Book Spotlight: Tommy by William S Chadwick @Schylor66

Book Excerpt

It itched from time to time, especially when exposed to air like when he changed his clothes or took a shower. He rubbed it gently, almost afraid to put a nail to it and actually scratch. Truthfully it had been several days after the surgery before he had been able to bring himself to touch it at all. Somehow it wasn’t quite so real if he didn’t touch it. Besides, seeing it was bad enough. To him, it was grotesque.

He kept it hidden, even from Sarah. She’d objected, of course. At first she had objected a great deal. He knew it was just her curiosity that kept her constantly badgering him to let her see it, but he still couldn’t do it. He was afraid. It wasn’t rational, he knew; but he was afraid just the same. Would she look at him differently? No. Of course she wouldn’t. Deep down, he knew that. But when you’re a man staring at old age with a scar from a Lon Chaney movie running down the center of your chest, you wonder about things.

You wonder a lot.

So he’d kept it hidden. He let the Doctors see it when they needed to examine him. A few nurses had seen it when they’d insisted on giving him a sponge bath. Other than that, no one had peeked beneath his bandage. Not even his wife. When he got home he changed clothes in the bathroom behind a locked door, and he took to sleeping in a nightshirt. It had taken a little getting used to. He’d slept in the raw most of his life and the nightshirt was a little binding at times, but he got used to it.
You get used to a lot of things, when you have to.

He was still caressing the scar as his thoughts drifted away from him, when he saw something in the mirror. He caught just a glimpse of it. It was just a shimmer, really…sort of like a shift in focus, and only for an instant. But in that instant, he saw something that left him standing rigid and bathed in ice cold sweat. He couldn’t be sure, but it looked like…

No. It was impossible. He was just tired, that’s all. It had been a long and exasperating day, and he was worn out. His mind was playing tricks on him. That’s all it was. It had to be. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling.

Someone else was staring back at him through that mirror.

How To Purchase

Tommy can be purchased through our bookstore.

10% of ‘Tommy”s net proceeds from all sales, paperback and ebook, goes to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

About the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Since 2000, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has served United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families by providing close to $150 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the Fund.

They have done this in the past through direct grants to spouses, dependent children, and parents of unmarried service members who were lost in the performance of their duties. From 2000 to 2005 they provided nearly $20 million in these grants. In 2005, federal legislation greatly increased benefits to these families and IFHF redirected their efforts to other benefits.

They have built, and continue to build, state-of-the –art medical and rehabilitation facilities for service members wounded in the line of duty, including:

The Center for the Intrepid: A $55 million world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Center serves military personnel and veterans who have been catastrophically disabled, or severely injured, in the normal performance of their duties. (Completed in 2007)

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence: A 72,000 square foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus at Bethesda, Maryland, which provides the most advanced services for advanced diagnostics, initial treatment plan and family education, introduction to therapeutic modalities, referral and reintegration support for military personnel and veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and psychological health conditions. (Completed in 2010)

Intrepid Spirit: In 2013 the Fund launched a new campaign to extend the care provided at NICoE to more service members suffering TBI and psychological health conditions. The Fund will build up to nine “Intrepid Spirit” centers at major military bases around the country. These centers will act as satellites to the central NIcoE facility and will allow urgently-needed care to be brought to more troops and closer to home.

Again, one of the biggest reasons William Chadwick supports this charity is their outstanding management of funds. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund:

  • Meets all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for Charity Accountability
  • Holds an “A” rating from CharityWatch

To learn more about this amazing charity and the programs they offer our National Heroes, clink on the link above. The men and women that serve to protect our nation deserve our very best, and so do the families that support them!

About The Author

William S. Chadwick is the author of two novels; The Rabbitry, and Rain. He grew up in northern Arkansas, steeped in the salty-sweet brine of dark Ozark folklore combined with Bible Belt Christian doctrine. He now lives in the Hot Springs area with his wife (Rose), their dog (Bella), cat (Ken), and a small green lizard that has taken up residence in their home who they have not named yet, but they would accept suggestions.
He and Rose are both former service members with the U.S. Army and National Guard/Reserves, and are strong supporters of our nation’s military and veterans.

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Interview With William S Chadwick, Author of “Tommy” @Schylor66

William S Chadwick

When did you start writing and what inspired you to start?

I wrote my first novel back in 2009 from a short story I wrote around 1999…but I have been writing short stories and poetry since I was in Jr. High. I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I can remember, but I struggled with the idea in my early years.
My Mother-in-law at the time (Mary Rogers) read the short story that became The Rabbitry, and encouraged me greatly to do something with it.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written three novels. Two have been published, and the third is headed to editing shortly. My favorite is The Rabbitry. Hey…you never forget your first love, right?

“Sell” your latest book in 120 characters – Tweet style

Seth got a second chance at life, but now he must risk it to save the love of his life. Will he make it, or lose it all?

The current trend in publishing is toward series novels as opposed to stand-alone books. Is your most recent release part of a series? If so, where do you see the story going (ie how many books in the series)? If not, do you have a series you’ve written or plan to write, and if so, what is it?

I have not written a series as yet, but all three plus the novel I am currently writing are connected in some ways, geographically and also through a mysterious character that tends to pop up in whatever I am writing. One day, this mysterious character may have a story of his own to tell…along with many secrets.

