M.C.V Egan. Spotlighted Author

M.C.V. Egan is the pen name chosen by Maria Catalina Egan the author of The Bridge of Deaths. Catalina was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1959, one of eight children. From a very young age she became obsessed with the story of her maternal Grandfather, Cesar Agustin Castillo, mostly the story of how he died. She only spent her childhood in Mexico. Her father became an employee of The World Bank in Washington D.C.

From the early 1970s at the age of 12 she moved with her entire family to the United States. She was already fluent in Southern English as she had spent one school year in the town of Pineville, Louisiana with her grandparents. There she won the English award; ironically being the only one who had English as a second language in her class. In the D.C. suburbs she attended various private Catholic schools and graduated from Winston Churchill HS in Potomac, Maryland in 1977. She attended Montgomery Community College, where she changed majors every semester. She also studied in Lyons, France at the Catholic University for two years. In 1981, due to an impulsive young marriage to a Viking ( The Swedish kind, not the football player kind) Catalina moved to Sweden where she resided for five years and taught at a language school for Swedish, Danish, and Finnish businesspeople. She returned to the USA where she has been living ever since. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Swedish.

Mrs. Egan has worked for various companies and holds an Insurance license for the State of Florida. Not her favorite field but involves very nice folks and makes money!

Maria Catalina Egan is married and has one son, who together with their five pound Chihuahua makes her feel like a fulltime mother. Although she would not call herself an Astrologer she has taken many classes and taught a few beginner classes in Astrology. This is one of her many past times when she is not writing or researching.

She celebrated her 52nd birthday on July 2nd 2011 and gave herself self-publishing The Bridge of Deaths as a gift; she never submitted it to anyone prior to this decision and has enjoyed the very positive feedback.



Genre: Historical/Paranormal/Romance/Mystery


Historical:
The book was researched in archives in Denmark, UK, US and people interviewed in those countries as well as Mexico, this is documented with 200+ footnotes.
Paranormal:
Four psychics using psychometry, a Peruvian Shaman, A Hypnotherapist and documented past life regressions were used.
Mystery:
The event being researched is an actual "mystery"
Romance:
To protect anonymity of past life regression subject fictional character were created to tell the story and theirs is a journey of LOVE transcending more than one life.

Format: Paperback & E-book
Publisher:AuthorHouse
Release Date: June 9, 2011
Website:
Email: m_c_v_egan@yahoo.com

Eldon Taylor. In the spotlight.

Eldon Taylor is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of more than 300 books, audio, and video programs. He’s the inventor of the patented InnerTalk technology and the founder and president of Progressive Awareness Research. He has been called a “master of the mind” and has appeared as an expert witness on both hypnosis and subliminal communication.
Eldon was a practicing criminalist conducting investigations and lie-detection examinations for many years. He is listed in more than a dozen Who’s Who publications, including Who’s Who of Intellectuals and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. He is a fellow in the American Psychotherapy Association and an internationally sought-after speaker. His books and audio-video materials have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have sold millions worldwide.
Eldon is the host of the popular radio show Provocative Enlightenment. He has interviewed some of the most interesting people on the planet. His shows are thought-provoking and always fresh in both their perspective and the exchange.

Title – I Believe: When What You Believe Matters!
Format – Paperback
Publisher – Hay House
Genre – Self Help
Release Date – March 13, 2012

Website
Blog
Email (Publicist)

Trailer

Eldon Taylor.

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Announcing I Believe, the latest release
by New York Times best selling author,
Eldon Taylor.

Join the launch party for I Believe: When What You Believe Matters!
Hundreds of bonus gifts will be given away to everyone who participates. Plus, enter to win grand prizes worth over $5K from personalities such as Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman), James Van Praagh, Bob Doyle, Hay House, InnerTalk, Norman Shealy and Caroline Sutherland. For more information, visit here.

Q. Why did you write I Believe?

I have spent over thirty years investigating why people self-sabotage or limit themselves, thus experiencing so much less than their highest best! What I have found is the reason rests solely in their beliefs—not their spiritual belief so much as their life beliefs. I found this to be true when I was conducting lie detection tests and discovering criminality, and equally true when I worked with elite athletes, business executives, professionals and lay people alike. The bottom line is this: What you believe always matters! It’s like a web that fastens itself to belief-anchors, causing disheartening mediocrity in place of the glorious success we all seek.

