Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions is the new album by Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.
Signal Omega is an up and coming artist from New Port Richey, FL. For Signal, music is more than just a sonic combination of sound, it is a way to express the deepest stories through creativity and emotional individuality. Unlike many contemporary artists, Signal Omega takes immense pride and reassurance in his own style and musical expression, embracing his uniqueness and impressive qualities. Signal Omega is currently focused on expanding his music and brand this year with an acoustic rendition of his current and newer songs. His latest release is Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions. (Signal Omega, 2023)
Steadily growing his listeners and fans with each and every release, things look to be even bigger and better in 2023 for this exciting and talented artist. In addition, Signal looks to start playing live shows and showcasing his live performance skills to a new set of audiences.
“This album is a recreation of my full production tracks I’ve released over the years. I like to be diverse in my writing style and felt an acoustic version of each would bring them all to a common sonic level.” – Signal Omega
A varied and versatile artist, Signal utilizes a number of genres including rap, metal, and alternative. His motivation is to create an abundance of genre offerings in his musical works. Impressively, the artist has a natural ability to take the listener on an emotional rollercoaster. From upbeat house infused drops to more reflective and intimate numbers, his vast and ever expanding catalogue of music offers listeners an array of styles and tones that is rare to see in todays musical landscape.
Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.
A serial killer is on the loose in CJ Wheeler’s crime thriller ‘Harvesting Evil.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.
CJ Wheeler is a new author of crime thrillers for adults, starting with her first release “Harvesting Evil.” She was born in West Michigan and has lived most of her life along the Lake Michigan shoreline. She lives with her wife, her gorgeous English Crème retriever Hemingway, and her three naughty kitties, Indianajoan, Rizzoli, and Taylor. When not writing you will probably find her reading. She is an avid fan of JD Robb, Tess Gerritsen, Alex Kava, and Val McDermid. In her debut novel “Harvesting Evil,” the idyllic shores of Lake Michigan, in the quiet resort town of Port Orion, Michigan, have become prime hunting ground for a serial killer. (CJ Wheeler, 2023)
“Harvesting Evil: Murder on the Lakeshore” – One by one, young, beautiful women’s corpses continue to surface, while the timeline between each victim is shrinking. The story begins with a Prologue set in 1990 as a seven year old boy is about to have the worst birthday ever. Next, in the present, Sheriff Parker Anderson gets a phone call in the middle of the night about another young woman found dead. She must now pull her inexperienced team together to find the madman terrorizing her community. With the Port Orion Sheriff’s department’s resources stretched to the limit and with pressure mounting, Parker reaches out to the FBI for assistance. Enter Special Agent Oliver Locke, who has seen more than his fair share of serial homicide cases, though even he has not encountered a psychopath with this level of violence. Working a serial case against a cunning criminal mind who leaves no evidence will test his expertise and determination. As the window of opportunity to prevent another victim closes, Sheriff Anderson and Agent Locke will need to set aside their personal differences to catch this maniac.
Since the days of Jack the Ripper, stories about serial killers have fascinated readers. While the motivations behind this killer’s rampage may not be an original concept, “Harvesting Evil” is a strong debut crime novel by CJ Wheeler. Narrated in the third person point of view, it switches back and forth between the police and the serial killer, giving the reader a glimpse into the killer’s unstable and cold psyche and the police’s investigation, which includes giving a profile of the ‘unsub.’ The author’s detailed description of morgues and autopsies is impressive but it might put off more sensitive readers. Due to extensive character development and descriptions: “Mike’s 6’ 2” lanky frame rose from the chair, black straight hair hanging over one of his deep blue eyes,” they come alive within the pages and become relatable. The language is down to earth and easy to understand, in spite of the medical jargon, so it is technically an easy read. With its superb attention to detail, applications of criminal psychology, and just enough romance to make it well rounded, “Harvesting Evil” makes for a fascinating and suspenseful crime thriller. It should appeal to fans of Kathy Reichs and James Patterson as well as crime shows like Criminal Minds and CSI. Hopefully this will become a series with more crime solving adventures by Sheriff Parker Anderson, a strong female lead, and Special Agent Oliver Locke.
