Chasing Reese

 

Where I live the weather is unbearably cold.
What better time to read a good book:

 

Click here

http://ow.ly/I5PYh

to view book on Amazon

Captivating, engrossing, fascinating, enthralling are words that describe my experience of reading Chasing Reese, by Imy Santiago. The heroine, Catalina, or Cat Pardo is complex. All the people she has loved have died, leaving her with the commitment that she will never love again. She avoids social engagements, but is no wallflower — a reporter who can hold her own against anybody and “swears like a sailor”. This is the street language that I understand. She wears red Doc Martens and clothing emblazoned with skulls.

Cat, is a real woman, thirty-two years of age, who sees herself as being overweight and unattractive. On assignment, to cover the World Snowboarding Championships, she meets Stryder, a renowned photographer, who falls in love with her. Gradually, he wears away her emotional barriers. The erotic tension between these two is like a guitar string being tuned tighter and tighter.

Imy Santiago’s writing is flawless and reads effortlessly with no spelling or grammatical errors to interrupt the reading process. Characters are well developed and the plot line addictive. She has become one of my favorite authors. I look forward to reading the sequel to this book, Finding Reese.

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Biography

I love to read stories about loss, heartache and redemption so it didn’t shock me that I would end up writing stories revolving around those central themes. I write with my heart, using my life experiences and emotions to dictate the tone and path in which my fictional characters embark in my long list of stories. I believe in the power of friendship and to always remain hopeful because life is always full of pleasant surprises.

If you were to ask me if I consider myself an author, I would tell you no, I am not. I’m just a girl who loves a good story that makes you ponder life choices and the darkness that envelopes a broken heart. My stories are about loss, friendship, love and hope. For a full length bio, please visit: http://www.imysantiago.com

Add chasing Reese to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22853493-chasing-reese-a-safelight-novel

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Contact me via email: publicity.imysantiagoauthor@gmail.com

New Amazon Review

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational look at an important societal issue – Gotta read this book!, January 27, 2015

By

Catherine Grainger (Mauston, WI, USA) – See all my reviews

 

This review is from: Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People (Kindle Edition)

Gotta Find a Home. Conversations with Street People by Dennis Cardiff.
Author Dennis Cardiff uses an interesting technique to tell us this story, which is actually comprised of many stories, real stories of the real lives of real people; the street people that most of us look right past every day, or look at with unfounded, negative disdain. Cardiff spent time with some of the street people and panhandlers of Canada, and in this book, he gives us a chance to get to know them a little bit, a chance to try to understand how and why they live this life, that they have hopes, dreams, fears, and regrets, just as everyone else does. I really enjoyed the journal style of the writing, and Cardiff writes with a warm and genuine voice that reaches the reader to impart deeper meaning to the bare bones of the story. You can feel the honest emotion in the way that Cardiff shares these stories, and it makes the telling of the stories that much more important.

Enclosed Scooter – 23 January 2015

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23 January 2015

I’d exited the bus and was hurrying to work. From behind me I heard, “Hey, Dennis, wait!” I turned and there was Chuck  bundled for winter in his wheelchair and Goldie wrapped in a blanket on his lap.”

Hi Chuck, “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Have you been coming down often? How are you?”

HIs balaclava kept slipping over his mouth, so he was having trouble talking, but he said, “I haven’t been here since the last time I saw you. It was too damned cold. My son drove me down, because my enclosed scooter arrived yesterday.  Today the shop was supposed to have it assembled and taken it for a test drive. The battery has to be charged for twenty-four hours that’s why I didn’t come yesterday. It was shipped from Vancouver in pieces because it’s fairly bulky. Unfortunately, the one piece they forgot to send was the computer for the hand controls. Of course, it’s useless without that. I was really pissed off. They said it would take a couple of days for the computer to arrive, so I should have it running next Wednesday.

“I went around the shop looking for other things I’d need. I think I told you that I wanted to get a cover for it. They cost two hundred dollars. I took one to the cash and the guy said to me, ‘You’ve been so patient, waiting all these months, we’ll throw the cover in for free.’

I asked, “What make and model is it. I’d like to look it up on the computer?”

“Oh, I didn’t pay any attentions to that stuff. I just know it’s the blue one that I wanted. I guess it looks a bit like a Smart Car. I haven’t seen any others around, but some of my friends are interested in buying one. I’ll even be able to go through small snow drifts with it.

