June Ahern's Blog - Posts Tagged "fiction"
Give-away of Two Books by June Ahern
I love give-aways books. Entering for sure, but also, my books offered. When the winners' names are sent, I happily package up The Skye in June and The Timeless Counselor. Like sending a birthday gift off!
Here's the latest give-away.
http://fullmoonbites.wordpress.com/20...
For either paperback or ebook - check it out!
Here's the latest give-away.
http://fullmoonbites.wordpress.com/20...
For either paperback or ebook - check it out!
NEW NOVEL COMPLETE!
I just typed "The End" in my manuscript of my new novel. Here's the synopsis.
Time Has Come by June Ahern
Sixteen years after the Summer of Love, Liz MacKay appears before a parole board. Do you understand the gravity of your actions? Yes. Are you deeply sorry for the grief they have caused others? Yes. Sorry, but not for killing Ricky Martinez. He hadn’t cared who he hurt. Liz, too, had once been arrogant and self-centered. It toppled her from a good life into a dark hole. Now she does penance for the great misery she caused. Her attorney and friend, Toni, disagrees: When did penance become self-punishment?
A self-professed bad girl Liz marries her Highlander sweetheart at sixteen. They live happily in Scotland until their young son is kidnapped. The boy dies as a result of her lies. Newspaper headlines scream Mom Guilty As Sin! Liz’s husband abandons her and she is a pariah in her hometown. Lonely and grief stricken, she heeds an Irish soothsayer’s prophesy and moves to San Francisco to redeem herself.
Life in San Francisco in 1967 is beyond all of Liz’s experience. She moves into a Castro Street commune, joining Black Panthers Toni and Bobby, the homosexual Mason, Sam, who keeps a watchful eye on the family, and Ricky the drug dealer who has one girlfriend after another. His current girlfriend, Cat, reveals too much about his dealings. And Toni, suspicious of Liz’s insistence that she’s only there to have a jolly good time, seeks the truth.
As the commune unravels and her own drug use escalates, Liz’s guilt about her son worsens. Embroiled in a plot against Toni and Bobby and desperate for redemption and desperate for redemption, she wants to save everyone. Liz must decide. Warn Toni or heed Sam’s threats. Keep quiet. Let what is going happen, happen.
Time Has Come by June Ahern
Sixteen years after the Summer of Love, Liz MacKay appears before a parole board. Do you understand the gravity of your actions? Yes. Are you deeply sorry for the grief they have caused others? Yes. Sorry, but not for killing Ricky Martinez. He hadn’t cared who he hurt. Liz, too, had once been arrogant and self-centered. It toppled her from a good life into a dark hole. Now she does penance for the great misery she caused. Her attorney and friend, Toni, disagrees: When did penance become self-punishment?
A self-professed bad girl Liz marries her Highlander sweetheart at sixteen. They live happily in Scotland until their young son is kidnapped. The boy dies as a result of her lies. Newspaper headlines scream Mom Guilty As Sin! Liz’s husband abandons her and she is a pariah in her hometown. Lonely and grief stricken, she heeds an Irish soothsayer’s prophesy and moves to San Francisco to redeem herself.
Life in San Francisco in 1967 is beyond all of Liz’s experience. She moves into a Castro Street commune, joining Black Panthers Toni and Bobby, the homosexual Mason, Sam, who keeps a watchful eye on the family, and Ricky the drug dealer who has one girlfriend after another. His current girlfriend, Cat, reveals too much about his dealings. And Toni, suspicious of Liz’s insistence that she’s only there to have a jolly good time, seeks the truth.
As the commune unravels and her own drug use escalates, Liz’s guilt about her son worsens. Embroiled in a plot against Toni and Bobby and desperate for redemption and desperate for redemption, she wants to save everyone. Liz must decide. Warn Toni or heed Sam’s threats. Keep quiet. Let what is going happen, happen.
GREAT CITY FOR BOOK LOCATION
There are many great cities for a story to take place in; London, Paris, Venice, New York City, Glasgow and of course, Baghad-by-the-Bay.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen coined the term Baghdad-by-the-Bay for San Francisco's exotic multicultural, multicrazy citizens -- my city. I hear some natives who have long moved it say, it's not like it used to be! True, because it, like the waters surrounding it, is in constant change -- people sail in, sail out and the beat goes on.
How could I not develop a story around San Francisco?
My novels, "The Skye in June" and "City of Redemption", set in this interesting place tell of times gone past. What hasn't changed are the hills the characters climb up and down, in and out of shops nestled the valleys as fog lingers nearby. A visit to Playland to listen to the hysterical Laughing Sal is a reminder of an amusement park that remains in many memories. A writer can't tell a story about San Francisco without taking readers on a cable car ride with a clang, clang of bells and end at Woolworth's store on Market.