I Believe spells out the power of belief and how it influences everything from our health and longevity to our success with relationships and life. Astounding as it may seem, belief can (and has) defied our so-called laws of science and it has done so over and over again. As ordinary and trite as it may seem, belief nevertheless makes all the difference in success in all walks of life. Knowing how we acquire our beliefs, and which beliefs serve us while others sabotage us, is critical to maximizing our individual potential. I Believe: When What You Believe Matters! was written to empower you with the roadmap to decipher and re-write the programming governing your life.


Excerpt
Personal Identity

The idea that we’re each a drop of water in the ocean can be compelling in some ways. The typical perspective offered in Buddhism postulates that we are drops of water, individualized but for a moment from the greater sea that is the total of all-that-is. I get the idea of immersion, being one with the One. I don’t, however, see that as requiring the surrender of my self, and isn’t a healthy ego necessary for my identification? I’ve said before that an ego out of control fits the 12-step-program interpretation of the word: Edging God Out. But a healthy ego is who we are.
I know myself in many ways, chiefly as an experience, as I’ve already discussed. In that sense, I expect that the word ego doesn’t really apply in its traditional form. For as a verb instead of a noun, I am my experiences—always in motion, dynamic as opposed to static, changing as opposed to immutable, expanding as opposed to contracting, and forever young in every instance as opposed to aging. Still, even in this view, I have a self-concept, and from this spring my lessons, alternatives, choices, likes, and dislikes. This is identity, and it’s absolutely attached to the experience, even if part of that is letting go in order to proceed in a new and different way in some other dimension of existence.
I’m totally unaware of any near-death experiences (NDE) in which the survivor tells of being immersed and losing all sense of identification. It’s possible, however, to lose our sense of being, to become so involved in the moment that we lose ourselves. That may be what immersion really is. Getting lost in the experience, whether on this plane or another, is experience at its highest.
For me, the analogy of a drop of water in the ocean is fitting when I think of losing myself in the moment. To do that, I must truly choose to engage in everything life brings to me, and that can’t be done while unattached. I become the experience by being fully aware of what’s happening in each moment. In doing so I can let go of my expectations, for as long as I hold them, I can’t be fully present.
Words can be tricky, and ideas can become puzzles, whereas definitions can and do delimit our understanding of all that we care enough to think about. When many of these concepts are distilled, there remain a few constants. One of them is simply this: immersing ourselves in the experience of life gives rise to understanding that we could otherwise never grasp. The little miracles are not only noticed but fully integrated into our journey. The sadness that comes along is recognized for what it is, but this doesn’t rob us of hope, for we’re not hanging onto some expectation in the moment. Setting about each day with the idea that it’s a miracle—that every moment is a wondrous opportunity to glimpse yet another spectacular exchange in the nature of life, a grand time for fully immersing ourselves in the experience—approaches heaven on earth here and now.

The Gift

I believe that every breath is a gift, and what you do with that is the only way you can pay tribute to the Giver. I believe that you were meant to have faith in yourself and that you deserve to know an unlimited cornucopia of abundance in all the good things this life has to offer. When you trust in yourself, you turn the key in the lock that opens the door to manifesting your true potential. You aren’t going to take anything with you out of here except your experiences. And notice that it’s you I believe in—and that calls for the distinctly unique individual that you are—not some generalization. Perhaps I’m attached to an idea of being unattached, at least to an outcome, yet as with everyone else, I’m also committed to being uniquely me. In the end, if I weren’t invested in anything, including my experience and ideas, then who would I be?
In the words of novelist Virginia Woolf, “[It] is like a spider’s web, attached ever so slightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners. Often the attachment is scarcely perceptible”4 (emphasis added).

Reflection
So what is it that you believe? Do you think that the goal of a spiritual life is to overcome the illusion of separateness, to lose your sense of identity and so to return to the oneness? Or do you believe that this life and your individuality are amazing gifts that should be treasured and experienced to the fullest? Should you be attached to outcomes, or should you focus on doing your best and then detaching? Which beliefs would serve you best?


For information on the book launch, please visit here.

