✍The First Page: The Dance We Shared by David Tindell

 

THE DANCE WE SHARED (MEN OF HONOR BOOK 3)

By David Tindell

Romantic Suspense

Ben Fletcher seems to have it all going for him. In his early fifties, he’s in great shape thanks to a disciplined regimen of weight training, swimming and martial arts. He has a job that pays him a good living in the charming Wisconsin city of La Crosse. Divorced a quarter-century earlier, he remains close to his two grown children and grandkids. Ben is content with his life.

But he’s not happy. Twenty years ago, he was, during that glorious year and a half he was dating the glamorous Veronica Starr. They were an “item”: Ben, the city’s highest-rated radio announcer, and Ronnie, an award-winning TV newscaster. They were starting to talk about the future, one that would include marriage and kids. But then, Ben made a stupid mistake, and it all came crashing down. Ronnie broke off the relationship, met an older man and married him. Within a year she was gone, moving with her new husband to the Twin Cities. Ben had no choice but to move on with his life the best he could.

One day, he’s cleaning out a file cabinet in his office and finds an old catalog. Before throwing it out, he riffles through its pages, and an envelope drops onto his desk. Opening it, he finds a card. In handwriting he immediately recognizes as Ronnie’s are a phone number and the words, “Please help me.” When he looks again at the envelope he sees the postmark: it had been sent five years earlier…just before Veronica Starr left her husband, quit her job and disappeared. 

David’s latest book is The Dance We Shared (Men of Honor Book 3).

╰┈➤Book Details

● Title: The Dance We Shared (Men of Honor Book 3)

● Author: David Tindell

● Genre: Romantic Suspense

● Language:English

● Pages: 229

● Publisher: KDP

● Publication Date: August 9, 2026

● Price: Kindle $2.99

PLEASE HELP ME.
Three words. The first from her in…how long? They were definitely hers, though. Not in an email but real ink on paper, and not typed, but written, in her distinct, precise and very feminine cursive, with a phone number below.

On the inside of a card, otherwise blank. On the face of the card, the Minneapolis skyline.
The square envelope, empty now, lay there on my desk, its face staring up at me. My office address, also in her hand. No return address, though. And the kicker: the postmark. The card had been sent from the Twin Cities almost exactly five years ago.
It was the start of a new week, and my first order of business for the morning was to clean out a filing cabinet that was due to be taken away, destined for a homeless shelter. The athletic director had emailed the staff, asking us to consider donating little-used office furniture to the cause. Today was the deadline to have stuff ready for a crew of students to haul away. The cabinet was an easy choice. As the media relations director for athletics at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, I had a lot of records, and since most of them now were electronic, I really had no use for this old gray clunker. What paper there was inside, I thought, could be sorted through, most of it discarded, the important stuff filed in the one remaining cabinet.
I’d pulled a catalog out of the bottom drawer, from some long-forgotten and probably shuttered sporting goods supplier and was just about to toss it into the trash bin when something—that’s all I can call it, something— prompted me to riffle through the pages. You never knew. And the envelope dropped out and onto my desk.

 

  

David Tindell was born in Germany and grew up in southwest Wisconsin. Together with his wife Sue, he’s traveled the world, seeking new locales for his novels. He trains in the martial arts, dabbles in radio and joins Sue in the never-ending search for the perfect chai tea latte.

His latest book is The Dance We Shared (Book 3 in Men of Honor). Other books include The Heights of Valor (Book 1 in Men of Honor) and The Man In the Arena (Book 2 in Men of Honor.

Visit his website at www.davidtindellauthor.com. 

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ X: www.x.com/davidtindell1 

╰┈➤ Facebook: www.facebook.com/DavidTindellAuthor 

╰┈➤ Instagram: www.instagram.com/djtindellauthor 

✍The First Page: Resolving the Future (Parallel Universe Saga Book 2) by Randy C. Dockens

RESOLVING THE FUTURE (PARALLEL UNIVERSE SAGA BOOK 2)

By Randy C. Dockens

Christian Science Fiction

In Book 2, Resolving the Future, Declan discovers the secret to his parallel Earth visits …. and it’s not good.