The City is full of history of unsavory characters and wild happenings. When the Bloom of Summer of Love 1967 in the Haight Ashbury paled, the squalor was left for those who called San Francisco home. We went on, more to talk about - then dam hippies! - and then those strange ones came; The Castro grew new life, people, ones like the home-grown city people never saw. Did the world end? Did the City crumble? No. Baghdad stories flew far and wide. The beat went on. And will.
Memories continue to be made, changes never cease. Like it or not. My stories, my bookswill be around for a long, long time, long after I pass on to the big party in the sky. Readers will know what life was like back in the day - they will will know a bit more about my city - my Baghad-by-the-Bay.
Books at Amazon.com, Createspace.com and for personally autographed copies juneahern.com
City of Redemption
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen coined the term Baghdad-by-the-Bay for San Francisco's exotic multicultural, multicrazy citizens -- my city. I hear some natives who have long moved it say, it's not like it used to be! True, because it, like the waters surrounding it, is in constant change -- people sail in, sail out and the beat goes on.
How could I not develop a story around San Francisco?
My novels, "The Skye in June" and "City of Redemption", set in this interesting place tell of times gone past. What hasn't changed are the hills the characters climb up and down, in and out of shops nestled the valleys as fog lingers nearby. A visit to Playland to listen to the hysterical Laughing Sal is a reminder of an amusement park that remains in many memories. A writer can't tell a story about San Francisco without taking readers on a cable car ride with a clang, clang of bells and end at Woolworth's store on Market.
The City is full of history of unsavory characters and wild happenings. When the Bloom of Summer of Love 1967 in the Haight Ashbury paled, the squalor was left for those who called San Francisco home. We went on, more to talk about - then dam hippies! - and then those strange ones came; The Castro grew new life, people, ones like the home-grown city people never saw. Did the world end? Did the City crumble? No. Baghdad stories flew far and wide. The beat went on. And will.
Memories continue to be made, changes never cease. Like it or not. My stories, my bookswill be around for a long, long time, long after I pass on to the big party in the sky. Readers will know what life was like back in the day - they will will know a bit more about my city - my Baghad-by-the-Bay.
Books at Amazon.com, Createspace.com and for personally autographed copies juneahern.com
City of Redemption
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
HOGMANAY CELEBRATION
Happy Hogmanay All!
Some rituals:
The first-foot to cross your threshold in at midnight as you walk into the New Year is to be a tall, dark haired man to herald in good luck for the rest of the year. Beware of a red-headed person crossing the threshold first - threatens the year will have bad luck.
Gifts to Bring a Scot on New Year: A Coin, Shortbread, Black Bun, Salt, Coal, and Whisky,
which represent financial prosperity, food, flavour, warmth, and good cheer respectively
The Chapter from my book, The Skye in June, below will give some other rituals the Scots do at the end and beginning of the New Year. In it you will learn how the MacDonalds continue their special rituals and celebrations in their new countries.
Read more about the story at june ahern dot com. Available in eBook and paperback. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, order from your favorite bookstore.
Chapter 15
HOGMANAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACDONALDS PLANNED to host their first party in America on New Year’s Eve, 1955. The family worked together to spruce up their flat in the weeks before the gathering.
Cathy busily washed the bay windows with June at her side, trying to be helpful. The soapy water dripped down the girl’s arms and into her rolled-up sleeves.
“We have to make the house nice and clean for all the people coming. Is that right, Mommy?” June asked.
“That’s right, my wee clootie dumpling,” Cathy said. She watched June’s determined face as she carefully scrubbed at the glass. Her mind drifted back to when the idea of having a party on Hogmanay first arose.
****
When it came to June, she prayed Granda and Granny B would visit for Christmas. Her wish brought up a conversation during dinner about past holidays in Scotland. Jimmy said how much fun the Scottish New Year was. Annie, who was old enough to remember, reminded her father that in Scotland, the New Year celebration was called Hogmanay.
“What a holiday it is! We have special things––traditions, like paying off debts before the first of January,” Sandy told the children in seriousness.
“We won’t have to worry about that tradition, eh, Jimmy?” Cathy said. Her husband didn’t believe in accumulating debts and lived frugally, day-by-day. He prided himself in being able to send weekly payments to Granda B for the money he had loaned them to make their move to America possible.
“Mommy, what were the parties like at Hogmanay?” June said, crucifying the name the Scots called New Year’s Eve and the days following. It sounded like she said, “Hug many.”
The adults laughed so cheerfully that she joined in, thinking how happy everyone was with her question.
They began to reminisce about Hogmanay. The descriptions of the holiday spilled out across the dining table as Jimmy, Sandy and Cathy related their stories about Scotland’s most popular holiday, which was celebrated as though it were a religious event.
When Jimmy said the streets of Glasgow were busy with people going from house to house starting on New Year’s Eve, visiting and bringing gifts, June gathered that Hogmanay was like Halloween night.
“What kind of gifts?” she asked.
Annie piped in, “Granny always baked special things like holiday oat cakes and black buns.”