“A few other good things happened. I’d wondered what I’d do for parking. When I was in my son’s van I noticed the handicapped sign on his dashboard. He’s the one who usually drives me around. I asked him about it. He told me where I could get one. With one of those I’ll be able to park nearly anywhere. They’re not going to give a parking ticket to a handicapped person.

“Another thing, you remember the hotel manager had been phoning the police about me being on the corner? Well, the lady cop talked to her and said, ‘There’s no law that states that a wheelchair can’t be stopped on a public sidewalk. Also, there’s no law against him having his cap out. We haven’t received any complaints about aggressive panhandling.’ So, I’m in the clear.

“When I was in the Metro store I was going around the aisles picking up a few groceries. I even bought one of those roasted chickens for $9.95. When I got to the cash my bill came to $47.00. Before I paid the cashier I heard a loud voice saying, ‘I’ll get that!’ It was a lady that visits me regularly. I refused at first, but she said, ‘Chuck, it’s the least I could do, after knowing you all these years.’

“So what started out as a bad day, turned out good in the end.”

I asked, “So, are you heading up to the mall for coffee.”

“No”, he said, “this has been a big day. I’m going home to fix supper, put my feet up, and watch television.”

“Take care, Chuck. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Dennis.”

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New Amazon Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Find a Home is life changing, January 18, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kk5dug2

By Karen Ruggiero (New York)
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People (Kindle Edition)

Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People, by Dennis Cardiff, has definitely become a favorite book of mine. It’s so real and intense, it makes you feel like you’re walking along with him. Living in NYC, I am surrounded by homeless people so I can definitely relate to the need of wanting to help them. I love the fact that the author introduces the experiences and lives of these such people in a way that make them come real and feel relatable.

The best part about these documentary stories is the fact that they changed the authors life in a way. It makes you as a reader think about your own problems and realize that they aren’t as bad as you thought they were – people have it a lot worse. Helping the homeless is what helps Dennis cope with his own life while giving back to others.

The homeless are people too – just like the rest of us. Most people mistreat them or simply just walk by them, but Dennis shows up why these actions are so wrong and how we can be better humans by taking the time to help instead of hurt. I was truly touched by this one, and would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.

New Goodreads Review

Review of Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People

available from Amazon at http://ow.ly/AD39S 

 

Veritas Vincit rated it 5 of 5 stars

 
I have been very fortunate in my life to have traveled extensively throughout the world, and have also lived in Chicago, a city known for its homeless population and rampant issues of people living below the poverty line. I have seen thousands of street people in my life, but it wasn’t until I was considerably older that I began to genuinely consider what their lives might have been like. It is so easy to dismiss homeless people, as though they blend into the background of a city, like breathing architecture. This is a terrible viewpoint that hundreds of millions of people around the world share in some way.This book was a tremendous achievement and I have to stand up and applaud Cardiff for not only seeing the value in pursuing this subject, but approaching it in such a unique and eye-opening way. This book will absolutely change the way that you live your daily life and will certainly change your perspective on those less fortunate. He exposes the personality of his characters, befriends them, helps them, reveals the depth of their struggle, and acquits some of them of the unjust judgments that they have surely experienced for decades. Although it feels terrible to say, “I loved this book”, given how emotionally charged and challenging it was at times, I can’t deny it. Cardiff is a bold and passionate author who is choosing to use his gifts for the betterment of the people he has come to know as friends. Hopefully everyone that reads this book will re-draw the lines in the sand when it comes to their beliefs on homelessness – If we want to improve society, we will have to do it ourselves. Reading this book and opening your eyes is the right way to start.

 

Chili Charged – 15 January 2015

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While engrossed in a novel, as I sat on the bus on my way to work, I heard, “Hey, Dennis!, said Chili, “I haven’t seen you for ages.” An empty seat opened beside me, so we sat together for the rest of the trip.”

“So, how’ve you been?” she asked.

“”I’ve been fine. I haven’t seen many of our friends lately. It’s been too cold. I saw Joy about three weeks ago. She’s doing fine, but her legs are still giving her trouble. I saw Chuck a while ago. In good weather I see him every morning.”

Chili said, “Yeah, Chuck is a good guy. He has lots of stories and it amazes me, but he remembers things that we had talked about before. He really cares.”

