in a split second throughout the book. Still with her intricate details and wonderful imagination we see thru the characters eyes the beauty of other places.
We are immediately emersed into an action pack scene. Oh! WAIT!!! That was just a dream, but it seemed so real. But everyone notices that Amy is not her usual self. Tired all the time, her actions toward everybody is out of character, having headaches and those realistic dreams. Remembering what her mom had said, Don’t do anything different because it can change the outcome of the future! Now we add the timeshifter ability to Amy’s already many powers.
Mrs. McKnight has a new job as a prominent neuroscientist research. Kat leaves for a visit with her father. With everything that’s going on with Amy, mom decides to take her to work with her so she can run some test. Thinking the machines aren’t working correctly, Amy has spent the day at the research lab redoing test after test. Duncan arrives for a visit and Amy’s diappointed that she couldn’t meet him at the airport. He takes her home so they can fix a meal and wait for mom to come home hoping that she has found out what’s wrong with Amy. During their evening meal mom comes home with the results of the test. The Centurion has localized in Amy’s brain, and mom is going to find the grandparents in hopes of them knowing a cure, Kat is off to visit with her father. Things get steamy and hot between Duncan and Amy while they have the house to themselves. After supper they decide to speedwalk to a friend’s house to water their plants and feed the cat. But during the walk they are abruptly stopped. Did they hit something? Or is it just a glitch in the speedwalking? Or is Amy’s sickness affecting Duncan’s ability?
Mom calls to tell Amy that her grandmother said to drink mint tea. This does help some and the dreams aren’t as scary as they had been.
At the evening meal Kat arrives back home, disappointed because father never show. Talking over the results from the test they know if they can find the Centurion plant and get the toxin, mom can make a serium with it and scorpion toxin. This would help block the Centurion in Amy’s brain. The thressome are off to Cambodia in hopes of finding this rare plant. They get to sightsee but also have an extraordinary adventure where they learn more about Weeias.
This book does leave us with a huge cliffhanger!!! I must say I have gotten so engrossed into the characters that the ending left me defeated, I cried for the tragedy. YES, I said it, I cried!!!! As these characters have developed and the close family bonds are forged, I became a part of them. With this said I still recommend this book and the whole Weeia series for anyone that enjoys young adult, urban fantasy, romance, action adventure, sixpence and paranormal.
by Admin | Jan 18, 2015 | Unelmoija
Check out Lani Houston’s recent five-star review of Unelmoija: The Spiritshifter published here with her permission. Thank you Lani!
Wow! Another five stars must read that I couldn’t lay down! This episode begans where the last book left off. Amy, Duncan, and Kat are at another Youth for Change gathering and almost at once the action begins. Loi, Ann’s husband is found dead by Amy, Duncan, Kat and Ann in a room on the compound. An Elder along with two associates come in and immediately take over the scene. He commands that the young people leave. They are acting like zombies, except Amy, and she’s wondering why??? They move down the hall to an empty room and sit down, Amy is complexed and ask them as to why they are acting so strangely. Completely unaware how to answer her, Amy goes over to a side chair to meditate and dreamshift back into the room unseen by the men so she can observe and listen to their conversation. What does she learn and is it murder or natural causes for Loi’s death?
Amy finds that she has yet several more abilities which cause her, Duncan, Kat and a leader of the Youth for Change to be summons before the Council of Elders. But things DO NOT go as they should, at least not in a world where human rights are most usually upheld. What new family members will they meet in this book? And is Amy’s love for beading going to cause problems? When will Amy and Duncan become more than boyfriend and girlfriend?
Although each book could be a stand alone novella, it’s so much more exciting to began with the first book!!!! I highly recommend these books to anyone that loves urban fantasy, romance, action, and suspense. I can’t rave enough for this talented author and her imagination to weave such a delightful tale(s)!
by Admin | Jan 15, 2015 | Unelmoija
Lani Houston’s feedback and her recent five-star review of Unelmoija: The Mindshifter is published here with her permission. Thank you Lani!
Five stars!
Must read to learn the continuing saga of Amy McKnight!!! I’m pleased with the author’s introduction of more strong characters, new locations and delving more into Duncan’s belief toward following the younger generation of Weeias not manifesting peers or minimal at best. Do the Elders have anything to do with this?
We find Amy just starting a much needed vacation after a semester at college, along with her friend and fellow Weeia and another friend that’s human. It doesn’t take long for the action to start as Lilly, the human friend, is kidnapped. Trying to thwart another woman from getting kidnapped, the girls learn they have messed up a sting operation. But it isn’t the police but a group led by Amy’s sister Kat, whom Amy hasn’t see or heard from in over a year. What is this group? And what’s their purpose?
After a horrendous experience the girls are reunited with their mother. She isn’t too pleased with Amy’s life in danger again and even less of what Kat has been doing. With Duncan, (Amy’s love interest?), helping to lighten the mood mom is resigned to the fact her daughters are risk takers!!! Even though Duncan and Amy are considered polar opposites, their bond is very strong. Is romance in the stars for Amy? Is Amy’s new power a help in her most dire situations?
I received a free copy of this book so I could write an honest review.
by Admin | Jan 11, 2015 | Elle Boca, Unelmoija
On her website Reading Recommendations Susan M. Toy, an author herself, promotes traditionally and self-published authors and their work in print and eBooks.
She recently selected Elle’s work for a feature. Below is a copy, with her permission.
Click to enlarge
Elle Boca
What is your latest release and what genre is it? Unelmoija: The Timeshifter, book four of the Miami urban fantasy series about superhumans
Quick description: Amy’s past is catching up with her in a way that could only happen to a Weeia. She is drifting in her own timeline and must be careful not to change anything or she may never find her way to a familiar present. Even routine activities like fixing dinner or speedwalking with Duncan are becoming challenges. Will she and her friends solve the mystery in time for Amy to realize her ultimate destiny?
Brief biography:
Elle is the author of the Weeia urban fantasy series set in Miami, Florida in the United States (based on a four county area of real life South Florida). Growing up the only child of a monkey mother and a rabbit father she learned to keep herself entertained and spend time reading.
Elle makes her home with her king cat husband in South Florida. When not writing and creating fantastical beings she likes photographing nature and wildlife, eating baked goods, watching movies, and dreaming of going on safari.
Links to buy Elle’s book:
Amazon – eBook and paperback
Elle’s promo links:
Twitter
Goodreads
Author website
What are you working on now?
Unelmoija: Paradox – book five in the Miami urban fantasy Weeia series
Elle’s reading recommendation:
The Girl by Madhuri Blaylock
To read the post on Susan’s website at http://readingrecommendations.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/elle-boca/
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