“Whiskey cake and her famous shortbread. Oh yum!” Cathy jumped in, winking at her daughters as she licked her lips and made a wide circle on her belly.
“Good whiskey,” Jimmy added.
Sandy told a story about the time they went bathing in the Clyde River, just to see who could endure the cold water the longest. “It was so bloody frigid. If it hadn’t been for the whiskey keeping my blood moving and Cathy’s brother, Peter, jumping in to pull me out…”
Nancy interrupted the story with a sharp, “Sandy! That’s not a good example for the children.”
“Right dear. We were silly boys then. It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” he said seriously.
Cathy covered her smiling lips with a napkin and made big eyes at her daughters.
“Tell us more, Mommy,” June said, enjoying the cheery conversation.
Her mother clasped her hands and placed them on the table in front of her, her blue eyes glittering in the candlelight. Everyone sat still and listened as Cathy’s soft Scottish voice told the story.
“There’s a very special ritual on Hogmanay that begins at midnight on New Year’s Eve, acted out in the homes across Scotland. It’s customary that the first guest, called the first foot, enters a home shortly after midnight. It’s tradition that the first foot is a dark haired man who comes bearing gifts. It’s usually a lump of coal to keep the host’s home warm through the long cold winter and a bottle of Scotch to warm their souls.”
Jimmy interrupted, “Ye hope it’s a dark haired man who enters first, because then you’d have good luck throughout the upcoming year.”
Cathy kept talking, “Girls, your Granda B was a most welcomed guest as the first foot because he was tall and had black hair.” She was looking dreamily into the candle flame. “Until his hair turned white, that is.” Although she said it lightly, June sensed sadness in her mother’s voice.
“Aye, he was always the life of the party, getting everybody to sing and the ladies up for a dance. It’s his favorite holiday,” Jimmy said nostalgically.
The room quieted as the storytellers became lost in their own memories. June didn’t want the enchanting Hogmanay tales to end and she asked, “Can we have a party?”
Her sisters cheered the idea loudly.
Jimmy and Cathy looked at each other across the table. She hesitated, fearful of letting down the girls if she took a spell of depression.
“No a bad idea,” he said enthusiastically.
Looking at the girls’ excited faces staring at her, it was hard not to give in to them. Cathy decided that celebrating Hogmanay in America would start a family tradition in their new country.
* * *
more about the party with the other Scottish immigrants continues in the book.
What are your traditions on New Year's Eve and day?
Interview: https://mercedesfoxbooks.com/meet-aut...
Read more about June Ahern and her books at www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
City of Redemption
How to Talk With Spirits
The Timeless Counselor
Some rituals:
The first-foot to cross your threshold in at midnight as you walk into the New Year is to be a tall, dark haired man to herald in good luck for the rest of the year. Beware of a red-headed person crossing the threshold first - threatens the year will have bad luck.
Gifts to Bring a Scot on New Year: A Coin, Shortbread, Black Bun, Salt, Coal, and Whisky,
which represent financial prosperity, food, flavour, warmth, and good cheer respectively
The Chapter from my book, The Skye in June, below will give some other rituals the Scots do at the end and beginning of the New Year. In it you will learn how the MacDonalds continue their special rituals and celebrations in their new countries.
Read more about the story at june ahern dot com. Available in eBook and paperback. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, order from your favorite bookstore.
Chapter 15
HOGMANAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACDONALDS PLANNED to host their first party in America on New Year’s Eve, 1955. The family worked together to spruce up their flat in the weeks before the gathering.
Cathy busily washed the bay windows with June at her side, trying to be helpful. The soapy water dripped down the girl’s arms and into her rolled-up sleeves.
“We have to make the house nice and clean for all the people coming. Is that right, Mommy?” June asked.
“That’s right, my wee clootie dumpling,” Cathy said. She watched June’s determined face as she carefully scrubbed at the glass. Her mind drifted back to when the idea of having a party on Hogmanay first arose.
****
When it came to June, she prayed Granda and Granny B would visit for Christmas. Her wish brought up a conversation during dinner about past holidays in Scotland. Jimmy said how much fun the Scottish New Year was. Annie, who was old enough to remember, reminded her father that in Scotland, the New Year celebration was called Hogmanay.
“What a holiday it is! We have special things––traditions, like paying off debts before the first of January,” Sandy told the children in seriousness.
“We won’t have to worry about that tradition, eh, Jimmy?” Cathy said. Her husband didn’t believe in accumulating debts and lived frugally, day-by-day. He prided himself in being able to send weekly payments to Granda B for the money he had loaned them to make their move to America possible.
“Mommy, what were the parties like at Hogmanay?” June said, crucifying the name the Scots called New Year’s Eve and the days following. It sounded like she said, “Hug many.”
The adults laughed so cheerfully that she joined in, thinking how happy everyone was with her question.
