The Ultimate Stay Home and Read Giveaway

Life has changed so much over the past month. With many of us staying at home, and many authors' events canceled, we wanted to do something that would help both the reading and writing community.

We are excited to announce our Stay Home and Read giveaway! (#StayHomeandRead)

Authors in the WOW community generously donated books and prizes to this giveaway. There's truly a book for every family member. The giveaway is free to enter, and there are 3 winners—the grand prize winner will receive extra prizes like a $200 Amazon Gift Card, Journaling Power Session with Mari L. McCarthy, query critique or first 5 pages critique with Elizabeth Maria Naranjo, entry and critique into the WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Contest of your choice (flash fiction or CNF), a Detective’s Kit to go with Margo L. Dill’s children’s picture book, Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies, and extra books. Plus, we are giving away 18 books to 3 winners (listed below) to keep the entire family safely entertained at home.

To enter this giveaway, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter the Rafflecopter form. The giveaway ends May 3, 2020 at 11:59 pm Central. We will randomly choose 3 winners the next day!

Our First Place Prize Winner will receive:

$200 Amazon Gift Card
Heal Your Self With Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy
Journaling Power Session with Mari L. McCarthy
Time to Refresh: A 21-Day Devotional to Renew Your Mind After Being Laid Off, Fired or Sidelined by Karen Brown Tyson
Heart on the Page: A Portable Writing Workshop by Wendy Brown-Baez
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram
The Search for the Stone of Excalibur by Fiona Ingram
The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram
The Colonel and the Bee by Patrick Canning
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples
Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies (Plus the Detective's Kit!) by Margo L. Dill
Deep Deceit by Anne Louise O'Connell
Mental Pause by Anne Louise O'Connell
Dancing Between the Beats by Lynn Nicholas
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich
The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later by Barbara Barth
A Dog Dreams of Paris by Barbara Barth
The Fourth Wall by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo
A query critique or first 5 pages critique by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo
From Darkness into Love by Sophie Bartow
A Veil Removed by Michelle Cox
Georgia Stories On My Mind by Jackie Rod
How to Sex Your Snake: A June Nash Misadventure by Melissa Banczak
Acts of Forgiveness: Faith Journeys as a Gay Priest by Ted Karpf
Entry and Critique into the WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Contest of your choice

Second & Third Place Prize Winners will receive:

Heal Your Self With Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy
Time to Refresh: A 21-Day Devotional to Renew Your Mind After Being Laid Off, Fired or Sidelined by Karen Brown Tyson
Heart on the Page: A Portable Writing Workshop by Wendy Brown-Baez
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram
The Colonel and the Bee by Patrick Canning
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples
Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies by Margo L. Dill
Deep Deceit by Anne Louise O'Connell
Mental Pause by Anne Louise O'Connell
Dancing Between the Beats by Lynn Nicholas
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich
The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later by Barbara Barth
The Fourth Wall by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo
From Darkness into Love by Sophie Bartow
A Veil Removed by Michelle Cox
Georgia Stories On My Mind by Jackie Rod
How to Sex Your Snake: A June Nash Misadventure by Melissa Banczak
Acts of Forgiveness: Faith Journeys as a Gay Priest by Ted Karpf

First, let's talk about the amazing books that you will get the chance to win in this huge giveaway (in no particular order):

Heal Your Self With Journaling Power 
by Mari L. McCarthy

This book reveals the inner strength and grace that comes through the proven therapeutic power of expressive writing. You'll discover the life-changing magic of journaling through moving personal stories told by just a few of the thousands of people who have tapped into this highly-effective way to heal, grow, and transform your life.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Mari L. McCarthy at https://www.CreateWriteNow.com

Time to Refresh: A 21-Day Devotional to Renew Your Mind After Being Laid Off, Fired or Sidelined 
by Karen Brown Tyson

Are you looking for a way to deal with a setback? Do you sometimes feel left out or alone? God understands how you feel. During our most challenging times and circumstances, God wants us to turn to Him for comfort, deliverance, and guidance.

In Time to Refresh: A 21-Day Devotional to Renew Your Mind After Being Laid Off, Fired or Sidelined, Karen Brown Tyson draws on her own experience to help us:

- learn how to rest;
- pray through the tough times;
- prepare for the future; and
- gain confidence during uncertain times.

How can we step back from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on God and His plans? This 21-day devotional will show you how to find comfort in God while moving through every valley.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Karen Brown Tyson at https://karenbrowntyson.com/.