“How about you?” I asked.

“I had my hip surgery — it went really well. I’m still using a cane, but I can get around a lot better. I don’t have much pain. Oh, I broke up with my boyfriend. It happened at a bar. I guess I drank too much. When they handed me the bar bill it was over a hundred dollars. My boyfriend and I had an argument, he took off, leaving me with the bill. I didn’t bring any money, because I thought that he’d be paying. Anyway, they called the cops. I guess I flipped out. I got into a fight. I’m on my way to court now. I have six charges, including assaulting a police officer. I even got pepper sprayed, twice. When I went to the hairdresser to have my hair cut I could still smell the spices from the spray. It nearly made me sick. So, I’ll have to see how that goes. Hey, I’m still in school.”

“That’s great Chili, I’m really proud of you. I hope it goes well for you in count.” Our stop was approaching so we stood up to exit the bus. She walks faster than I do and we separated somewhere in the crowd.

 

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Why Social Work for the Homeless?

David Ethm Kwon

The preamble to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics states that “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” This kind of mission statement makes it easy to make the case that engaging in work to prevent and eliminate homelessness is in essence social work.

Homelessness is a relatively easy idea to explain to everyday Americans, but unfortunately can be quite complex and difficult to conceptualize. When I tell you that I met a homeless person yesterday, you are likely thinking of an unshaven, dirty ragged individual sleeping on the street at night and during the day holding up a cardboard box sign that asks for money. You might be picturing a Vietnam…

View original post 837 more words

New Amazon Review

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inside View, January 9, 2015

By

Clarissa Clemens (Sacramento, CA) – See all my reviews

 

Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

This review is from: Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People (Kindle Edition)

 

This book is very refreshing dealing with a topic that most would turn away from. A well put together memoir, Dennis did an excellent job painting scenes of hardship and hope. Reading Gotta Find a Home gave me an inside view of real life for those who find themselves homeless. Mr. Cardiff gave us a gift of compassion with this wonderful book.

…

Visit my Amazon page at http://ow.ly/AD39S 

New GoodReads Review

 

The book is Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People

at: http://ow.ly/AD39S

 

Jan 06, 2015,  Phillip rated it 5 of 5 stars

On the subject of homeless people, I haven’t put much thought into it. Most of my life has been grinding just to survive. However, when I got a chance to read this book it was a real eye-opener. I was actually surprised how much I liked this book. The author brings a soul to the faceless people that are living on the streets. Some of the conversations are funny and others are gut wrenching. Read this book, I promise you won’t view street people in the same light when you are finished.

Interview: Alexander Tomov Jr.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Interview with Alexander Tomov Jr (author) by Jaideep Khanduja

Alexander Tomov Jr. was born on June 3, 1982 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. He is freelance writer and film director who is looking for realization abroad. His work consists of short stories and short films. The author creates non standard points of view toward the world and the human existence. Some of his stories are hypotheses for the development of society and civilization and for the evolution of human nature in far future. His dream is to change the face of world literature with his strange stories.

Your real name and pen name?

Real name – Alexandar Tomov, Pen name – Alexandar Tomov – junior or Tomovjunior

 

Please share some of the best memories of your childhood

They are many. I had a good childhood and good parents. 

About your education

I studied a long time two disciplines – social anthropology and cinema. And I have very good literary education from child. My parents are writers too.  

What career did you plan during your education days

I always wanted to be a writer and later film director. 

What languages you can speak and write?

I can speak and write English and German. 

What is your biggest source of inspiration in life

There is strange connection between my life and my creativity. I’m a writer of fiction and imagination. But my stories are connected in strange way with everyday reality. Some of they are picture of my escape from boring life. About inspire, there are too many short pieces from books, stories, and movies in my mind, which I use for ideas and inspiration. But also I would say that some modern and classic authors inspire my writing, too – writers like Franz Kafka, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Stephen King, Jorge Luis Borges, and Chekhov. However, someone who always amazes me is Antoine de Saint – Exupéry with “The Little Prince”. Simply written book in which is the whole world.
What hurts you most in this world

Some aspects and instincts of human nature, which are congenital. 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?