They began to reminisce about Hogmanay. The descriptions of the holiday spilled out across the dining table as Jimmy, Sandy and Cathy related their stories about Scotland’s most popular holiday, which was celebrated as though it were a religious event.
When Jimmy said the streets of Glasgow were busy with people going from house to house starting on New Year’s Eve, visiting and bringing gifts, June gathered that Hogmanay was like Halloween night.
“What kind of gifts?” she asked.
Annie piped in, “Granny always baked special things like holiday oat cakes and black buns.”
“Whiskey cake and her famous shortbread. Oh yum!” Cathy jumped in, winking at her daughters as she licked her lips and made a wide circle on her belly.
“Good whiskey,” Jimmy added.
Sandy told a story about the time they went bathing in the Clyde River, just to see who could endure the cold water the longest. “It was so bloody frigid. If it hadn’t been for the whiskey keeping my blood moving and Cathy’s brother, Peter, jumping in to pull me out…”
Nancy interrupted the story with a sharp, “Sandy! That’s not a good example for the children.”
“Right dear. We were silly boys then. It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” he said seriously.
Cathy covered her smiling lips with a napkin and made big eyes at her daughters.
“Tell us more, Mommy,” June said, enjoying the cheery conversation.
Her mother clasped her hands and placed them on the table in front of her, her blue eyes glittering in the candlelight. Everyone sat still and listened as Cathy’s soft Scottish voice told the story.
“There’s a very special ritual on Hogmanay that begins at midnight on New Year’s Eve, acted out in the homes across Scotland. It’s customary that the first guest, called the first foot, enters a home shortly after midnight. It’s tradition that the first foot is a dark haired man who comes bearing gifts. It’s usually a lump of coal to keep the host’s home warm through the long cold winter and a bottle of Scotch to warm their souls.”
Jimmy interrupted, “Ye hope it’s a dark haired man who enters first, because then you’d have good luck throughout the upcoming year.”
Cathy kept talking, “Girls, your Granda B was a most welcomed guest as the first foot because he was tall and had black hair.” She was looking dreamily into the candle flame. “Until his hair turned white, that is.” Although she said it lightly, June sensed sadness in her mother’s voice.
“Aye, he was always the life of the party, getting everybody to sing and the ladies up for a dance. It’s his favorite holiday,” Jimmy said nostalgically.
The room quieted as the storytellers became lost in their own memories. June didn’t want the enchanting Hogmanay tales to end and she asked, “Can we have a party?”
Her sisters cheered the idea loudly.
Jimmy and Cathy looked at each other across the table. She hesitated, fearful of letting down the girls if she took a spell of depression.
“No a bad idea,” he said enthusiastically.
Looking at the girls’ excited faces staring at her, it was hard not to give in to them. Cathy decided that celebrating Hogmanay in America would start a family tradition in their new country.
* * *
more about the party with the other Scottish immigrants continues in the book.
What are your traditions on New Year's Eve and day?
Interview: https://mercedesfoxbooks.com/meet-aut...
Read more about June Ahern and her books at www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
City of Redemption
How to Talk With Spirits
The Timeless Counselor
MOM & TEA LEAF READINGS
My mother was quite entertaining with her scary bedtime stories, interest in the mysterious and supernatural (love One Step Beyond TV show) and delighted us with tea leaf readings.
A Tribute to My Mother who we called "mammy"
MARIA BURGOYNE CALLAGHAN
JULY 30, 1920 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
A MOST BELOVED AND CHERISHED MOTHER
8 CHILDREN
NUMEROUS GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
Article: July, 2010
We just celebrated my mother's ninetieth (90) birthday at her favorite tea room and concluded the luncheon by exchanging tealeaf readings, which we learned from mom.
Being a Scottish family a good hot cuppa of black loose-leafed tea blended perfectly with milk and sugar, This was our breakfast brew.
Sometimes when the cups were emptied my mother would read our tea leaves -only for fun she'd remind us, being a good and faithful Catholic. No shenanigans with that "old black magic beliefs!" She was devoted to Mary, Our Lady, Jesus' mother, and when any of her children were in dire need for help Mom would be asked to speak to Our Lady on our behalf. The problem was more often than not cleared up. Now, you couldn't ask too often or for frivolous things. Yes, Mom had an in with Mary.
As far back as I can remember Mom has loved the mysterious and supernatural. Her love for spooky and "unusual" sparked an interest in her children, an interest that continued to grow as we did. Like some of my siblings (the rest are in denial I think) I read the tealeaves, (of course), tarot cards, aura's, and see spirits as did my mother.
Although she'd never admit to having special psychic abilities, Mom also had prophetic dreams and saw spirits - the first she mentioned was her brother Alec who drowned during WWII. Whilst on her honeymoon she saw him appear at the foot of the bed hours before the news of his death came to the family.
When we were kids we'd sit with mouth's hanging open at the breakfast table as she recounted, in great dramatic detail, the previous night's television program One Step Beyond (too late for us kids). Afterward we'd have to scamper down the steep San Francisco hills to a day with the nuns, head full of spooky images with the promise not to speak a word of it.