“He hoped the Sheriff would be pleased with the gift he had left her. It had taken cunning and exquisite timing to set it up exactly as he wanted. He knew this would show her he could do what he wanted, whenever he wanted. At the very least, he would impress her. At most he hoped it would frighten her to her core.”
* The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘No More Relation$#!t’ is a dating and relationship guide by Jonathan Carnley. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Jonathan Carnleyis an author whose difficult childhood included bullying at school and an abusive home life. Even though he survived and thrived, some of his adult relationships were not any better. Admittedly, he has made his share of mistakes and has done his best to make amends and one of his goals is never repeating those mistakes. He has been where many of us have been and can fully relate. In his book “No More Relation$#!t: A Woman’s Guide to Avoiding the Pieces of $#!t While Dating” he shares insight into the male psyche to help women navigate the challenging world of dating. (Jonathan Carnley, 2023)
“No More Relation$#!t” – This is a guide that helps women avoid men who are not worth their time or do not have their best interest in mind. It goes into detail about the various types of men, their motives, and all the signs to look for. It is not about what mistakes you make, have made, or will make. It is about what things to look for or recognize. It is a serious look at the dating world for women with a little comedy thrown in to keep you entertained and laughing at times. Here are a couple of quotes to pique your interest.
“Remember, red flags are for traveling carnivals, and if you ignore them, you will be trapped into paying for something that was supposed to be ‘free,’ be stuck watching a crappy show, wind up with a clown who is performing for others, be left with kids you didn’t bring, and be left behind when they leave town.”
“While many things look like a green flag, I will be honest and tell you right now that there is no such thing. Well…I mean if an angel came down from heaven and gives you a note directly from God you might consider that a green flag….Or…It could be an alien that is trying to get you to mate with their species to take over the world. I’m just saying that you have a better chance of being struck by lightning while riding a unicorn on the way to cash in your winning lottery ticket.”
Twin Liquors’ annual The Dollar Sale returns on Thursday February 23 – February 25, 2023. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.
Texas’ favorite sale, The Dollar Sale, is returning this month to Twin Liquors. Featuring savings on all wine and spirits across the store, Twin Liquors drops the price to the absolute lowest, then adds $1. Shoppers can look forward to unbeatable prices on collectible wines, rare whiskies and other popular spirits like Lalo Tequila for $39.99 on sale, versus $49.99 as the regular price, and Jameson Caskmates $24.39 on sale, versus $29.99 as the regular price. (Twin Liquors, 2023)
The Dollar Sale, which began over ten years ago, was created as a way to say thank you to all Twin Liquors customers and the team is excited to bring back the sale to the community. To celebrate the kick-off of the annual three-day sale, all Marketplace locations will be offering free breakfast tacos and Deep Eddy Bloody Marys on February 23 beginning at 10a.m. until supplies last. The Dollar Sale will take place at all 100+ Twin Liquors locations, and will include Sigel’s locations across Dallas.
The Dollar Sale will take place at all 100+ Twin Liquors locations plus the Sigel’s locations in Dallas. To locate the store nearest you, visit Twin Liquors and Dallas online.
Born and raised in downtown Austin, Texas, Twin Liquors began as one small store and has developed into a successful “home-grown” family-owned company. Twin Liquors has a unique and well known reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world, and substantial community involvement. There are currently 100+ neighborhood stores from Austin to San Antonio, the Hill Country to Houston, and the DFW area with their Sigel’s branded stores.
Taco Cabana’s Shrimp Tampico Quesadillas and Shrimp Tampico Taco, available for a limited time only during Lenten season. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.
Taco Cabanahas menu news for February that include offers for Fat Tuesday, National Margarita Day, and a special menu for the Lenten season. (Taco Cabana, 2023)
On Tuesday, February 21, 2023 and Wednesday, February 22, 2023, Taco Cabana invites guests to celebrate Fat Tuesday and National Margarita Day with the choice of any flavor frozen margarita and Double Crunch Pizza (DCP) bundle all day long, at all Texas locations.