I want to show to the world my ideas and strange viewpoint about human existence. In this aspect everything is big challenge and very difficult for me. I’m from small country, most – already self – published author, work alone via internet and my realization in English-speaking world, without recommendation is really, really hard. Often I feel alone against the world and huge and commercial systems in this my dream. But with years persistence and hard work, I already build some connections in internet. I don’t give up and don’t stop trying to realise my creativity and to show the world my visions. Many authors from Bulgaria have told me, that this is a lost cause and that the things don’t happens so, but I can’t escape from myself.

If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?

Maybe will be Lord Byron day life. Romantic and wild. And if I have a day of my life, with other mind, I want to live and think just one day as Albert Einstein.

What is your favorite genre and why?

I love all genres in literature and all genres in who I work. But my favorite is absurd and grotesque. The grotesque is a very good way to express and insert deep ideas, easy, and for many different readers. This genre can also be very powerful and to present some situation, memories or action in very different viewpoint. And what can I say about my most favorite genre – Absurd! Everything is in my short stories. The Absurd is the unthinkable, that can happen every moment.

When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?

I write post – apocalyptic, alternative, speculative, absurdity fiction, fantasy and grotesque. I also write short stories. I wrote my first book when I was 16 or 17. It was a poetry book, inspired from my literary education. My parents are writers too. And my first book with short stories was “Future Gone”, written when I was 21/22 years old.

Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work?

I’m most – already self – published author in Amazon. But I’m also included in one anthology with short stories, published by http://www.mardibooks.com, with title “Unexpected Tales from the Ends of the Earth”. In links below, You can see more information about my books.  

My books in Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Alexandur-Tomov/e/B0092D44JE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0   

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexandur-Tomov/e/B0092D44JE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0   

My books in http://www.goodreads.com:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6012177.Alexandar_Tomov  

MARDIBOOKS.COM – profile page:  

http://www.mardibooks.com/alexandur-tomov/  

MY FUTURED BOOK – front and back cover:  

http://beyondtheabsur.tumblr.com/

Unexpected Tales from the Ends of the Earth – book trailer:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHM0rKsY–A&list=UUDU9qfGiiiAl1ofminRL3NQ

Future Gone – book trailer:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stovqB_mL_o&list=UUDU9qfGiiiAl1ofminRL3NQ

What are your forthcoming writings?

My future book “Beyond the Absurd” is in english translation process. I hope to be ready soon. And I have already 10 translated short stories from this book, and now I give those stories for free for reviews. For everyone, who is interested about deep soul horizons and grotesque abyss of Absurd, You can download free e-book from here:  

Free download link:  

https://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/download/18690888-beyond-the-absurd  

Beyond the Absurd:  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18690888-beyond-the-absurd  

What genres you write in and why?

I write post – apocalyptic, alternative, speculative fiction, absurdity fiction, fantasy and grotesque. I also write short stories. I feel those genres as my second nature.

What keeps you motivating towards writing?

My dream to show to the world my ideas and visions.

How do you plan, schedule and monitor your writing commitments?

Depends. My writing process is strange. Sometimes I can’t write for a month and sometimes I write 3 – 4 stories for 1 – 2 days. I could say, that in some very special moments, my mind start working in some other frequency. This is my moment of inspiration. I can’t control this. There is deep connection with subconscious.

What are your future plans?

I working hard to promote my books and creativity in Western world and beyond my country.

How much real life goes into a fiction writing?

I write fiction and fantasy and almost everything is imagination, but in some parts of my short stories there are described real moments, memories and even dialogue from my life and past. Sometimes in a strange way, reality is the key to any fantasy. About me, I could say, than part of my fiction and fantasy stories actually are escape from today boring life and reality.

Is high level of imagination important to have for an Author?

Depends what kind of author. If You are nonfiction, documentary or comedy writer, maybe not. About myself and my genres, high level of imagination is necessarily.

Your dream destination on Earth?

Like I already say, to show to the whole world my ideas, viewpoints about human existence and strange visions.

Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed. What best things you liked in these countries around the globe?

I was born in 1982 year, june 3 in capital of Bulgaria – Sofia. I have not been in many other countries, but my favorite place is Barcelona. There is something mystical in this beautiful town. Like something from another time and place. The atmosphere in Barcelona and mostly the nights are magic and can be perfect inspiration for a writer. 

Your favorite time of the day?

I could say – the evening.

Your zodiac/ sunsign?

Gemini.

Your favorite color and why?

Maybe the blue. The blue causes strange associations in my mind. Sometimes can be inspiration for me.