Friday nights we'd get to stay up late and with her would watch The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
She's not crazy about me being a witch though or preferring the free thinking Rosicrucian knowledge and practice. Mom is mostly dismayed about some of her daughters being witches and pagans, wishing we'd have remained faithful to Catholicism as she has. But on an odd day Mom says, Maybe I'm the head witch, eh? Giving her sweet smile.
Living through the bombings of Glasgow during World War ll, emigrating to Canada on an ocean liner with five kids (father looking for more lucrative work), back to Scotland with one more kid and once again following my father to the USofA now with seventh kid (the one in pic above with Mom) where #8 and last baby was welcomed, surviving the crazy and wild times of her teen children during of the San Francisco 1960s, and all the other things that come with eight kids and a strong-willed husband, I think my mother is a most wonderful woman. Blessed be.
How has your mother influenced your abilities and talents?
MY BOOKS: Available on Amazon, Smashwords, your local bookstores and me june ahern dot com
THE SKYE IN JUNE, my novel, about a Scottish immigrant family in San Francisco with one child that has unusual abilities
HOW TO TALK WITH SPIRITS: SEANCES, MEDIUMS, GHOST HUNTS
CITY OF REDEMPTION (A NOVEL)
THE TIMELESS COUNSELOR: THE BEST GUIDE TO A PSYCHIC READING
The Skye in June
How to Talk With Spirits: Séances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts
A Tribute to My Mother who we called "mammy"
MARIA BURGOYNE CALLAGHAN
JULY 30, 1920 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
A MOST BELOVED AND CHERISHED MOTHER
8 CHILDREN
NUMEROUS GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
Article: July, 2010
We just celebrated my mother's ninetieth (90) birthday at her favorite tea room and concluded the luncheon by exchanging tealeaf readings, which we learned from mom.
Being a Scottish family a good hot cuppa of black loose-leafed tea blended perfectly with milk and sugar, This was our breakfast brew.
Sometimes when the cups were emptied my mother would read our tea leaves -only for fun she'd remind us, being a good and faithful Catholic. No shenanigans with that "old black magic beliefs!" She was devoted to Mary, Our Lady, Jesus' mother, and when any of her children were in dire need for help Mom would be asked to speak to Our Lady on our behalf. The problem was more often than not cleared up. Now, you couldn't ask too often or for frivolous things. Yes, Mom had an in with Mary.
As far back as I can remember Mom has loved the mysterious and supernatural. Her love for spooky and "unusual" sparked an interest in her children, an interest that continued to grow as we did. Like some of my siblings (the rest are in denial I think) I read the tealeaves, (of course), tarot cards, aura's, and see spirits as did my mother.
Although she'd never admit to having special psychic abilities, Mom also had prophetic dreams and saw spirits - the first she mentioned was her brother Alec who drowned during WWII. Whilst on her honeymoon she saw him appear at the foot of the bed hours before the news of his death came to the family.
When we were kids we'd sit with mouth's hanging open at the breakfast table as she recounted, in great dramatic detail, the previous night's television program One Step Beyond (too late for us kids). Afterward we'd have to scamper down the steep San Francisco hills to a day with the nuns, head full of spooky images with the promise not to speak a word of it.
Friday nights we'd get to stay up late and with her would watch The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
She's not crazy about me being a witch though or preferring the free thinking Rosicrucian knowledge and practice. Mom is mostly dismayed about some of her daughters being witches and pagans, wishing we'd have remained faithful to Catholicism as she has. But on an odd day Mom says, Maybe I'm the head witch, eh? Giving her sweet smile.
Living through the bombings of Glasgow during World War ll, emigrating to Canada on an ocean liner with five kids (father looking for more lucrative work), back to Scotland with one more kid and once again following my father to the USofA now with seventh kid (the one in pic above with Mom) where #8 and last baby was welcomed, surviving the crazy and wild times of her teen children during of the San Francisco 1960s, and all the other things that come with eight kids and a strong-willed husband, I think my mother is a most wonderful woman. Blessed be.
How has your mother influenced your abilities and talents?
MY BOOKS: Available on Amazon, Smashwords, your local bookstores and me june ahern dot com
THE SKYE IN JUNE, my novel, about a Scottish immigrant family in San Francisco with one child that has unusual abilities
HOW TO TALK WITH SPIRITS: SEANCES, MEDIUMS, GHOST HUNTS
CITY OF REDEMPTION (A NOVEL)
THE TIMELESS COUNSELOR: THE BEST GUIDE TO A PSYCHIC READING
The Skye in June
How to Talk With Spirits: Séances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts
SKYE IN JUNE ANNIVERSARY FREE EBOOK CELEBRATION
Not since Amy Tan has a woman's voice from one of San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods. Author Jim Toland
The Skye in June rolled off the press April 28, 2008and has sold every month since '08. It's my first novel's Ten Year Anniversary Sharing my successful blessing.
