Push for Power (Mark of the Yakuza) by Marie Hampton
In the second book of the Mark of the Yakuza, Kasumi Yoshida is fresh from the fight and training for the opportunity at revenge. The appearance of an Oyabun from Tokyo scatters small sense of normality Kas had gained.
With Oyabun Shinto in Las Vegas, Kas and Akira have no choice but to play nice with Jiro since Shinto insists the two lines forget their differences and work together to strengthen the Yakuza. He offers a new position of power to combine the lines. Everyone turns to the problems Shinto’s ideas create, but Kas can’t push aside her intuition that Jiro is involved in something more sinister.
Kas reaches out for someone to understand but even her friend Hak refuses to turn from the problems with Shinto. Ryan is the only worker that makes Shinto happy, but Kas knows he plays both sides. Akira trusts Ryan, but Kas cannot decide if he is worth her trust, or her heart.
Hunting Heartbreak is the 1st book in the Mark of the Yakuza seies
On the flashy Las Vegas strip, Kasumi Yoshida tracks down her marks– assassinating gamblers who pay their loans with their lives. Business becomes scarce when a past lover and fellow Yakuza member betrays the honor system and rescues Kasumi’s future clients.
Her boss insists she works with Ryan, a hired gun, to find the cause, but Kasumi becomes distracted by his arrogant charm, and soon her adrenaline-filled world of death and motorcycle racing is muddied by her obsession with the past and her uncontrollable attraction to her partner.
Kidnapping, torture, and betrayal allow the enemy to capture Kasumi, and she is forced to trust in friendship and love to free her from guilt so she can take her revenge.
the story is fast moving, very hard to put down. the ending leaves you hanging for the next book. i can’t wait for book II, just to see what the future holds for Kaz.. really a good read for a first time author. Marie Hampton has a great future ahead.
Today I’d like to introduce you to one of my fellow Vanilla Heart Publishing authors, Marie Hampton.
Hunting Heartbreak by Marie Hampton is the Winner of last year’s Vanilla Heart Publishing Author Contest and is Marie’s debut novel, the first in a series featuring Kasumi, a female assassin involved in the Las Vegas Yakuza.
What’s the elevator pitch for your novel Hunting Heartbreak?
On the flashy Las Vegas strip, Kasumi Yoshida tracks down her marks– assassinating gamblers who pay their loans with their lives. Business becomes scarce when a past lover and fellow Yakuza member betrays the honor system and rescues Kasumi’s future clients.
Her boss insists she work with Ryan, a hired gun, to find the cause, but Kasumi becomes distracted by his arrogant charm, and soon her adrenaline-filled world of death and motorcycle racing is muddied by her obsession with the past and her uncontrollable attraction to her partner.
Kidnapping, torture, and betrayal allow the enemy to capture Kasumi, and she is forced to trust in friendship and love to free her from guilt so she can take her revenge.
Do you work on more than one novel at a time?
I used to. It took getting published to make me sit down and work through the hard spots, and I’ve completed more that way. Sometimes you just have to sit down and writer through the writer’s block and edit it later.
What historical time period is your favorite? Why?
Only one? Oh, geez. I would have to say Ancient Greece. It is the birthplace of western literature. It all started with Greek theater, and I’m a big theater buff. I might even write some plays in the future.
Do you have a vision board or other `trick’ to help motivate you?
Hmm, well, music is huge to me. Also, I like changing out my desktop with a reminder image. I would have to say, though, that the thing that keeps me motivated the most is Taekwondo. When you repeat the Spirit of Songahm and confidently say you will persevere, it carries over into everything you do.
Do you schedule time to write or is writing all-consuming to the exclusion of everything else and you schedule time to do other things? Like eat.
I’m working on this still. I think I would be more productive if I scheduled, but now any free time is a good time to pull out the laptop and get some words down.
What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Creative, passionate, fun.
How do you think others would describe you?
That depends who you ask, but family would say I’m fun and outgoing. My friends that I game with would say I’m creative and a bit goofy. I’m a little hard to get to know because I’m shy, but once I know you you’re a friend for life.
Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
Well, I’ve already mentioned Taekwondo. Family is big to me. I currently live with my mother, husband and two sons. My sons are five and five months. They mean the world to me. I also love to teach people and help them discover new things.
Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Oh, yes. She’s my little furry 80lbs. American Bulldog, Toph. We named her after the character on Avatar: The Last Airbender. There is a picture of her on my blog.
What is your most precious memory?
The first time I held my children. It is an amazing feeling to know you are responsible for bringing life into the world. Also, I hold memories of fishing with my father very close to my heart since I lost him to cancer in March.
What is your most embarrassing memory?
Ha ha. I haven’t thought about it for a while, but when I was sixteen I auditioned for my first play. I mixed up the word exotic with erotic. To say I turned a little red is an understatement.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
I’m not sure, but before, when I was a kid, I wanted to sing. I’d probably be a screaming vocalist for a metal band. Yeah, that’d be it.
Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
It starts with a big, endless cup of coffee at my favorite shop. I’m sitting there with my laptop logged onto my Google Drive, my music pouring into my ears. When I really get going my eyes close and I tip my head back on the back of the chair and let my fingers fly. The scene plays out in front of me. I just record it.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
A lot of places, but Athens and Tokyo are on the top of my list. With studying beginning western culture I became interested in the difference between western culture and eastern culture.
Does travel play in the writing of your books?
Yes. I actually dreamed about the idea for Hunting Heartbreak after I returned on a vacation from Las Vegas.
What are you passionate about these days?
I am set on creating a good life for my boys by putting my best into everything. Writing helps me be a creative mom, and it relaxes me. Also, my boys inspire me by the things they do. My husband also helps. Writing books in my house is a family affair, and I love that I can share that passion.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I don’t want to repeat myself, but martial arts, specifically Krav Maga, is a great stress reliever. Nothing like kicking butt, even imaginary butt, to get out your frustrations. I love to swim, too. And I love to read of course. This winter I’m hoping to add skiing and snowboarding to the list, so if you hit the slopes, watch out.
Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?
Yes. You are a writer, an artist, and if you want to get better you cannot be afraid to share your work. Find a writing group and get used to criticism. Learn what you can, and make your writing your best.
Do you have a milestone birthday coming up? If so, how are you approaching it?
Ha, I do! I turn thirty this year. I hadn’t thought much about what I should do, but a creative night gaming, writing, or dancing would be high on my list. I am pretty comfortable with where I am, but I might do a blog comparison list between Kas and my accomplishments by the age of thirty.
Have you attended a high school reunion? What did you learn?
Yes, my ten year reunion. I learned that the popular kids never changed. Those that changed the most were those that never settled for what they had. They kept striving for something more and that made them better people. I learned that learning never stops, and motivation is important.
Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog? • Is there a place where readers can reach you?
Have you ever written something that made you feel uncomfortable, cry, or disgusted? If so, what?
Yes, I have. I cried a bit when I work through Kas’ feelings about Kin what she did to him. Sometimes, in my short stories, I gross myself out. You’ll have to keep your eyes open for those coming in the Fall VHP Author Spotlights
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
If my words inspire any sort of creativity, please share. (Fanfic, art, poetry, sketches etc.)
Marie, thanks so much for spending time with me in the Potpourri Parlor today and letting our readers know a bit about you.
Hunting Heartbreak by Marie Hampton is now available in Print, All Ebook Formats and is the first live Vanilla Heart Publishing AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon!
When the Vietnam War pull pacifist David Ward away from Montana, mountain climbing and magic, he leaves for Navy boot camp with a suitcase of regrets. His fiancé ignores him, a close friend callously tells him to kill bad guys and have sex in every port, and an old flame sends devastating news, wrenching his life from its foundations.
Sweet Victory by Angela Kay Austin is now available as an AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon! Also in All Ebook Formats and Print Editions.
Sweet Victory tells the story of Victoria James… ‘Victory’ to her high school sweetheart, Chad.
For her employees’ sake, Victoria James quits her job to save theirs. That decision loses her the man she thought she loved, and sends her back to Memphis, TN with everything she owns to face a neglected and forgotten relationship with her grandfather.
Everything she has is stolen. Chad Kirkpatrick, her childhood love, the first man to break her heart, now a police officer, comes to her aid.
Can she move forward, and put her past behind her? Will Chad forgive her?
Narrated and Produced by Diana Birdsall, 12 Time Telly Award Winning Voice Talent, an experienced voice in ‘the Biz’ for over 25 years.
To Celebrate the upcoming release of Book 2 in Malcolm R. Campbell’s Garden of Heaven Trilogy, for a limited time we’re holding a price reduction on Book 1, The Seeker! Yes, it is a trick. A trick to get you hooked on Malcolm’s trilogy!
The Seeker by Malcolm R. Campbell
Book 1 of the Garden of Heaven Trilogy
David Ward grows up on a Montana ranch where he develops an enduring love of mountains and the magic of the high country secrets he learns from his medicine woman grandmother. A vision quest at the summit of a sacred mountain opens his eyes to his future while blinding him to the details.
As a seasonal employee at a mountain hotel, David meets Anne Hill during the summer of Glacier National Park’s worst flood. Out of the ravages of water, they spend an idyllic summer in the beautiful Garden of Heaven.
When Anne is confronted by a stalker on a dark street in her Florida college town, the magic David uses in an attempt to save her changes her and leads them into the dark territory of misunderstandings and the blood of Tate’s Hell Swamp.
Summer at the Jersey Shore just got hotter… Take one widower grandfather, add two little grandkids, and widowed grandmother with a small granddaughter. Mix well. Stir in sun drenched beach days and moonlit nights. What have you got? A kite flying high with a new tail; an author writing a book to sort out emotions; a talented boy with his mother returned to claim the prize. Family complications and a happy beginning… not the end.
From the new Charmaine Gordon series The Beginning…Not the End.
In the middle of a rogue thunderstorm, two young men are mysteriously drawn to an old bridge in the middle of a Florida swamp. They discover the dead are waiting to speak, their lives are in jeopardy, and they must help an injured young woman they find beside the road.
