The Tour Stop
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The Dirty Dozen: Damsel Edition
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  False Accusations. Toxic Love. Fear of the Misunderstood. Innocence Lost. Internal Torture that Lasts for a Lifetime. The Lynching Calendar gives readers a sneak peek into one of America's darkest times. History tends to tell the story from one perspective, but what if we had the chance to hear the story from those involved? The Lynching Calendar allows us a chance to hear the full story and show that, no matter what the circumstance may be, there is more than one side to every story. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Read the Excerpt Now. I didn’t know how far along she was and was trying to keep my other girls happy, so I didn’t go see her for a long while. I had originally planned to just beat her up pretty bad and make her lose it, but she had already had the baby when I finally decided to go back to see her! I got drunk because I hit harder when I’ve been drinking, so seeing the baby there just made me even angrier. If I’d had it my way and the law not have gotten involved, the boy wouldn’t be around either. But I’m old now. The boy’s probably an adult by now, or somewhere near it. No use in trying to deny him. They say he looks just like me, but a negro, you know? Say he’s real smart too. People talk about how nice and caring he is. He’s got his mama’s spirit, that’s what that is. Never married. No kids that claim me. I have a few friends here, but most of them moved off. So I’m just an old lonely man. As much as I’d like to disagree, some whisper that I deserve to be alone, that I deserve every bad thing I get. I don’t know, maybe I do. But, even if I cared to, I can’t change the past. Life keeps going, whether you want it to or not.
When Thomas came home, I told him what happened. I told him about how they scared me so, but as usual, he ignored me. He’s so inconsiderate. He pushed me away and explained to me that they had bought a cow and came to pick it up. When I told him that I called the sheriff, he just laughed and said, “Our sheriff is lazy. He don’t care nothing about two niggers and a cow!” He stopped laughing when he saw the postcard. Our sheriff does do his job, no matter what Thomas says. Do I feel guilty? Course not! For what? I didn’t kill anybody, I’m not a murderer. I did my civic duty and reported what I thought was a crime. My hands are perfectly clean.
 Bio
Jessica Starks is the CEO of 17 Plus, LLC, which currently houses two companies: J.D. Scribes, a creative media agency for small businesses, and BOND Small Business Group, a promotional and developmental membership organization for small business owners. In addition to her businesses, Jessica is also on the marketing team at Hill Country Network, an independent, locally-owned television channel, and website that creates original programming to showcase the talent and beauty of North Mississippi and those that reside in it. The Mississippi native is also a blogger, professional writer, and the author of a historical fiction novella, The Lynching Calendar. Mud & Magnolias Magazine named her one of the most influential women in Northeast Mississippi in 2017 and in January 2020 she was named one of the Top 50 Black Business Women in Mississippi. When Jessica isn't working, she enjoys volunteering and participating in community activities, as well as reading, writing, cooking, and spending time with her family. Get to Know the Author.
Find the Book and Author. Web Links: https://www.facebook.com/jessicastarkspage/ https://www.instagram.com/jdstarks22 https://www.twitter.com/jska94 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicastarks12/ Email Address: starksjessica2013@gmail.com
The Resistance
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT:
Draya stands in the middle of the holding tent that’s served as her residence the past couple of weeks. Her long wavy hair is piled high on her head in messy disarray as she directs her unblinking stare in my direction. Not for the first time this morning, I regret agreeing to participate. But since Draya and I are the only people in camp who were present during my interrogations, I let the others talk me into it. After all, I’m the one she tortured, the one who admitted to blowing up their camps—which we did do—along with a number of things we didn’t do. And if we didn’t do them, she either she made it up to throw me, or someone else out there is working against the Uprising, meaning we may have allies. “So…what’s going on?” Draya asks, tilting her head to the side as if we’re inviting her to a picnic. Mateo’s dark curly hair brushes the ceiling of the squat tent that’s barely tall enough for him to stand upright. A breeze from behind flutters the hem of my shirt, alerting me that the last member of our leadership council has arrived. “Bring me up to speed,” Jack says. “We waited for you,” Rainey says, her normally raspy voice even more so at this early hour. Jack trains his attention on Draya for a few beats, assessing the situation as only a cop can. Draya crosses her arms as her mouth twists into an arrogant grin. “Anyone care to enlighten me to the purpose of this party?” “We need information,” I say. “When I was in your…custody, you asked me about attacks on the Uprising.” Her bright blue eyes hold a