Heart on the Page: A Portable Writing Workshop 
by Wendy Brown-Baez

This is an inspirational guide for both individual writers and writing instructors who teach in institutions, non-profit organizations, and healing centers. It begins with Wendy Brown-Baez’s own search for healing and interweaves stories of her workshop experiences with practical advice on how to inspire writers who may not think of themselves as writers but have a story to tell. Specific poems and prompts used to access intuitive guidance are interwoven with suggestions on how to engage participants with physical or emotional health challenges. Writing and sharing stories activates the ability to find meaning after trauma, loss, or transition. The book is a valuable resource for staff or volunteers who wish to incorporate therapeutic writing for healing, self-awareness and creative expression with clients and for their own self-care.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Wendy Brown-Baez at https://wendybrownbaez.com.

The Secret of the Scarab 
by Fiona Ingram 

A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realize they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler.

They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They survive terrifying dangers in a hostile environment (such as a giant cobra, as well as sinking sand), pursued by enemies in their quest to solve the secret of the sacred scarab. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out. They must also learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive ... only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another!

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Fiona Ingram and her series at http://www.chroniclesofthestone.com.

The Colonel and the Bee 
by Patrick Canning

The Amazing Beatrix, an acrobat in a 19th-century circus, has no home or family to speak of—just an abusive ringleader she must suffer. When a harrowing escape from her tormentor crosses Beatrix's path with that of the daring adventurer Colonel James Bacchus, the unlikely pair team up. Flying to safety aboard the Colonel's miraculous four-story hot air balloon, they begin a grand quest to find the most precious gem in the world, The Blue Star Sphinx—but perils await. The Colonel and Beatrix must outmaneuver deadly treasure hunters, escaped convicts, and endless double-crosses, but if they succeed, they might discover the great treasure, or better yet, a true sense of belonging.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Patrick Canning at https://www.patrickcanningbooks.com/.

Papa's Shoes 
by Madeline Sharples

Ira Schuman is determined to move his family out of their Polish shtetl to the hope and opportunities he’s heard about in America. But along the way he faces the death of three of his four sons, a wife who does not have the same aspirations as his, and the birth of a daughter, Ava, conceived to make up for the loss of his boys. Ava grows up to be smart, beautiful, and very independent.

Besides having a feisty relationship with her overly-protective mother, Ava falls for the college man who directs her high school senior class play. With the news that she wants to marry a non-Jewish man, Ira realizes that his plan to assimilate in the new world has backfired. Should the young couple marry, he must decide whether to banish his daughter from his family or welcome them with open arms. Even though he won’t attend their wedding, he makes her a pair a wedding shoes. In his mind, the shoes are simply a gift, not a peace offering.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Madeline Sharples at http://madelinesharples.com.

Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies 
by Margo Dill

Maggie Mae, detective extraordinaire, is on the case of who stole her grandma's super-duper snickerdoodles. With her detective's badge and notebook, she finds clues, interviews suspects, and sets a trap. Who did it--Grandpa, her brother Ben, or Toby the dog? Finally, she reveals the culprits and saves the cookies. Suggested age range for readers: 4-8

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Margo Dill at https://www.margoldill.com.

Deep Deceit 
by Anne Louise O'Connell

When Celeste Parker’s daughter Tamara goes missing in Dubai the all-out search and rescue mission she anticipates never materializes. Put off by the police as 18-year-old Tamara is technically an adult, and no foul play is apparent, Celeste has a gut feeling something is terribly wrong. New to the city and with her husband away working in Saudi Arabia, Celeste turns to her new friend and fellow expat, Susan Morris, for help. The duo set off on a hunt, which takes them down a dark alley of deep deceit. From exotic nightclubs and high-class call girls to mysterious Saudi palaces hidden behind ominous walls, they follow each lead while uncovering the unthinkable. As they come closer to finding Tamara, the secrets Celeste and Susan uncover threaten not only her daughter's life but everyone in their families’ as well.

Check it out on Amazon & Goodreads.

Find out more about Anne Louise O'Connell at https://www.ocpublishing.ca/.

Mental Pause 
by Anne Louise O'Connell 

Abbie Slocum, a forty-something, average, middle of the road, housewife and mother of teenage twin boys, tries desperately to keep her outwardly idyllic life together while spiraling into a dark pit of menopausal insanity. Her mind races with suicidal, murderous thoughts so outside of her normal character that it frightens her. The only person she can share the graphic images from her hormonally addled mind with is her best friend, Rachel, recently separated, and the mysterious and titillating Joan, a new friend from Rachel's singles support group. Women have survived this female passage of life since the beginning of time! Why was Abbie having so much trouble handling it?

As the battle to maintain her sanity rages on, Abbie, Rachel and Joan stumble into unfortunate, borderline comical, circumstances that lead to wild nights, experimenting with drugs and two suspicious deaths. Abbie's cop husband, Conrad, tries desperately to understand what's happening to his normally sweet wife. While vying for promotion, his family gets embroiled in a media frenzy that swirls around a murder trial in which Abbie is the primary suspect. Abbie takes the reader on an old jalopy ride of uncharacteristic outbursts and wild escapism that leads to tragedy and finally, into court where she just might have to plead 'temporary insanity.'