Moonlight and Ghosts
On a moonlit night, Randy’s intuition is drawing him back to an abandoned psychiatric hospital where he once worked. He and his friend, Alice, have heard the ghost hunters’ claims the building is haunted, filled with strange lights, apparitions and the voices of former patients calling for help. The Forgotten point Randy and Alice to a crime in progress… and there’s not much time to save the victim.
Vanilla Heart Publishing is pleased to announce our most recent expansion! Audiobooks! In the coming weeks and months,professional narrators and producers will complete our long list of fabulous VHP works by our Core Group Authors, including our first audio catalog due out in mid-June and to be available on Amazon, Audible.com, and iTunes!
Can you hear it now? YOU BET!
Final Sin by Chelle Cordero is now available as an AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon!
Also in All Ebook Formats and Print Editions.
Deputy Sheriff Commander Jake Carson has his hands full with the investigation of a brutal multiple homicide, a troubled son and a vindictive ex-wife when he meets young, free-spirited paramedic Julie Jennings. He is immediately drawn to her and finds himself unexpectedly falling in love. Julie finds herself just as drawn to him. When Julie becomes the subject of an obsession, it puts both of their lives in extreme danger…Romance…danger…adventure…suspense…another great Chelle Cordero novel sure to grab readers from many genre!
Final SinReviewSuspense/Thriller, Romance; Reviewer: Lototy, Rating: 5 CupsThis story nearly vibrates with tension, and the impending doom will have you on the edge of your seat. The cast of characters is brilliantly depicted, each given both good and bad qualities that really enliven them to the reader. You actually get into the minds of several characters, and not just Jake’s and Julie’s. Final Sin is a real nail biter, and entirely too good to pass up, a true testament to Chelle Cordero’s talent…To read the entire Coffee Time Romance Review. http://coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Finalsin.html
Final Sin audiobook is narrated by Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard, a professional narrator and voice-over artist, residing in the Pacific Northwest.
and the FREE Book Club Discussion Packet with full color printable bookmarks, author bio and photo, discussion starters, and synopsis – http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=912009
Can you hear it now? YOU BET!
Hunting Heartbreak by Marie Hampton is now available in Print, All Ebook Formats and is our first live Vanilla Heart Publishing AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon!
Hunting Heartbreak by Marie Hampton is the Winner of the Vanilla Heart Publishing Author Contest and is Marie’s debut novel, the first in a series featuring Kasumi, a female assassin involved in the Las Vegas Yakuza.
Hunting Heartbreak tells the suspenseful tale of Kasumi, a young woman deeply involved in the Las Vegas Yakuza, as she runs headlong into danger, both to her profession as an assassin…and to her heart.
Emily’s Stories by Malcolm R. Campbell is now available in All Ebook Formats and as an AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon!
Emily’s Stories are three short stories that will delight and entertain readers (and listeners) of all ages, with the tales of the young girl, Emily Walters, as she explores her world and that of the world around her… both mundane and temporal.
Emily Walters is a sharp, inquisitive fourteen-year-old north Florida girl who loves maps, her rusty old bike, and the forest behind her house. Sometimes her dreams tell her the future and sometimes her waking hours bring wise birds and other spirits into her life. In these three short stories, join Emily in adventures and mysteries.
When her family vacations in the mountains in “High Country Painter,” a wise Pine Siskin tells her she must quickly learn how to paint dreams into reality to prevent an afternoon hike from becoming a tragedy.
In “Map Maker,” she’ll need her skills—and the help of a Chuck-will’s-widow—to fight a developer’s plans for from bulldozing the sacred forest behind her house and replacing it with a subdivision.
In “Sweetbay Magnolia,” she’ll learn the secrets of her grandmother’s favorite tree, the crumbling almost-forever house down on the river, and why some ghosts would rather visit than haunt.
Vanilla Heart Publishing is currently OPEN TO QUERIES. We accept queries in the following genre only: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller (not gore), Fantasy, Adventure, and Historical Fiction. We have a full title lineup through Summer 2013 at this time, thanks to our terrific VHP Authors. We will be considering additional manuscripts after July 15, 2013. Please be aware that we do not publish poetry except as inclusions to specific anthologies. Nor do we publish children’s books, books that are epic in length, or erotica, which we define on a case by case basis.
Meet Author Marie Hampton at a discussion and writer’s workshop led by Guy Anthony De Marco (Bram Stoker Nominee), Peter J. Wacks (Bram Stoker Nominee) and Quincy J. Allen.
The first part of this panel discussion will talk about different villains, whether they are evil or incidental, and what they bring to the story.
The second part will talk about writing strong villains.
There will be a writing assignment that you can take home or complete at the panel to receive group critique feedback.
This month’s discussion will take place at the Barnes and Noble at 120th and I25.
![Push for Power (Mark of the Yakuza) [Kindle Edition] Marie Hampton (Author)](https://i0.wp.com/ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DLiFzX8RL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon}
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A Potpourri of Promos, Book Talk, Entertainment & Articles of Interest from Chelle Cordero 