This other parallel Earth lies within a time dilation field which severs his and Rose’s connection to their world. Another way to get back must be found. He discovers why his company’s Board sanctions his trips to parallel Earths and this discovery not only puts his life and that of Rose in danger, but basically everyone he has worked with at his company.

Once he and Rose return to their Earth, all has changed. Only his robot friend, Lyle, has remained unchanged. The AI he created and who sent him on his off-world mission is now in control of the company, has his boss and the Board under its sway, has no knowledge of his unsanctioned mission, and now considers Declan enemy number one. Declan now has to convince a company blinded by greed that they’ve created humanity’s executioner— and do that before there’s no future left to fight for.

The Parallel Universe Saga (including Retrieving the Future Book 1 & Resolving the Future Book 2) is available at Amazon and the author’s website.

Things looked recognizably similar, but Declan knew they were not. He and his girlfriend Rose were on Earth—just not their Earth. While their transport had proven successful, Declan had serious reservations as to the probability of success of this new mission. Yet he had to put on a brave face for Rose. She was already completely on edge about being here.

Back on their Earth, Declan and Rose were employed by Icarus Technologies, where Declan had worked for several years undergoing off-world missions on parallel Earths to collect advanced technology at the request of the company’s Board of Directors. Each mission had been highly praised by the Board and had won him huge bonuses for his efforts.

His last mission, however, proved troublesome in so many ways.

Declan and Rose had just now arrived on yet another new Earth. Declan untucked from the ball he had curled into to facilitate the narrow transport window needed to follow just behind Rose to this new Earth. Rose extended her hand to him. He took it and rose to his feet, standing next to her.

“You okay?” she asked.

 

  

Dr. Randy C. Dockens has a fascination with science and with the Bible, holds Ph.D. degrees in both areas, and is a man not only of faith and science, but also of creativity. He believes that faith and science go hand in hand without being enemies of each other.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Auburn University he went on to graduate school at Auburn and completed his first doctorate degree in Pharmaceutics. He began his scientific career as a pharmacokinetic reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration and later joined a leading pharmaceutical company as a pharmacokineticist, which is a scientist who analyzes how the human body affects drugs after they have been administered (i.e, absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted).

Through the years, he has worked on potential medicines within several disease areas, including cardiovascular, fibrosis, and immunoscience to seek and develop new and novel medicines in these therapy areas.

He has also had his attention on the academic study of the Bible. He earned a second doctorate in Biblical Prophecy from Louisiana Baptist University after receiving a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the Internet Bible Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Congdon.

Randy has recently retired from his pharmaceutical career and is spending even more time on his writing efforts. He has written several books that span dystopian (The Coded Message Trilogy), end-time prophecy (Stele Prophecy Pentalogy), science fiction (Erabon Prophecy Trilogy), uniquely told Bible stories (The Adversary Chronicles), speculative fiction (Cities of Light Series), and a combination of science fiction / speculative fiction (Parallel Universe Saga). All his books, while fun to read, are futuristic, filled with science to give them an authentic feel, have a science fiction feel to them, and allows one to learn some aspect of Biblical truth one may not have thought about before. This is all done in a fast-paced action format that is both entertaining and provides a fun read for his readers.

He has also written some nonfiction books as well. One is to show how all humans are connected from God’s viewpoint by looking at biblical prophecy (Why is a Gentile World Tied to a Jewish Timeline?: The Question Everyone Should Ask). This book shows how all scripture is connected and inclusive of everyone. In addition, he and his editor have written two books about writing. The first is on writing techniques themselves and is entitled Mastering the ABCs of Excellent Writing: Creating Vivid and Colorful Stories that Readers Want to Read. This book not only addresses the techniques of writing, but what makes writing unique to each author. It conveys not only how to better hone one’s craft of writing but also the brand an author wants to portray. This helps an author make their writing unique as well as captivating for his/her audience. The second is a companion book to this one entitled Mastering the ABCs of Excellent Self-Editing: Framing Your Colorful Masterpiece to Keep Readers Engaged in Your Story. This is best used in conjunction with the first one. Yet, self-editing, though intricately connected to writing, is a distinct event. The better the quality of a writer’s draft manuscript when it is delivered to one’s editor, the higher the final quality of the manuscript will be for readers, and that is extremely important.