Check it out Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Anne Louise O'Connell at https://www.ocpublishing.ca/.

Dancing Between the Beats 
by Lynn Nicholas

Twenty-four-year old Paige Russell, still grieving the death of her single mother, defines herself as an orphan. Her obsession to find the father she never knew takes her to Tucson, AZ, where she settles in as the newest ballroom instructor at Desert DanceSport. But Paige’s newfound sense of belonging could be short-lived. Swirling under the glamorous surface of Desert DanceSport are rivalries and conflicts that threaten future of the studio, and Paige is hiding a life-changing secret of her own.

Studio owner Katherine Carrington is grappling with complicated cash-flow issues of her own making. As her stress level rises, her demeanor ricochets between controlling and neurotic. Katherine’s identity is defined by her ownership of the studio, and losing it would mean losing herself.

Aging playboy Marcos Stephanos, dance master and studio manager, is too distracted by the disarming new-hire Paige to focus on the warning signs of Katherine’s erratic behavior. Will his nonchalance cost him his career?

Top dance instructor Tony Moreno finds flirting with Paige so tantalizing he misses practice sessions with his ambitious, professional partner, Sylvie Goldstein. Instead of burning up the floor with Tony, Sylvie is smoking with resentment against her unwitting rival, Paige.

Will misunderstood intentions and ego-driven altercations force the exposure of secrets and betrayals at the studio so many call home? Who will adapt and who will retreat when expectations clash with reality, and the status quo suddenly shifts?

Laced with humor, Dancing Between the Beats offers an insider’s view of the world of ballroom dance, along with a smattering of off-beat insights about relationships.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Lynn Nicholas at http://www.lynnnicholaswrites.com.

Salvation Station 
by Kathryn Schleich

Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found―and neither is the killer. In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show―until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that will help him save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’d assured him the plan is just―God gave her the instructions in a dream. Multiple storylines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer―before more bodies surface.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Katheryn Schleich at https://www.kathrynschleich.com/.

The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later
by Barbara Barth

Welcome Back To My World. Picking up where The Unfaithful Widow ended, Ten Years Later continues the author’s journey from widow to a slightly askew woman. A memoir written with warmth and candor on being single again, aging, and finding a creative path surrounded by dogs, friends, laughter, and a bit of craziness. Barbara Barth shares stories on the adventures that followed her first year alone as she moved headfirst into a new life, listening to her heart, sometimes not so wisely, but always full speed ahead. From owning an antique shop for nine months to finding a Victorian cottage outside of Atlanta, trading traffic for views of pastures and cows, and all the folly in between. Going into the next decade with six dogs by her side, the author proves you are only as old as you feel, and happiness begins with a grateful heart. A funny and engaging memoir for anyone who wants to be their own super-hero facing life’s good and bad moments.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Barbara Barth at https://www.barbarabarthwriter.com/.

The Fourth Wall 
by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

When Marin was little and monsters chased her through nightmares, she learned to weave her own dreams. Her mother called the lucid dreaming a gift, and when an accident takes her mother and leaves her baby brother an empty shell, Marin uses this gift to spin a new reality for herself. One without time or sorrow. A world without memory.

But just when Marin thinks she’s safe in her make-believe fantasy world, the monsters come back and her dream turns to a nightmare. Something in the dream doesn’t want Marin to wake up. In order to heal herself and her family, Marin must face the truth she’s forgotten and conquer what lies behind the fourth wall.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Elizabeth Maria Naranjo at http://www.elizabethmarianaranjo.com/.

From Darkness Into Love 
by Sophie Bartow

As a teenager, tragedy struck Jessica Prince’s life not once, but twice.  During those dark times, Cameron Hunter and ice skating both saved her and gave her courage to spread her wings.

Years later, Jessie returns home for a wedding to find that Cameron has moved on, leaving her second-guessing all her life’s decisions.

For Cameron, loving Jessie shattered his heart more than once. It’s taken years, but he is finally willing to take a chance on love with someone else.

But with Jessie back in Swan Harbor, the secret she’d been hiding threatens to destroy both their families. As they work together covertly to uncover the truth, will they finally fight for the future they’ve wanted forever?

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Sophie Bartow at https://www.subscribepage.com/y3u4d9.

A Veil Removed 
by Michelle Cox

Murder is never far from this sexy couple . . . even during the holidays!