Free eBook April 25th to April 29th Follow this link to Amazon 4/25 - 4/29 and ENJOY!
Photo by Jerry Briesach
"Skye" receives overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon.com US, UK, France, and Japan, Goodreads.com, Barnes and Noble,
If you take advantage of the free ebook please leave your comment at these sites or your favorite bookselling sites; truly does help other readers decide to purchase.
ABOUT THE STORY: June MacDonald's fate is sealed the day she is born when her mother defies her husband by not naming their new daughter after a Catholic saint, as is their tradition. No one can foresee that June will grow up to threaten the family by revealing her mother's secret past in the Scottish Highlands. After a tragedy the Scottish MacDonalds emigrate to San Francisco in hopes for a new start.
HOW THE STORY CAME TO BE: My mother's love of books and her great imagination for storytelling inspired me to write "The Skye in June." It's a tribute to my mother and five zany sisters. In it I share some of our history as Scottish immigrants and coming of age during the 1960's in San Francisco. It began as a screenplay because that's how it unfolded for me as I saw characters, felt moods and heard their conversations. Especially enjoyable was the sisters' discussions, which at times was rather hilarious. Before putting it on paper, I'd speak aloud each one's words. My husband finally stopped asking if I was talking to him or "the MacDonalds" (or whomever was being created).
Because my protagonist and I share the same first name I've been asked if it's an autobiography. Some situations and events did occur but the majority of the story is my imagination hence a rather thinly veiled autobiography set in a fictional framework. Why did I call my protagonist June? Fact: Against my father's wishes my mother named me June, a name my father declared was a "heathen name" and not a saint's. I don't believe I'll be the first Saint June.
My other novel, "City of Redemption." and non-fictions, "How to Talk With Spirits: Seances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts" and "The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Psychic Reading", which was the best selling book of a new author at the 1991 Whole Life NY Expo.
Learn more about my books and myself:June Ahern
The Skye in June rolled off the press April 28, 2008and has sold every month since '08. It's my first novel's Ten Year Anniversary Sharing my successful blessing.
Free eBook April 25th to April 29th Follow this link to Amazon 4/25 - 4/29 and ENJOY!
Photo by Jerry Briesach
"Skye" receives overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon.com US, UK, France, and Japan, Goodreads.com, Barnes and Noble,
If you take advantage of the free ebook please leave your comment at these sites or your favorite bookselling sites; truly does help other readers decide to purchase.
ABOUT THE STORY: June MacDonald's fate is sealed the day she is born when her mother defies her husband by not naming their new daughter after a Catholic saint, as is their tradition. No one can foresee that June will grow up to threaten the family by revealing her mother's secret past in the Scottish Highlands. After a tragedy the Scottish MacDonalds emigrate to San Francisco in hopes for a new start.
HOW THE STORY CAME TO BE: My mother's love of books and her great imagination for storytelling inspired me to write "The Skye in June." It's a tribute to my mother and five zany sisters. In it I share some of our history as Scottish immigrants and coming of age during the 1960's in San Francisco. It began as a screenplay because that's how it unfolded for me as I saw characters, felt moods and heard their conversations. Especially enjoyable was the sisters' discussions, which at times was rather hilarious. Before putting it on paper, I'd speak aloud each one's words. My husband finally stopped asking if I was talking to him or "the MacDonalds" (or whomever was being created).
Because my protagonist and I share the same first name I've been asked if it's an autobiography. Some situations and events did occur but the majority of the story is my imagination hence a rather thinly veiled autobiography set in a fictional framework. Why did I call my protagonist June? Fact: Against my father's wishes my mother named me June, a name my father declared was a "heathen name" and not a saint's. I don't believe I'll be the first Saint June.My other novel, "City of Redemption." and non-fictions, "How to Talk With Spirits: Seances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts" and "The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Psychic Reading", which was the best selling book of a new author at the 1991 Whole Life NY Expo.
Learn more about my books and myself:June Ahern
MADONNA INSPIRED ME
When I was in Italy I fell in love with the artwork, which is everywhere - churches, fountains, town centers, buildings.
It's awesomely beautiful. The most popular person painted and carved is the Madonna who was, not only in churches, but out and about throughout cities and towns.
The Madonna aka Mary, Queen of the Angels, Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, God's mother, Jesus' mother, was the central image to behold in much of the artworks.
It had me wondering why men felt a great need to create a female deity over and over again. Can this be that even back when these men were creating there was more than a deep appreciation for the mother and the woman? Could it be an innate and inner understanding and faith in the female principle as the source of all life?
For my mother and her daughters, we were very inspired by the power of the Madonna, the love for her, the faith and that led to a different spiritual path for me.
As a former Catholic from a European country, we were taught to pray to and put faith in Our Lady, the Blessed Mother, Mary, Jesus' mother to guide us.