Dr. Dockens still has creative ideas to share so stay tuned! 

Dr. Dockens’  latest books are Retrieving the Future & Resolving the Future (Books 1 & 2 in the Parallel Universe Saga Series)

Visit his website at https://www.randydockens.com.

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ X: www.x.com/RandyCDockens

╰┈➤ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Randy.C.Dockens

╰┈➤ Instagram: Randy C Dockens (@randydockens) | Instagram

╰┈➤ Goodreads: Randy C. Dockens (Author of T-H-B) | Goodreads

✍The First Page: Under the Norse Star: Feathers of the Phoenix Book 2 by Cheryl Carpinello

 

THE NORSE STAR: FEATHERS OF THE PHOENIX BOOK 2

By Cheryl Carpinello

Teen/YA

Rosa can hear the dead. That gift has already pulled her into impossible places… and deadly danger.

Now, on the Autumnal Equinox, Rosa and her cousin Jerome are summoned again. Their mission: travel to Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, and retrieve the second Golden Red Feather of the Phoenix. Because only when all five Feathers are united can Atlantis rise from the ocean depths and its lost people finally return home.

But Iceland isn’t empty.

Ancient guardians still roam beneath the Norse Star… and something far worse has arrived first. A shapeshifting Horseman rides the frozen wilderness, hunting the Feather, and willing to kill for it.

With earthquakes shaking the land, wicked laughter in the wind, and a mysterious Ancient One waiting in the ice, Rosa and Jerome must survive the most dangerous quest yet… before time runs out. 

Under the Norse Star (Feathers of the Phoenix Book 2) is available at Amazon and  the author’s website.

Standing here in my backyard, a slight breeze ruffles my blond hair with its emerald streak, my tribute to the queen who showed me the value of Nana’s gift. Some days I still wonder at the power given to me by Nana, a gift that she held close to her heart for decades. To hear the dead and actually talk with them is not something she took lightly. And neither do I ... most of the time.

I breathe deeply, and my whole body energizes as the invigorating air fills my lungs. It’s crisp and cool and so welcome after summer. Even though I’m more than ready for spring after our snowy, cold winters, fall always refreshes my body and my spirit.

I love Colorado in the fall. The changing colors of the leaves start now with the cooler nights. Deep and light greens give way to brilliant yellows, burning oranges, and blazing reds. Nature’s way of welcoming winter. As the winds increase, leaves float down to the ground, building up so thick in places it’s like walking on cushions.

Spending several days in Egypt with King Tut, almost two years ago, cured me of any fondness I had for the sun. The intense heat, the sweat running down my body, the struggle to breathe at times, I decided all that was best left behind.

 

  

Cheryl Carpinello is a retired high school English teacher. Her Tales and Legends appeal to readers of all ages, particularly those who have struggled with reading. Through her 25 years teaching diverse readers, she’s found that stories from the Ancient Worlds and Arthurian Legend draw in readers of all abilities.

She writes Arthurian Legend focused on these cornerstones: Courage, Honor, Loyalty, & Friendship. Her tales from Egypt & the new series Feathers of the Phoenix meld the ancient/medieval worlds with today. The Atlantean Horse and Under the Norse Star, books 1 &2 of Feathers of the Phoenix, brings the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse out of the Bible & into the modern world.

Her Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales, short illustrated nature stories, help the youngest readers build their reading skills. At the 2nd grade reading level, these stories are suitable for readers aged 4 and up.