Guests can treat themselves with their choice of one of Taco Cabana’s 12 frozen margarita flavors like Blue Curacao, Dragon Fruit, or Strawberry Mango, and pair it with any tasty DCP flavor, like the newly-launched Shredded Chicken DCP or Chorizo and Egg DCP, or the original Ground Beef DCP for just $6.99. This two-day offer is only available to guests 21 years of age or older with valid photo ID during standard hours of operation at all participating Taco Cabana locations in Texas.
The Fat Tuesday and National Margarita Day bundles are available through curbside pick-up, drive-thru, in-restaurant and online orders only. Not available via third party delivery service providers.
With the start of the Lenten season, Taco Cabana’s delicious guest favorite Shrimp Tampico Tacos and Shrimp TampicoQuesadillas return to the popular Tex-Mex chain’s menu starting Wednesday, February 22, 2023 for a limited time. Both Shrimp Tampico Tacos and Shrimp Tampico Quesadillas will be served with TC’s uniquely satisfying Pineapple Chipotle Salsa.
To accompany the Lenten Season favorites, guests 21 years of age or older can choose from a selection of $3 frozen margaritas, including flavors like Strawberry, Lime, Mango, Dragon Fruit, and more. This offer is available for a limited time only during standard hours of operation at all participating Taco Cabana locations in Texas.
Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of YTC Enterprises, LLC, was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in Tex-Mex-inspired food including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, tacos, double crunch pizzas, flour tortillas and a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of bottled beer and $3 tequila margaritas, patio dining, drive-thru windows, curbside pick-up, delivery and catering. As of February 8, 2023, Taco Cabana operates 143 company-owned restaurants in Texas.
The Horror Writers Association announced this year’s Summer Scares reading list. Photo: RA for All: Horror
The Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is announcing the fifth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages, and for during any time of the year. (Horror Writers Association, 2023)
This year, Summer Scares welcomes New York Times Bestselling author Daniel Kraus as their 2023 spokesperson. “My love of reading began at a public library — but I had to hunt for the horror,” said Kraus. “I would have been giddy to have a slate like our 2023 choices presented to me when I walked in. In fact, I’m giddy about it right now. It’s a tremendously far-reaching group of titles that epitomizes the breadth of creativity going on in the genre.”
The goal of Summer Scares is to introduce Horror titles to school and public library workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. In addition to the annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares committee will release themed lists of even more “read-alike” titles libraries can suggest to readers. In order to help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and Horror authors from all over the country to provide free programming to libraries.
Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade.
For 2023, those selected titles are:
Adult Selections:
“Ring Shout” by Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom, 2020)
“Catherine House” by Elisabeth Thomas (Custom House, 2020)
“The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror” by Daniel M. Lavery (Holt Paperbacks, 2018)
Young Adult Selections:
“In The Shadow of Blackbirds” by Cat Winters (Amulet Books, 2013)
“Squad” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle (illustrator) (Greenwillow Books, 2021)
“Mooncakes” by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu (illustrator) (Oni Press, 2019)
Middle Grade Selections:
“Small Spaces” by Katharine Arden (P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2018)
“Living Ghosts and Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories” by Dan SaSuWeh Jones, Weshoyot Alvitre (Illustrator) (Scholastic Nonfiction, 2021)
“A Small Zombie Problem” by K.G. Campbell (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2019)
The Summer Scares Programming Guide, created each year by the Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library and free for libraries anywhere to access, is back with the tools libraries need to connect with their communities. It will be available beginning March 15, 2023 on the Summer Scares Resource page.
‘The four lives of Robinson Appleson’ is the debut novel by Véronique Iswery Pasquet. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Véronique Iswery Pasquet is a French author of Indian descent. A voracious reader, she prefers horror, thriller, romance, and biographies of actors and writers. Her fascination for plot twists in scary books and movies are her go-to entertainment choices. Twisted plots and bizarre endings pique her curiosity. That is exactly what she offers her readers in her new book “The four lives of Robinson Appleson.” It plunges into cannibalism and weaves a love story around it. She has taken the challenge of making the readers fall in love with the cruel protagonist. (Amazon, 2023)
“The four lives of Robinson Appleson” – Can a killer turn a new leaf? Robinson Appleson is one lucky bastard. We get only one life. He has had four so far and it is not like he deserved them, either. The story begins in the Prologue where the protagonist, Norman Appleson, a self described “suave and charming millionaire,” addresses readers and encourages them to read his life story and guarantees an unforgettable one. Each of his lives has been different from the last, except that it looks as if he is doomed to make the same mistakes. Gwendolyn, the woman he loves, dies in his arms in all of his lives because of a curse placed on his family. Having been selfish and cruel in his previous lives, he attempts to change this forever. Using a range of tricks learned from Oscar, his mentor, he hopes to suppress and destroy the evil lurking inside him.