I have an idea for a series that is fermenting in a dark corner of the cellar right now, but whether it will be wine or vinegar remains to be seen.

When your latest title is adapted to film, and the producers ask for your dream cast, what will you say?

Thank you Jesus! (for starters)

Actually, I had the characters for my first novel in my head as I wrote it…they sort of did voice-overs for me (especially Robert Costanzo as the bartender…he just wouldn’t hush and leave me alone). But I haven’t even thought about a cast for Tommy, yet.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Actually, yes. There is evil in this world…real evil…terrible evil. If you try to battle it on your own, you will discover horrors like you have never imagined, and will not make it out alive.
But there is good also, if you trust in God. You want to win? He’s the only way.

Do you have a new book coming out soon?

Rain is in the editing stage, and I hope to have it out early next year.

Who are some of the authors you particularly admire or who’ve had some influence on your own writing?

Stephen King, Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, and Frank Peretti…and lets not forget the guys that penned the books of the Bible…the greatest thriller of all time.

List your favorite quotation or words you live by.

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…Jesus Christ. (Luke 22:32)

Hey…if you have Jesus praying for you…how can you not make it?

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Nothing from your past has to define your future. Learn from your mistakes, forgive others, dust yourself off, and reach for something better. It’s never too late.

Most importantly, learn to forgive yourself.

Thank you for reading, and God Bless You!

You can purchase “Tommy” and “The Rabbitry” through our bookstore.

10% of the sales from his books goes to charity. See books for specific charity information.

Connect with William S Chadwick on

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Book Spotlight: Sunset Beach Sizzle by @Carol_Burnside

Book Excerpt

“Have you ever thought about ditching the whole high-profile divorce thing? Maybe setting up with a partner or smaller firm somewhere?” Cisco sounded nonchalant, but his body had gone still and he’d suddenly become fascinated with lining up his flatware, side-by-side.

“Getting out from under Bruce’s thumb? Oh, yeah. Some days I think about it a lot.”

“So you wouldn’t mind relocating or being offered a position in a smaller firm?”

“Not if it’s profitable and expanding. I can’t see myself working sixty-hour plus work weeks forever. At some point, I’d like to find someone normal I could share my life with.”

“You see yourself married with kids?”

“It’s more like I see myself in a committed relationship. Kids? Maybe. If I felt comfortable that the dad would co-parent.” How did they get off on this subject and why? “Do you know something I don’t? If I’m in trouble at the firm —”

“No. No. Nothing like that. I’m just throwing out a hypothetical. Asking about your dreams.”

“But there is something,” Julia insisted. “You said ‘nothing like that,’ which means there’s something —”

“Julia, no.” He sighed, braced a thumb against his temple and worried four fingers across his forehead. She’s seen him do that dozens of times when under stress. The action didn’t inspire her to relax. “You deserve reciprocal trust here, so … I’m asking these things because I’ve been thinking about making a move. My whole reason for coming to Denver was to have a relationship with my brother, but Bruce isn’t interested.”

“Seriously? The senior partners like you. I figured you for a shoe-in.”

“And you know why? I’m starting to go for the jugular. Just. Like. Them.” He poked the table with a stiff index finger after each word, his upper lip curled. “Kid stuck in the middle needs an education fund, but good ol’ dad is pissed because he got caught with his pants down, so we’ve got to screw the injured party out of that money. Never mind the kid.”

Call her surprised. She was familiar with the case he referred to. Cisco was so even-tempered, so courteous and professional to all the clients. Even that one. She would never have guessed he’d hated the outcome. It had bothered her some that he hadn’t seemed affected, worried her that he could be more like Bruce than she’d thought.

He’d straightened in his chair, and now stared out the window, his jaw working as he struggled to pull his emotions in check. That he had such fierce passion in him excited her. She thought of other applications for that passion and sucked in an excited, audible breath.

He turned wide, questioning eyes in her direction. “Julia?”

She reached into the beach tote for her wallet, counted out a few bills and threw them on the table. “I like it when you’re all fired up, Cisco. Think you can duplicate it upstairs?”

It took him a heartbeat and a blink to switch gears.

The Buzz

4-1/2 stars:
Julia and Cisco join up for a sizzling hot week of sex on the beaches of Hawaii, so they can figure out if the intense feelings between them are real, and then they’ll try and circumvent the no frat rules.

Sunset Beach Sizzle is a nice read for a rainy afternoon or a snowy night. — Alberta, Manic Readers

How To Purchase:

Sunset Beach Sizzle, book one in the Tropical Heat series is available through our bookstore.

About The Author:

Carol BurnsideCarol Burnside is an award-winning author of the Sweetwater Springs series and writes “sizzling romance with heart and humor.” Her personal second-chance-at-love story resulted in a marriage to her high school sweetheart of thirty-plus years. That experience cemented her belief in a deep and lasting love, and serves as inspiration for every romance she writes while the ever present glass of sweet southern tea keeps her energized through long hours at the computer.

Also published in short stories, Carol’s novel length manuscripts have placed in numerous contests and won several, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence. Her Sweetwater Springs series is contemporary sensual romance and is set in a fictitious small Arkansas town. Writing as Annie Rayburn, she produces alternate reality erotic romances with soft sci-fi and lite paranormal elements. Talk about crossing genres!

Enjoy excerpts, review snippits, and more about her sexy Crainesian characters on her website or connect with her on www.PetitFoursAndHotTamales.com.

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