She also does classroom & zoom visits where students can create their own Illuminated Poetry.

As retired teachers, Cheryl and her husband love to travel. They attend college football games around the US each year and also travel abroad for fun and research. They’ve been to Egypt, the UK, Iceland, Norway, Mexico & the Caribbean. 

Visit her website at  https://www.cherylcarpinello.com.

Connect with her on social media at:

╰┈➤X: https://www.x.com/ccarpinello 

╰┈➤Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

╰┈➤Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ccarpine1/

╰┈➤BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cheryl-carpinello

✍The First Page: City of Toys by Lindy S. Hudis

 

CITY OF TOYS

By Lindy S. Hudis

Thriller

Four beautiful women seek fame and fortune in Hollywood, the City of Toys, where  actresses are like dolls, playing pretend on the big screen.  

Marlo: a former child actress from New York City.  

Rhonda: a small-town beauty queen.  

Kim: a “nice Jewish girl” with a painful childhood.  

Guyla: a “serious actress” with a debilitating, stress-induced illness.  

Marlo, Rhonda, Kim, and Guyla, become friends living in the same apartment complex, in  the city where dreams and disasters go together. They come to rely on each other as they  deal with sexual come-ons, crazed stalkers, jealous starlets and the constant pressure of  trying to make it in showbiz. But when the pressure gets too much, will their friendship save  them, or will the City of Toys break them?

City of Toys is available at Amazon. 

The morning sun sparkled high in the sky above Los Angeles,  and the summer heat had not yet fully invaded the curious  world known as Hollywood. A cool, coastal breeze drifted in  from the Pacific Ocean, so the infamous L.A. smog was not  going to permeate the atmosphere too severely. The traffic at  the intersection of Franklin Avenue and La Brea was typical,  bumper to bumper and road rage simmering from  tempestuous drivers. But, it was made even worse today by  the arrival of a large moving van in front of the building.  

The Franklin Regency was a five-story dwelling that  loomed on the southwest corner of the crossway, halfway  between the sparkling wealth of the Hollywood Hills and the  sordid madness that was Hollywood Boulevard.  

Everywhere beautiful, young people with fabulous faces  and perfect bodies – every single one of them a struggling  actor, model or something or other, trying to keep the  bitterness at bay – jogged, walked dogs, hurried to auditions  and roller-bladed. While the homeless (and other un-lovely  denizens of ‘paradise’ almost equal in number) who had long  ago lost the spark of life, seemed to blend into the  background, completely ignored and snubbed by the bronzed  gods and goddesses scurrying to an audition for a laxative  commercial.  

Awe-filled and often-disappointed tourists took it all in,  recording it on film and video for the folks back home,  wherever that may be. In the bright, mirrored lobby of the  Franklin Regency, however, all was cheerful and sanguine.  Rhonda McNutt talked excitedly on a pay phone to her father  back in Cordova, Tennessee. Rhonda was nineteen, beautiful,  and in the process of moving into the Franklin Regency  Apartments.

 

  

Lindy Sternberger Hudis is an award-winning filmmaker, author and actress. Lindy is a  graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She  also performed in a number of Off-Off Broadway theater productions while living in New  York City. 

She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her  “Hollywood” story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. Her latest release,  “Hollywood Underworld – A Hollywood Series” is the first installment of a crime mystery  series. 

She is also the author of several erotic short stories, including “The S&M Club”, “The Backstage Pass”, “Guitar God”, “The Guitarist”, and “The Mile High Club”. 

Her short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, has won numerous  awards, including ‘Best Short Film’ at the Paris International Film Festival, The Beverly Hills  Arthouse Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival.

She is also a former actress, having appeared in the television daytime drama “Sunset Beach”, also “Married with Children”, “Beverly Hills 90210” and the feature film, “Indecent Proposal”. She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.

Visit her website at https://lindyinparadise.wordpress.com.