The story is divided into four parts:
I Norman Appleson, The First Reincarnation Reborn as a rich kid in Beverly Hills, California, he has no recollection of his past life and thinks of himself as a blessing to mankind. He holds no respect or feelings for women and treats them like objects. It leads to everyone avoiding him like the plague.
II Robinson Appleson, The First Life In his first life, he was a Porcian prince who was known to devour humans. His obsession with eternal youth and beauty has made him addicted to the taste of human flesh, much to the dismay and terror of his kingdom’s subjects.
III Inson, The Second Reincarnation His third life is different, as he is born as a jaguar in the African savannah. Filled with new wisdom, he fights against his instinct to hunt while the smell of prey drives him mad with hunger.
IV Deeva, The Third Reincarnation His last life lands him in the body of a beautiful but poverty-stricken Black woman who was also unfaithful.
Reincarnation is the rebirth of the soul in a new body. Though it is a familiar concept, how often have we wondered what it would be like to be reborn several times. Add a romantic theme of ill fated lovers who meet in each life but are doomed to never be happy together and you have a brilliant debut novel by Véronique Iswery Pasquet. She not only combines these themes but the narrative includes highly descriptive fantasy worlds like The Village of Sweet People where everything and everyone is sweet and scented. It is told in the first person point of view and the protagonist is an extremely smart and good looking antihero. In the beginning you are disgusted by the fact that he is a cannibal but you slowly come to sympathize with him because of everything he has been through and keep reading to find out what happens to him, whether good or bad. The language is down to earth and expressive: “There were warts filled with hair around her eyes, curved nose, and big mouth.” Since the story takes place during several lifetimes, the characters are well developed.
Even though he becomes a better person towards the end, he still has attitude “I hope you have had a great time reading the story of someone who does not give a damn about yours.” Though uncomfortable to read, the cannibal scenes are short and not overly graphic. Instead, they serve a purpose because when he is reborn as an animal, a jaguar, he is starting to change and refuses to eat Gwendolyn, who is now a zebra, and would rather starve to death. “The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson” is a must read unconventional and redemptive love story that spans several lifetimes and explores the many facets of the human experience. My take: love is love, even if you are human, animal, or same gender; a love story that transcends genders, vices, and physical forms. It is recommended for readers who enjoy romance novels, ghost stories, paranormal novels, and urban fantasy novels and appreciate original, though eccentric story lines.
“Do you want a piece of friendly advice? Disconnect yourself from reality to discover and enjoy my surreal but fabulous world. I can assure you it’s worth it.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Ghost Town will be available on digital, DVD, and On Demand on March 7, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In movie news: here is a new horror western that will be releasing this March from Uncork’d Entertainment. In the tradition of From Dusk Till Dawn and The Dark Tower, Ghost Town is directed by and stars Owen Conway. It will be available on digital, DVD, and On Demand on March 7, 2023.
Ghost Town also stars Eva Hamilton (Death Kiss), Becky Jo Harris (Spiked) and Amelia Haberman (The Covenant). The story is set in 1877 Arizona, where a drifter takes a job as a barman. After a series of bizarre and horrifying deaths, he finds himself the target of suspicion. Desperate to escape the noose, he is soon at the center of a supernatural mystery that plagues this town.