defiance, sharp enough to slice through bone. “I thought you said she was willing to cooperate,” I say to Cyrus, never taking my attention from the enemy before me. Her head tilts in the other direction. “You haven’t asked me a question yet.” Rainey moves her five-foot-nothing self forward until she’s in Draya’s personal space. Even without the scar cutting across her cheek to her jaw, she exudes power and authority. Draya blinks and takes a step back then rolls her eyes. “I doubt I can tell you anything you don’t already know.” “Let’s start with details of the attacks on the Uprising,” I say. Her brows nosedive. “You’d have more information on that than me.” “Just…” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Just tell us what happened from your perspective.” She snorts and her gaze sweeps the rest of the leadership. “You don’t know, do you? Well, now, isn’t this interesting?” “Draya,” Cyrus’s warns. “I said I’d help, and I will, but I want something in exchange.” Mateo crosses his arms with a relaxed posture that says he’s bored. The way he can project anything he wants is just one of the things that makes him such an important part of our leadership team. After spending years as a mercenary, we were able to recruit him to our cause. “You’re in no position to negotiate.” Draya taps her finger against her chin. “Oh, I think I am. I have something you want, and I want out of this tent. I’ve been stuck in here for two weeks.” My body trembles as if the ground beneath my feet is quaking. “Oh really?” The words fly from my mouth coated in the venom of my rage. “Your conditions are rough? How are you managing to get by without all the torture? That must really suck.” Cyrus puts a hand on my shoulder, but I shake him off. “And sleeping on a cot instead of a concrete floor in your own vomit and shit? Wow, that must be nearly intolerable.” Some of the storm clouds brewing in Draya’s eyes dissipate before her shoulders slump, almost imperceptibly. “Fine. It was little things at first, like supply trucks missing inventory. We thought the drivers were making money on the side. But after investigating…we determined it wasn’t them.” Investigating my ass. They probably tortured them to the brink of death only to find out they were innocent. Well, innocent of the crimes they were accused of anyway. “Then a high-ranking Uprising leader disappeared.” Her gaze drifts to Rainey then Cyrus. “But after we’d lost a couple of commanders, it wasn’t completely unexpected. There was talk about the disappearances being connected.” Pressing her lips together, she glances at me. “That’s why I had to push you so hard about Cy’s location. A few days after the camp attacks, the leader’s body was found, throat slit, a hundred miles from where he was last seen.” I glance up at Cyrus wondering if he knows about this. He gives me a quick shake of his head. “Go on,” he says to Draya. “We were only days away from striking the Union when the camps were attacked. It was a huge setback, but they’d already placed so many people in the Union that they quickly came up with a backup plan.” She flicks something off her pant leg. “And you know the rest.” “That’s a lot of superficial information,” Mateo says. “We need dates, locations, a list of everything that was taken from the supply trucks, where the leader was last seen, where he was found…” Draya’s chin tilts up as a smirk tugs at the corners of her mouth. “I take it you don’t need details on the camp attacks.” Mateo’s chest expands with each terse breath. “Didn’t think so,” she mumbles but spends the next couple of hours answering questions. Unfortunately, she doesn’t provide much in the way of concrete details, something we desperately need. If we have any hope of taking down the Uprising, we’re going to need help.
GIVEAWAY!
From New York Times bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a sexy standalone novel.
If I could wish for one thing, it would be to have never met my ex. He took my money, cheated on me, and saddled me with an impossible mortgage. Now, just as I’m fighting to put my life back together, I find an unusual bottle with a note inside: “You get one wish. Make it count.” Har har. Someone’s idea of a joke? But nothing could prepare me for what comes next or for the screamin’ hot man with piercing blue eyes who shows up at my door, making demands. I should slam the door in his sex-god face, because this guy has trouble written all over him. But I can’t. Suddenly I do have a wish…
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MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams. Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.
C.J Burright is a native Oregonian and refuses to leave. A member of Romance Writers of America and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, while she has worked for years in a law office, she chooses to avoid writing legal thrillers (for now) and instead invades the world of paranormal romance, fantasy, and contemporary romance. C.J. also has her 4th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and believes a story isn’t complete without at least one fight scene. Her meager spare time is spent working out, refueling with mochas, gardening, gorging on Assassin’s Creed, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners…always with music. She shares life with her husband, daughter, and a devoted cat herd.