Connect with her on social media at:

X:  https://x.com/Lindyscribe  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindyScribe/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindys.hudis/  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lindy-s-hudis 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470478.Lindy_S_Hudis 

✍The First Page: The Wars Between by Lee J. Mavin

 

THE WARS BETWEEN

By Lee J. Maven

YA Fantasy

For centuries there had been an ongoing war between Asalandia, the proud monarchy of the east and Kastanair the progressive democracy of the west. However, the years of war would end with the most unlikely turn of events.

Outis Everrett, the disappointment of his family, a measly poet, is suddenly thrusted into an epic adventure across the sea, with the King’s blessing. His poem, the poem that somehow won the first annual Asalandian poetry competition, was meant to be taken across the seas, to the enemy island of Kastanair, there, it would be read by the President of Kastanair, the newly elected and very progressive, Penelope Chinwa and she was supposed stop the war after reading those so special words.

So Outis set sail aboard the Golden ship, guided and protected by the Knights of Sunrise and their adventures began. The Knights are led by Bartholemew Aries, the most famous soldier in Asalandia, though when their ship drifts off course to the mysterious island of Aquos Atalantious, the Princess of the island soon lures him to stay. So, the Knights of Sunrise become distracted by the beauties of this foreign island.  After failing to find the prince, who had been taken by a monstrous octopus, the Golden ship sails onto Kastanair, without its leader, who had fallen in love with the Princess. They then sail to Syanthia, where the worlds’ meat was produced. There they meet, the young Kastanairian, Gwenia Xiachung, an enthusiastic vegan on a mission to stop everyone eating meat. Outis is thrown into a pig saving mission with Gwenia and is intrigued by the young girl. After saving the pigs and convincing the head of meat production to change his ways with a beautiful poem about animal empathy, Gwenia falls in love with Outis. She joins him and the Knights of Sunrise on the voyage to back to her country, Kastanair. Once they finally reach the shores of Kastanair, they are attacked on the shores by a small army, led by Caslian Jesper, the tough captain who worked his soldiers to exhaustion. The Knights, Outis and Gwenia are rescued by Nastab and his band of terrorists who take them on horseback through Kastanair to Mount Xian. Nastab and his men come from a rebel group who had been dwelling on the plateau of Mount Xian, plotting to overthrow the government of Kastanair. However, their leader, who had driven their group to crimes and violence, was hoarding their food and treasure.

Caslian Jesper follows the terrorists to Mount Xian, in pursuit of two of his enemies at once, the terrorists and the Asalandians. Outis and Gwenia are suddenly taken off their horses by huge hawks, who fly them up Mount Xian, to a cave opening. There Gwenia and Outis meet The Tall Man, a strange man with huge black eyes who has no name. He takes them into the cave, and they fall more tall people. There they learn that the tall people had been in the caves for hundreds of years and they care not for treasures of war. The tall man collects water from an underground stream and fruits from the cave roofs and they take Outis and Gwenia up to the top of the mountain. There they find Caslian’s army had managed to climb to the top of the mountain in attempt to attack but they were too drained to fight so the tall man shared his fruit with them. Both sides rested as Outis read a poem to the leader of the terrorists.

Outis and Gwenia are then taken to the capital, by an eclectic group including Nastab, The Tall Man and the Knights of Sunrise, they journey through the planes of Kastanair where they are attacked by wolves. The Knights and Nastab fight the wolves off valiantly and they continue. When they finally reach the capital Outis reads his poem to the President, but it is not the words of his poem alone that convince her to stop the war, it is the group he brings with him, a group of once enemies, who had come together with the same goal. 

╰┈➤Book Details

• Genre: YA Fantasy
• Language:English
• Pages: 300

To find out how to purchase this book, visit the author’s website at leejmavin.com.

The People Who Helped Change the World

Outis Everrett

Nobody of any particular importance. He has no real skill as a warrior, a farmer or builder, his only passion is writing and poetry. He failed all his tests in school because he was too busy writing and has disappointed his parents completely.