What is the last book you finished reading? What is the current book you are reading?

In last time I read many science information in internet. I love to watch science movies too. Discovery and National Geographic are my favorite channels. Outside the literature and cinema, my hobbies are Astrophysics, Cosmology and Quantum mechanics. I love strange theories about time travel and other realities. I love history and any kind of world wide mysteries too.  

Your favorite book and why? Your favorite movie and why?

I can write a book about this question. There are too many short pieces from books, stories, and movies in my mind, which I use for ideas and inspiration. But also I would say that some modern and classic authors inspire my writing, too – writers like Franz Kafka, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Stephen King, Jorge Luis Borges, and Chekhov. However, someone who always amazes me is Antoine de Saint – Exupéry with “The Little Prince”. Simply written book in which is the whole world.

Your favorite celebrity and why?

In literature – Franz Kafka. His stories are very close to my model of Absurd and his books have influenced of my work largely.

In cinema, maybe David Lynch. Very strange and existential film director. His work is very related to the absurd and subconscious.

In science, definitely Albert Einstein. The man, who changed our ideas of the universe, time and reality.  

Your favorite food? 

Bulgarian and chinese food. 

Your favorite sports?

Bodybuilding, jogging and tourism. I’m sport nature.

What is the force that drives you?

My will, inspiration and strength of my character and mind. 

What comes to your mind when you think of India?

Other reality, society and aura. Deep, mystical and ancient culture. Strange religions and teachings.

Some quickies: Sun or Moon, Laughter or Smile, Morning or Evening, Coffee or Tea, Mountain or Sea, Long Drive or Short Drive, Silence or Conversation, Water or Fire, Air or Earth, Mars or Jupiter, Tulip or Rose, Red or Blue, Left or Right, Glance or Stare

Moon, Smile, Evening, Coffee, Mountain and Sea, Long Drive, Conversation, Fire, Earth, Mars, Rose, Blue, Right, Glance

What three words come to your mind for each – Technology, Life, God, Humanity, Terrorism, Racism, Childhood Abuse, Love, Parenting, Old age

Technology – today, reality, future.

Life – short, strange, magic.

God – deep, mystery, power

Humanity – global, energy, evolution.

Terrorism – danger, real, unpredictable.

Racism – nonsensical, bad, hate.

Childhood Abuse – beautiful, change, realization.

Love – feeling, pain, happiness.

Parenting – important, child, love.

Old age – time, end, fear.

First thing you do in the morning after waking up?

I drink coffee. I love it.

Last thing to do before sleep?

Often I work or watch movies.

State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote 

“Strong belief in the bright future, always hiding fear of the past”.”  

In link below, You can see more quotes from me in http://www.goodreads.com:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6012177.Alexandar_Tomov

The last line of your autobiography would be…

World famous writer.

The title of your autobiography would be…

I started alone against the world.

Links & other relevant details:

My http://www.goodreads.com profile:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6012177.Alexandar_Tomov   

My open interview in goodreads.com. You’re welcome to ask questions!:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/6012177.Alexandar_Tomov/questions  

ALL MY INTERVIEWS:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/6819250-all-my-interviews   

My books in Amazon:  

http://www.amazon.com/Alexandur-Tomov/e/B0092D44JE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0   

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexandur-Tomov/e/B0092D44JE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0   

My book trailers creating little business and services: 

https://plus.google.com/105779808610351075620/posts/4fnngL6vESR  

My movies in http://www.youtube.com:  

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEE551F370F489081  

10 translated short stories from my future book “Beyond the Absurd –   

free download link:  

https://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/download/18690888-beyond-the-absurd  

Beyond the Absurd – front cover:  

http://beyondtheabsur.tumblr.com/post/75354113910/beyondtheabsur-my-future-book-front-cover  

Some of my stories:  

The Hotel of Absurdity – short story:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5684119-the-hotel-of-absurdity  

Beyond the Absurd – short story:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5143069-beyond-the-absurd—short-story   

STORY 1 – short story:  

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5071892-one-short-story-from-my-future-book-beyond-the-absurd  

More stories in http://www.goodreads.com:  

https://www.goodreads.com/story/list/12539885   

My working email: tomovwriter@abv.bg   

 

http://sciencefiction-nastragull.blogspot.se/2014/08/alexander-tomov-new-great-bulgarian.html