This is a blog hop

REVIEW

Review of Halo of the Damned.
Trailer

I thought at first that I was not going to like Halo of the damned. I found it quite hard to get into, but I’m glad I persevered because after a while it turned into an enthralling page turner.
First, I suggest that you release the rational side of your mind and allow this dark paranormal to take to you places that you never knew existed. Where demons are repentant and angels are all forgiving to us mere human beings. There is death, destruction and bloody fights, which expertly builds up to a climax that will have you perched on the edge of your chair.
You will go to bed thinking about the characters Joanna and Kim’s chances of survival and what would happen if Satan and his fiery hell really got a foot hold on our mortal plane of existence. Dina Rae may be a new author, but I believe that she will go far with her books. She has a unique knack of really bringing her characters to life and you either love them or hate them.
Halo of the damned is twisting turning road, fraught with the dead and dying. It’s a fantastic read and I give it a 5 star rating.

Buy this book now....I dare you...

Welcome to Nicole Morgan

Today, the sun is shining bacause it knows that Nicole Morgan is in my virtual blogging lounge today. Before we start, here is a bit about her. Nicole Morgan was an avid reader who kept having one recurring problem. Ideas of stories kept popping into her head. Today Nicole is an author of erotic romantic novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful back story. Erotic romance mixed with a good old fashioned who done it. She tries to place strong emphasis on the characters emotions while also throwing in some spicy and hot love scenes. Her alpha male of choice will most often than not have a uniform of some kind. From military to police officers, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve.

While still trying to stay true to her style, she is finding her writing is evolving as she takes on new and uncharted territory for her. In the first months of this year she finally wrapped up her first ever full length paranormal romance novel. There are many areas of erotica out there that she hasn’t had a chance to really delve into just yet, but she is anxiously looking forward to doing just that.


Good Morning Nicole. Its lovely to meet you, help yourself to the virtual coffee while we chat. A little birdie tells me that you have a new book out. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Good Morning Margaret. Thanks for having me in your lounge today. My latest release is Intimate Confessions. It’s the second book in my Intimate Temptations series and took me a year to complete it. It was one of those books that I would write a little, put down and pick up later.
Derek and Sandi, the lead characters are two who shared a love which reached as far to the depths of their soul. A few readers who were left hanging with the end of book 1 with what may happen with the couple finally sent enough veiled threats to my email where I felt I had no choice but to finish it and get it out there. We can’t have upset readers now can we?

lol no, that wouldn't be fair as you have already hooked them in! Now this is finished have you got anything e4lse in mind to write?

I’m in the middle of writing a novel about a former Marine, now Police Chief who finds himself blindsided by the attraction he has with one of his best rookies and who also happens to be his best friends little sister. A whole lot of “ruh roh, I shouldn’t be doing this” plagues the Hero in this book. The fact that she’s tenacious, argumentative and pushes his buttons at every turn does nothing to curb his frustration with her. I’m having a lot of fun writing some of the banter between the two characters who would rather argue than admit they want each other.

I love that sort of tension. It makes you want to jump right in the book and shake them lol right, just for fun, pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

In my new release I would have to say Derek, the main character is my favourite. Sandi was the only woman who ever managed to sneak past his defences and into his heart. Despite her being an angel in his eyes, she hurts him. Throughout the course of the story, he struggles with what he wants and what his stubborn male pride tells him he should do. It’s an interesting contrast to see a man who can love so intensely struggle with his bruised ego.

He sounds like a typical man to me lol I can't wait to read that one when it's released. As authors we know how hard it is to market ourselves, do you have any tips that might help?

The best marketing advice I would offer to anyone in any type of business is to not over market their product. There is a difference between marketing and spam. You want to tell the world about your product and hopefully gain their interest. What you don’t want to do is shove the product down their proverbial throat. Overkill will essentially destroy any marketing strategy. And no one wants that.


Okay, now for something totaslly random!! Where did you meet your partner? We all love to hear a romance story.

Well I’m currently single. I know...cry me a river, right? LOL Actually it’s a good thing. I (luckily) haven’t gotten to that point in my life where I feel like, “OMG, I need to start collecting stray cats”... I haven’t even tried dating sites. Well, not YET anyway. After being in a relationship for the better portion of my adult life I’m really enjoying being single, meeting new people and seeing what life has to offer me on a daily basis. Plus, there are A LOT of attractive, charming and incredibly sweet men out there, so I’m hoping one of them will eventually grab my attention and in turn make me take a second look and say “Yowsa!” Now, that isn’t to say that I don’t have my eye on one or two...but I won’t mention names. Torture me if you must, my lips are sealed. I’ll offer you a hint though, I am a complete sucker for a man in uniform. Past or present doesn’t matter, I’m pretty much putty in their hands at that point. But, shhh...don’t tell them that.

Your secret is safe with us Nicole. I rather like men in uniform too lol Before you go, where can your followers find you?

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Thanks for dropping by Nicole and don't forget to leave us a taster of your new book.



Buy this great book. AVAILABLE: Thursday, March 1st
This title is offered at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, March 8th.

PG Excerpt:
Sandi remained motionless for several seconds after she heard the door close before turning her head to see if Derek had really left. Once she looked over her left shoulder and didn’t see him, she quickly spun her head around to survey the rest of the room.
Was he still in the room with her, but waiting to see if she reacted? She wondered, but as soon as she asked the silent question to herself, she already had her answer. Derek had in fact left the room. She was handcuffed to the bed and alone with nothing else but her thoughts.
Instinct made her want to cry. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and beg him to come back. Instead, she bit back her tears and tightly squeezed her eyes shut. She knew very well that she wasn’t entitled to her sadness.
There was no one else she could blame for her current situation other than herself. Two years ago she had pushed Derek away. He was the only man who had ever treated her with respect, kindness, compassion, and love. He was the only man that she had ever loved, and rather than cherish that, she had thrown it away, all for some obsession, some elemental need she thought she had to have.
She hated that after two years she still hadn’t found a way to fulfill those unexplained desires. No one that she had met over the past two years had even come close, not even Tony, the one she was foolish enough to leave Derek for. Just remembering the man who had introduced her into this world made her cringe. She detested him for making her think she wanted this kind of lifestyle.
If only she knew then what she knew now, she would have never left Derek and their life together for a life she clearly didn’t want.
A gut-wrenching pain tore through her heart when that thought made her realize that in all these months over the past two years she hadn’t felt even the smallest amount of pleasure from all the acts she had participated in. She hadn’t gotten any enjoyment from any of it. That was not until moments ago when Derek had been inside of her, taking her from behind, while she was handcuffed to a headboard in a place where she asked for only punishment.
Oh God! she thought to herself. Was Derek the missing piece to the puzzle of her desires? Was he what she had been searching for this whole time?
She knew the answer to the question already. The one man who she had tossed aside so carelessly two years ago was the only man who could ever truly make her happy.
She jerked her mind back to reality when she heard the door open. She spoke before she was able to stop herself.
“Derek?” Disappointment washed across her face when she saw it was Zach.
“No, Sandi. Derek has gone to his room. I came to make sure you were okay.”
She didn’t respond to him as she waited for him to finish unlocking the fur-lined cuffs which had her wrists attached to the bed.
Zach’s arm grazed her exposed bottom, and for some reason at that point she became very aware of her nakedness. Nervous emotions overcame her, making her face flush and heat from embarrassment.
When the last cuff was unlatched, Zach gently took her shoulders and brought her body back down to a sitting position.
“There, you must be sore from being in that position and on your knees for so long. Is that better?” he asked her while handing her a small satin robe which had been hanging on the bedpost.
She nodded uncomfortably, not really sure what to say to him.
Zach brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes and smiled at her. “Please don’t be embarrassed. I promised you when I found you that I would give you happiness.”
Her heart began beating much too fast. “I know you did. But I still don’t understand what that means. Or how…Derek, I know him.”
A robust laugh came from Zach, which almost startled her at first.
“Did you know that I knew him?” She almost whispered the question, but the smile on his face gave her the answer before she had a chance to finish asking it.
He held up his hand in a gesture to silence her. “Sandi, does it really matter if I knew? Does it really matter that you knew him, or he knew you?”
He hesitated for a moment before he continued. “No, Sandi. None of that matters. All that matters is that you are here, Derek is here, and you both want something that I have the opportunity to give you. Just let whatever fate brings your way happen.”
She wanted to say something. She wanted to question his motives, or how he knew of their connection to one another, but she realized that his reasons and the circumstances didn’t matter. He was right. She wanted Derek. She loved him and needed him.