Gwenia Xiachung

Gwenia is strong-willed young woman, the youngest and only daughter, of thirteen. She is a skilled archer and an enthusiastic vegan and is sick and tired of the ways of her country and government. 

Lee J Mavin is the author of 11 books. He is also a teacher and father. He has a Masters in Creative Writing and am solely focused on writing fiction (fantasy and horror) and poetry. He is now in collaboration the illustrator Karolina Piotrowski, a Polish artist who has brought many stories to life. He has worked and studied in China and Japan and studied with Dr Xiaohuan Zhao (a master of Chinese poetry) to complete his book Li Bai’s Shadow, at the University of Sydney. He has two children who are both avid readers, so he is always in the loop with trends in children’s fiction. He is married and lives in Sydney, where he teaches English.

His latest book is the YA fantasy, The Wars Between.

Visit his website at leejmavin.com. 

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lee.mavin.925/ 

╰┈➤ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mavin798 

╰┈➤ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5103759.Lee_J_Mavin

╰┈➤ TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@leemavin4  

✍The First Page: A Change in Plans by Mike Martin

 

A CHANGE IN PLANS

By Mike Martin

Mystery

RCMP officer Winston Windflower’s rare afternoon off gets interrupted when a hit and run turns into murder and he must pull together a team of Mounties from Newfoundland to resolve the crime. Following the money and fentanyl— and bodies—Windflower and his team join forces with police officers in southern Ontario to take down an international drug-smuggling ring.

Windflower must face personal doubts and fears when fellow Mountie Fil Romano is kidnapped. While the higher-ups at HQ make plans to give safe passage to the drug lords in return for Romano’s life, Windflower worries Romano will get caught in the crossfire. Windflower again looks to his friends and allies for help in the difficult hours and days ahead. 

╰┈➤Book Details

• Genre: Mystery
• Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery/Police Procedural
• Language: English
• Pages: 278
• Paperback ISBN: TBA

A Change in Plans is available at Amazon.

╰┈➤Here’s What Readers Have To Say!

“When a Mountie is kidnapped, it further complicates matters. As the tension keeps increasing, the action reaches a fever pitch. This author knows how to keep the plot moving swiftly to keep readers hooked. You will enjoy spending time with Windflower, a hero who’s clever, brave, and endlessly resourceful.” – Steven Finkelstein

“Readers cannot help but enjoy this series. Even though there are some nail biting, adrenaline pumping things going on, it is balanced out by the personal parts of the story. Yes, Windflower could be chasing down a killer or a drug dealer, but he is always grounded with his wife and two daughters, his friends and his community. I personally enjoy when he does his smudging and reconnects with his deceased Auntie and Uncle and gives back to the earth.” – Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

 

Summer was nearing its end in the small town of Grand Bank on the eastern shore of Canada. Winston Windflower, husband, father and RCMP officer, was enjoying some quiet time while his wife, Sheila Hillier, and their two girls, Amelia Louise and Stella, were in St. John’s for their annual back-to-school shopping spree. He was alone except for his four-legged friends. Lady, an eight year-old collie, was still frisky and ready to go for a walk as always.
Molly, the cat, was ageless and just about lifeless as she sat in her bed waiting for the next treat to fall in front of her.
It was a fine, sunny day as Windflower looked out of their home onto the Atlantic Ocean. Because it was so nice, he had taken the afternoon off for picking berries. The summer had been unusually hot and sticky, and that meant the berries were out a little earlier than usual. His fervent hope was that his special picking spot had not been disturbed by early pickers trampling down bushes and limiting the harvest.
If things went well, he could pick a gallon of berries in a couple of hours, and if he was super lucky, Sheila would make something fabulous with the blueberries when she got back. Maybe a pie or even one of her blueberry specialties. Windflower salivated when he imagined all of that deliciousness. He grabbed a couple of Tupperware containers and a bottle of water and then headed for his favourite spot.

 

  

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 17 books in this light mystery series with the publication of A Change in Plans. 