When we emigrated to the United States, the focus appeared to be more on God and Jesus for guidance and help. Still, in our household images - pictures and small statues of Mary outdid the cross or Jesus; this doesn't mean we did not respect and honor Jesus or God as we did.
Read more about how my devotion to the goddess and how it came the inspiration for my first novel
http://witchgoddesses.blogspot.com/20...
The Skye in June
It's awesomely beautiful. The most popular person painted and carved is the Madonna who was, not only in churches, but out and about throughout cities and towns.
The Madonna aka Mary, Queen of the Angels, Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, God's mother, Jesus' mother, was the central image to behold in much of the artworks.
It had me wondering why men felt a great need to create a female deity over and over again. Can this be that even back when these men were creating there was more than a deep appreciation for the mother and the woman? Could it be an innate and inner understanding and faith in the female principle as the source of all life?
For my mother and her daughters, we were very inspired by the power of the Madonna, the love for her, the faith and that led to a different spiritual path for me.
As a former Catholic from a European country, we were taught to pray to and put faith in Our Lady, the Blessed Mother, Mary, Jesus' mother to guide us.
When we emigrated to the United States, the focus appeared to be more on God and Jesus for guidance and help. Still, in our household images - pictures and small statues of Mary outdid the cross or Jesus; this doesn't mean we did not respect and honor Jesus or God as we did.
Read more about how my devotion to the goddess and how it came the inspiration for my first novel
http://witchgoddesses.blogspot.com/20...
The Skye in June
FREE - GIVE-AWAY eBook
onlinebookclub.org is offering a give-away for my first novel The Skye in June. See link to at bottom of blog- has 344 ratings on Goodreads.
It's a historical novel - a story with laughs, sorrow, adventure, anger, the usual family drama. Has a mystery, with the answer to be found in the Isle of Skye.
Learn some Scottish sayings and customs, walk the streets of one of San Francisco's well-known neighborhoods back in the day, watch the family change over the years.
The MacDonalds are a Scottish immigrant family who emigrated to San Francisco, California in the mid 1950s after a family tragedy.
The four girls come of age during the changing environs of the 1960s - a wild and crazy time.
They live in a most well-known neighborhood of the city that most now know of as The Castro, but is actually named Eureka Valley.
Eureka Valley or "The Valley" has old time residents called it, is the heart of the city - sitting almost right dab in the center of it of San Francisco if you will.
It's a historical novel as the story takes you up and down Castro Street and you can stop at one of the most historical businesses which continues to thrive today - Cliff's Department store.Take in a movie at The Castro Theatre, which was a hubbub for the neighborhood kids who clamored to it, waiting in long lines every Saturday.
Read more about the story at june ahern.com and enter to win a kindle copy. Ready, go..
Good Luck!. Here is the link to the giveaway: https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/63ab229e65d26c28
SKYE'S THE LIMIT! TOP FEMALE AUTHOR WISH
My novel, The Skye in June, had been nominated for
a 2019 Top Female Writers contest.
Please wish it (me) luck and a successful win!
THANK YOU!
Happy to say, my first novel, is an enjoyed story with over 500 overwhelmingly positive reviews at various book selling sites.
Skye has been translated to Japanese (on Amazon.com Japan).
We couldn't have had a more perfect guest. Ahern's really a natural--so cool and calm, articulate and conversational. - Karen Adams, Producer, Arts, Palo Alto Community Television
One of my favorite perks is traveling across the United States on book tours and
meeting so many lovely, interesting people eager to ask questions about San Francisco - my adopted city by the bay and its best known neighborhood The Castro. Did you know it sits just about in the heart of the city?
So many more questions - book events are always lively! I've been invited to talk at bookclubs, and taken to dinner with groups just so they can meet an author and ask what's it like to write and market a book - why did I write it? And much more is discussed.
A review on Amazon written by a guest at a book party in Brooklyn, New York said: “Ms.Ahern reads excerpts with her fabulous Scottish burr and engaged her piercing blues eyes with the audience. This stayed alive in my mind and embellished my reading experiences.”
Where can I get this fine novel? you ask...
• Amazon (international);• www.smashwords.com (all kinds of ebook options); • your bookstore! • Order there and... a personally autographed copy (USA mailing only)
Please review my other three books, learn about me and my paranormal investigations on YouTube (The Haunted Bay) and at june ahern.com
AGAIN, PLEASE SUPPORT "SKYE" BY SENDING GOOD WISHES. Envision my smiling face with a Winner 2019 top Female Writer banner across me - might as well throw in champagne too!
a 2019 Top Female Writers contest.
Please wish it (me) luck and a successful win!
THANK YOU!
Happy to say, my first novel, is an enjoyed story with over 500 overwhelmingly positive reviews at various book selling sites.
Skye has been translated to Japanese (on Amazon.com Japan).