Their honeymoon abruptly ended by the untimely death of Alcott Howard, Clive and Henrietta return to Highbury, where Clive discovers all is not as it should be. Increasingly convinced that his father’s death was not an accident, Clive launches his own investigation, despite his mother’s belief that he has become “mentally disturbed” with grief. Henrietta eventually joins forces with Clive on their first real case, which becomes darker—and deadlier—than they imagined as they get closer to the truth behind Alcott’s troubled affairs.

Meanwhile, Henrietta’s sister, Elsie, begins, at Henrietta’s orchestration, to take classes at a women’s college—an attempt to evade her troubles and prevent any further romantic temptations. When she meets a bookish German custodian at the school, however, he challenges her to think for herself . . . even as she discovers some shocking secrets about his past life.

Check it on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Michelle Cox at http://michellecoxauthor.com/

Georgia Stories on My Mind 
by Jackie Rod

Come visit Georgia through stories that reach beyond these turbulent times. Experience these heartwarming tales shaped by local traditions and legends and the people who lived life to the fullest through joys and hardships. Inhale the essence of revitalized small town squares while eating hand- scooped ice cream on a park bench. Each town has its own magic. Sometimes the most real things in life are things we cannot see but those that deeply touch us, as the folks in these tales learn. Share smiles and shed tears as you travel the curving road of life with these Georgia characters. Are you ready for an unforgettable experience of hope, faith, trust, reconciliation, and love?

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Jackie Rod at https://www.amazon.com/Jackie-Rod/e/B07CKCCYY4.

How to Sex Your Snake 
by Melissa Banczak

A pool of blood. A missing body. A famous brother accused of murder. June Nash has the worst luck.

June's got a pretty easy job as the personal assistant to her twin brother, star of the number one nature show on TV. Then he's accused of murder. Which sucks. Networks tend to fire first and ask questions later. And June doesn't want to lose her cushy assistant job. Or, you know, see her twin end up in jail.

When she stumbles onto a clue, she's forced to turn to the one person who can prove her brother's innocence: her arch-nemesis. Just one problem. Somebody wants that guy dead.

Now, she's caught in a race against time as they navigate creepy crawlies, gangsters with a grudge, and deranged super fans. Can she get the evidence back in time to clear her brother's name? If she fails, it's the end of his career. And probably her life.

Ride shotgun in this fast-paced June Nash Mystery. Get your copy now!

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Melissa Banczak at https://melissabanczak.com/.

Acts of Forgiveness: Faith journeys of a Gay Priest 
by Ted Karpf

In 1980s America, coming out as gay as a father and husband was a significant journey for anyone to make. Coming out as gay as a priest guaranteed immersion into controversy, contradiction, and challenge. This book tells of the Reverend Canon Ted Karpf's navigation of new social and romantic journeys, all within the context of his priestly vocation in the Episcopal Church. Covering from 1968 to 2018, Karpf recounts his vivid memories, life-changing dreams and resonant reflections on living a life of faith in a socially and politically tumultuous period. His narratives are crafted as poetic meditations on enduring values and meaning, which can remind any reader that we are neither abandoned nor alone, and that forgiveness is a fulfilling way of living in a world of contradictions.

Check it out Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about The Reverend Canon Ted Karpf at https://www.tedkarpf.com/.

A Dog Dreams of Paris
by Barbara Barth

Finalist in the Best Book Contest Children's Non-Fiction Category. Meet April, a rescue dog turned Diva, in this charming picture book for dreamers of all ages. This fantasy dog memoir is April's travel diary on places she would visit in Paris. April was the sixth dog adopted by author Barbara Barth. She had trouble finding her place in the pack and sat quietly watching the other dogs. During a photo shoot for an Easter blog post, a vintage pink hat, complete with a large silk rose, was placed on April's head. She wore the hat with style and transformed from April to Miss April in Paris. For a few months she had a blog of her own, where she dreamed of visiting the city of lights. April has completed her Paris diary and is sharing it with you here. A portion of all book sales will be donated to animal rescue.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Barbara Barth at https://www.barbarabarthwriter.com/.

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur
by Fiona Ingram 

A modern day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds! This is a must-read for Middle Graders keen on action, adventure, and Arthurian stories! Cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur. However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them? Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power.

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper
by Fiona Ingram 

Join these young heroes on an adventure steeped in the mythology and legends of the ancient Aztec and Maya! Cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

Check it out on Amazon & GoodReads.

Find out more about Fiona Ingram and her series at http://www.chroniclesofthestone.com.

**** STAY HOME AND READ GIVEAWAY! *****

Enter the Ultimate Stay Home and Read (#StayHomeandRead) Giveaway! For your chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card, and all the wonderful books above plus extra books and prizes to the grand prize winner, please enter using Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends on May 3rd at 11:59 PM Central. We will pick three winners randomly via Rafflecopter, and follow up via email the next day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway