Altercation by Tamara Hart Heiner

It's a book tour!

Okay, I'm just gonna tell it like it is. 

When Tamara asked me to review her book,I was excited,

but I had no idea how much I would end up loving it. 

Thanks to my kindle, I had this book with me all the time.

I was reading it in May and everyday I picked my

oldest son up from the high school. 

I knew this book was a rare winner when he was twenty

minutes late and I hadn't noticed because I was so

involved with the story.  It's that good. So, here's 

the blog tour.  Go get yourself a copy of these. 

http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com/2012/05/all-around-world.html

Prizes: EVERY DAY I will randomly select one person who

made a comment on that day's blog. The winner will then

get to decide if they would like an ebook copy of 

PERILOUS or ALTERCATION.   

There's just one catch: there must be AT LEAST

ten comments on that day for me to do the giveaway.

But if that's not enough, leaving a comment also gets you 

entered into the PRIZE DRAWINGS. This won't be random; 

it's cumulative. Every comment you leave counts as 

1 point. If you are a follower on my blog, you get 1

point. Every time you tweet or share on Facebook about the 

tour, it's one point. I'll even add it up for you; just 

include me in on the tweet @tamaraheiner or on Facebook 

@tamarahartheiner (unless you don't trust my

math, and then feel free to tally it up and send it to me).

THIRD PRIZE: 50-page critique of something of your choice 

(if you're not a writer, a $5 amazon.com gift card) 

SECOND PRIZE: lot of five YA books

FIRST PRIZE: $20 gift card to Amazon.com

(You may also offer a giveaway, if you wish!)

Here's the information (again) for the upcoming blog tour:

Altercation $15.95 link on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Altercation-Tamara-Hart-Heiner/dp/1937178218

ebook for $4.99:

http://www.amazon.com/Altercation-YA-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0085AJQEI

summary: The FBI promises Jacinta Rivera and her friends 

that they are safe. Jaci wants desperately to believe them 

but weeks of hiding from their kidnapper, alias "The Hand", 

have left her wary. Hidden from the

public eye in an FBI safe house, Jaci must reconcile both 

the mysterious disappearance of her father and the murder 

of her best friend.

A betrayal lands Jaci back in the grasp of The Hand, 

shattering her ability to trust and leaving her to 

wonder if she will ever piece together her broken life.

Home Stretch Again

Okay, for those of you who have noticed my serious lack of constant posting, well, I'm amazed you've been paying that much attention. 

But, all that said, here's what's been going on. 

I'm almost done writing a brand new novel.  One that NO ONE has read.  Not even my husband.  Of course, that will change soon.  If anyone wants to be a beta reader, please e-mail me at laurabinghambooks at gmail dot com

You don't have to be an experienced writer, but you do have to be willing to give helpful feedback.  I need to know what you think so I can make the story better.  And "I think it was all completely awesome" isn't the kind of critique that will turn my novel into a shining piece.  So, if you know you have it in you to give the brutal honest truth, or if you are a rare one who likes to edit, send me a note.

And, I've been choreographing dances lately, and that takes time too. 

It's all what I love to do, but it's made me a busy girl. 

I'm excited to see if any of you would be willing to read a rough-edged manuscript.  I'm not quite done with the book yet, but I will be soon. 

Off to work I go!

Summer MIA

Whatever happened to the lazy days of summer?  Sure, my kids have all day to play hard.  I can assure you, they take this endeavor seriously.  Playing has become a sport.

I can't even begin to explain the amount of wet towels and food consumed in a week.  It's astronomical.

Me?  Work.  Oh, yeah.  I have a list of things to do so long that I'm wondering if maybe sometime in July I'll feel like it's summer.

I love my work, so that's a blessing.  (Maybe except for the laundry and cleaning the house.)  But my point is, I haven't had time for blogging much.  Or playing.  And I don't think that's going to change this month- so we'll see how July is.

I have to add that Dave Lateiner- my good friend in New Jersey- is doing a big audio book giveaway.  Go Enter!!!

I need some play inspiration.  What do you do to play in the summer?  I think I've forgotten how.

I Believe In Jesus Too- Book Look

Mark Nielsen e-mailed me a little bit ago and asked if I would review his book.  I love books, and honestly, I nearly always say yes.  So when this gorgeous book came in the mail, I was excited and surprised.

I didn't know it was going to be a picture book.  I always get the YA books because that's what I write.

But I LOVE a good picture book.  I collect them with a vengeance.  Not just any picture book, though.  I need good ones.

And this, well, let me tell you how it went.

First, I read it to myself.  It was cool.  Simple idea.  Loved the testimony side of it.

Then, I read it to my two girls, who happened to find it on my bed while I was writing.  Oh, confession, I sit on my bed and write books nearly everyday.

So, I opened it up and started reading.  Several times my five-year-old reached up and turned the page back so she could look at the picture longer.

My seven-year-old said "cool" many times.

At the end of the story, I asked my five-year-old what she thought.  She said, "Read it again."

I asked, "But did you like it?"

"I loved it."

I don't think there is such thing as a better review than that.  The pictures are stunning.  The story is simple and yet it literally takes the reader all over the world with the turn of a page.  It has all the wonder of any favorite picture book, but is bold in its conviction of Jesus Christ. 

I rarely talk religion on this blog, but here goes.  I did get a tear at the end of the book, because I believe in Jesus too.

Dance Walk Baby

Okay, I stole this from my sister's facebook post.  But, I love it.  So funny.

But who has the guts?

I could totally see myself doing it.  Oh, I mean, I think I already have.  In the grocery store, in the parking lot, uhm, on the sidewalk.  Yep.  I'm a chronic dancer.

Maybe not in a way to include the whole world, but I find myself dancing just about everywhere.

And yes, even in a hospital room when I was sure the nurse wasn't coming in.  I am a rebel.

Loved it.  Hope you do to.