A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. All That Glitters was shortlisted for the LOLA 2024 Must Read Book of the year award.

Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest Darkest Before the Dawn was released as an audiobook in 2024. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

Visit Mike’s website at https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com. 

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore 

╰┈➤ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin 

 

✍The First Page: The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy

THE SIREN OF PARIS

By David LeRoy 

Historical Fiction/Magical Realism

Journey through the dark, violent, and haunting landscape of World War II in Paris and beyond – Take on a harrowing tour through the depths of human depravity, exploring themes of love, loss, guilt, and redemption in this gripping historical tale.

Marc Tolbert, a young French-born man from a prominent American family, takes off to Paris for a fresh start after a breakup in 1939. Pursuing his dreams of attending a prestigious Parisian art school, he soon makes friends with some of history's most notable figures, including Sylvia Beach and William Bullitt. Falling in love with an art model from one of his classes, he is blinded to the escalating violence around them as the war inches closer to the City of Lights.

What started as an adventure quickly becomes a nightmare as the war worsens, and Marc is faced with choices that will change his life forever.

When he finally faces the reality that he must leave Paris, fate deals him a cruel hand. Surviving the sinking of the RMS Lancastria, Marc is haunted by the deaths of his friends and the regret of not leaving sooner.

Returning to Paris, Marc is drawn into the resistance movement, risking everything to help those trapped behind enemy lines. But after being betrayed, he is captured and sent away to face the horrors of war and the guilt of his past mistakes.

The Siren of Paris is a powerful and emotional story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its compelling plot-driven narrative, vivid scenes, and intense action, this novel will transport you to the heart of war-torn Paris and leave you contemplating the weight of human choices and their impact on others. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction, war stories, or symbolic themes, this novel will captivate and intrigue you from start to finish.

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Sub-genre: Magical Realism
• Language:English
• Pages: 352
• Paperback ISBN: 978-0983966715

The Siren of Paris is available at Amazon.

“May the Lord be with you,” the priest’s voice rang out to all gathered at Marc’s graveside in September 1967. The cloaked man stood taller than all others gathered, with the hood of his smock pulled over his head. He held in his right hand a staff with around clock mounted on top.

Marc stood beyond the gathering, gazing back upon his grave. He saw his only sister, Elda, surrounded by all his other friends from France. The body of his soul beamed a reddish-golden light, as he anticipated the final moment he would leave in peace. He strained to see the face of the priest obscured from view under the hood.

“And also with you,” Marc whispered, looking toward the release from his life.

“Let us pray,” the priest asked softly. With a rush, the first eleven souls then appeared around him. They had come from the graveyards of Angoulins-sur-Mer, Les Fortes, Saint-Charles-de-Percy, Saint-Clément-desBaleines, Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Chatelaillon- Plage, Saint-Sever, Traize, Brest, Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont and Saint Pancras. They wore drab olive green uniforms, with kit bags ready for war, but they were soaked to the bone and only a few had boots. The dial on the clock stopped as a moment
of Marc’s life flashed before him.

“I no longer want to see you, Marc. It is finished and over,” Veronica said to him outside his dorm room in the winter of ’39. Marc recognized this is why he dropped out of medical school. Once she cut her bond with him, he decided to run. Marc’s soul turned a dark red over the pain of her words. 

  

David LeRoy is an author and avid explorer of the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and art. His debut novel, The Siren of Paris, is a poignant work that emerged from personal family research he undertook in 2010 to locate missing persons of WWII.

LeRoy's fluency in French and two-year sojourn in France afforded him unique insights into the French culture he deftly weaves into his literary work. With a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion, an MBA from California State University Sacramento, and an MSc. Applied Data Science from Paris, France, LeRoy is a polymath with diverse interests and an insatiable curiosity for knowledge.

He currently resides in California, where he continues to write and pursue his creative passions.

Connect with him on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesirenofparis

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14760740-the-siren-of-paris?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=v6UbhLIMmb&rank=1