We couldn't have had a more perfect guest. Ahern's really a natural--so cool and calm, articulate and conversational. - Karen Adams, Producer, Arts, Palo Alto Community Television
One of my favorite perks is traveling across the United States on book tours and
meeting so many lovely, interesting people eager to ask questions about San Francisco - my adopted city by the bay and its best known neighborhood The Castro. Did you know it sits just about in the heart of the city?So many more questions - book events are always lively! I've been invited to talk at bookclubs, and taken to dinner with groups just so they can meet an author and ask what's it like to write and market a book - why did I write it? And much more is discussed.
A review on Amazon written by a guest at a book party in Brooklyn, New York said: “Ms.Ahern reads excerpts with her fabulous Scottish burr and engaged her piercing blues eyes with the audience. This stayed alive in my mind and embellished my reading experiences.”
Where can I get this fine novel? you ask...
• Amazon (international);• www.smashwords.com (all kinds of ebook options); • your bookstore! • Order there and... a personally autographed copy (USA mailing only)
Please review my other three books, learn about me and my paranormal investigations on YouTube (The Haunted Bay) and at june ahern.com
AGAIN, PLEASE SUPPORT "SKYE" BY SENDING GOOD WISHES. Envision my smiling face with a Winner 2019 top Female Writer banner across me - might as well throw in champagne too!
TIMELY ARTICLE: 1960s HAPPEINING: REBELLIONS
WHEN FLOWER POWER ERUPTS IN FIRE POWERIn City of Redemption.
Someone sent an article to me found while searching the internet about my novels.
It's on my second novel, City of Redemption, which is rather different from my first novel, The Skye in June.
See how to get a free ebook offer below.
After the phone interview and the rush of book events I'd forgotten to check when the article would be out .
Curiously there's been a surge of interest recently in this story. People asking how was it in the sixties with all the social and political changes - the same happening today, right?
Like the headline Flower Power Erupts into Fire Power - it did. Like now with the rebellions around the world, standing up to the dominate regimes. The youth of today being heard, taking action,
I'm really glad the article was sent. It links me to more interested in the story - all over the world. Cool, far out, groovy....
City is about sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, lies, betrayal and murder taking place during The Summer of Love.
You probably thought it was all peace man, get high - there was a lot of that and....well, the article will cover it.
I lived in San Francisco - yes I was a Flower Power Child with an edge, being more of a City chick to the peace and flower youth that came to San Francisco - ah the memories of all the great happenings like free concerts at Golden Gate Park, all night parties - the whole shabang.
Know what I mean?
Black Panthers on the scene, LSD awakening and expanding the mind. Sadly, for some, destroying minds.
It was a crazy time for sure! - great music like Janis Joplin who lived in the same neighborhood the story takes place and I lived - The Castro. Would see her tootling around in her sports car.
And the fashion. As wild and colorful as the times.
I've seen fashion in 2019 resembling that era. Haven't you?
Read more about the book and me.
Article link Mercury News, California.
Would you please spread the word around the world about this crazy time of great upheaval?
To read for free at Smashwords.com - many choices for ebooks. Join for free - comment and I'll give more details of how to get the ebook for free.
Also, available on Amazon (not for free)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/160158?ref=JuneA
Paperback autographed copy for USA readers .june ahern dot com
Someone sent an article to me found while searching the internet about my novels.
It's on my second novel, City of Redemption, which is rather different from my first novel, The Skye in June. See how to get a free ebook offer below.
After the phone interview and the rush of book events I'd forgotten to check when the article would be out .
Curiously there's been a surge of interest recently in this story. People asking how was it in the sixties with all the social and political changes - the same happening today, right?
Like the headline Flower Power Erupts into Fire Power - it did. Like now with the rebellions around the world, standing up to the dominate regimes. The youth of today being heard, taking action,
I'm really glad the article was sent. It links me to more interested in the story - all over the world. Cool, far out, groovy....
City is about sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, lies, betrayal and murder taking place during The Summer of Love.
You probably thought it was all peace man, get high - there was a lot of that and....well, the article will cover it.I lived in San Francisco - yes I was a Flower Power Child with an edge, being more of a City chick to the peace and flower youth that came to San Francisco - ah the memories of all the great happenings like free concerts at Golden Gate Park, all night parties - the whole shabang.
Know what I mean?
Black Panthers on the scene, LSD awakening and expanding the mind. Sadly, for some, destroying minds.
It was a crazy time for sure! - great music like Janis Joplin who lived in the same neighborhood the story takes place and I lived - The Castro. Would see her tootling around in her sports car.
And the fashion. As wild and colorful as the times.
I've seen fashion in 2019 resembling that era. Haven't you?
Read more about the book and me.
Article link Mercury News, California.
Would you please spread the word around the world about this crazy time of great upheaval?
To read for free at Smashwords.com - many choices for ebooks. Join for free - comment and I'll give more details of how to get the ebook for free.
Also, available on Amazon (not for free)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/160158?ref=JuneA
Paperback autographed copy for USA readers .june ahern dot com