Tanya Hilson is the author of several stand alone novels and children’s books. Photo: This That Production
Tanya Hilson is an author who loves the joy of storytelling and writing. Her passion for writing started at a young age and has stayed with her throughout her life. Focusing on children’s stories, family life fiction, women’s issues, and urban life novels, she has written several books ranging from stand alone novels, children’s books, and The Shadow Eyes series. Some of these include “Back Porch Secrets,” “Backporch Neighbors,” “Human Collateral,” which received high accolades on Coverfly, “My Cousin Sue,” and “John’s Hidden Truth.” (Tanya Hilson, 2023)
“Back Porch Secrets”– So much personal drama goes on behind closed doors, but wait until you read what is going on behind these doors. Take a glimpse into the lives and secrets of these Chicago neighbors. The Addict, The Drinker, The Abuser, The Dope Dealer. You never truly know what is going on in someone else’s life until now. Are you ready to clap, laugh, be surprised and cry as you read the trials and tribulations of these lives unfold? Mind-blogging, breathtaking, and so real, THESE are their SECRETS. Read the reviews.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
“Human Collateral” – Millicent “Mill” Brown is not the perfect mother – she runs her apartment as a trap house on the Southside of Chicago. However, when Mill’s apartment is raided and a deal goes wrong, Mill is arrested and her children are taken away by the Department of Children and Family Services. While this injustice system processes Mill into the court system, Director Mrs. Ross starts orchestrating the sale of Mill’s young son and daughter to traffickers on the black market, which includes some high office officials. Will Millicent be able to get out of jail in time to find her children, or will jail and her mental state become more harmful to herself and those around her? Read the reviews.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
“My Cousin Sue” – Children can often say some mean things. Take a look into the world of Sue, a preteen born with vitiligo who is being homeschooled by her parents. With the helpful advice from her cousin London, can Sue find the courage to go back to regular school, or will the thought of being teased cause her to want to continue homeschooling? This book gives children the courage and strength to overcome their fears. Read the reviews.
“John’s Hidden Truth”– After months of torture by one of his peers, John is pushed to the edge. It is here that we are given a glimpse into one of this generation’s most heartbreaking tragedies in the American school system: bullying. Can John return to the way things were, or has he reached the point of no return? From Tanya Hilson comes a heart-wrenching story to help elementary-aged students comprehend and tackle the difficult subjects of racism, bullying, and gun violence within our American schools. “John’s Hidden Truth” tackles the difficult realities of today’s society in our school-aged children. Read the reviews.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
“Backporch Neighbors” – Lies, cheating, deceit, and back-stabbing. Take a look into the lives of these Backporch Neighbors. You never truly know what is going on in someone else’s life until now. Peek into the lives of these Chi-town folks: Scooter, the star football player; the building matriarch, Ms. Ruby; the neighborhood dope man, Bobby; and let us not forget, the gambler and drinker, Debbie. Are you ready to take a break from your own drama and dive into somebody else’s? If so, get ready to clap, laugh, sing, and cry as you watch the sorrows and triumphs of these everyday folks unfold. Mind-boggling, breathtaking, and hilarious: This is their story. Read the reviews.
TJ Buchanan’s new romance novel ‘Her Greek Adonis’ will be out March 15 and is available for pre-order now through Amazon. Photo: TJ Buchanan, used with permission.
Book news!! If you love romance novels, I have exciting news for you. Here is a new novel that will be released next month and best of all, it is available for pre-order.
TJ Buchanan, an author and lover of books and action movies, currently resides in Virginia with her daughter. When not reading or writing she enjoys spending time with her daughter, friends and family, cooking and baking. She loves the outdoors even though it does not love her (allergies!) and traveling. Her new book in the The Life You Want series, “Her Greek Adonis” will be out March 15, 2023 and is available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle. It is a romance novel featuring Sophia, a strong black woman. (Amazon, 2023)
“Her Greek Adonis”– Sophia finally feels like her life is on track. She is mastering being a single parent and her vivacious daughter is thriving. Her career is on point and she has amazing friends beside her. Now she is ready to tackle being a surrogate. A dream she has carried for years, now is the time to move forward. Just when she thinks all is perfect, enter Kristos Kostas, a Greek businessman with a penchant for to getting what he wants. His attraction to the curvaceous black woman is instantaneous. Never believing a man would be interested in a pregnant single mother, Kristos Kostas surprises her. A Greek billionaire running the family business, he is sincere and dedicated, going after what he wants. Can these two navigate pregnancy as a surrogate, parenthood, the walls of Sophia’s past, and all the other twists life throws their way. A BBW BWWM romance between a full-figured single mother and the Greek man who loves her.
SA Examiner 