Monday, June 12, 2017

Meet the Author: IABE

Larissa Vitt

Larissa Vitt was a child of the 80’s. She joined the United States Army where she graduated top of her class and received distinguished honors upon completing the US army attack helicopter course and spent six years as a crew chief and mechanic.
Science fiction was still in her blood. From the first time she saw the science fiction explosion on the silver screen in the late 70’s and read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, she was hooked. She had worked several jobs and after not finding an aviation career, the pen called to her.
         When not writing she spends her time painting and tinkering with old cars. These are some of the aspects of her life have found their way into the fabric of her stories. Her ability to see and paint a picture shines through from the beginning.
Today she lives alone with the love of her life in Shawnee Kansas wielding her brushes and painting with words.

His WWII fighter plane was as close as Bob Conner could get, since the times of magic, to dancing among the clouds nestled in the shoulders of his mighty emerald dragon. It has been thousands of with the magic buried deep in the Earth to protect it from mankind. Now the world is changed forever as it has been rediscovered and once again brought to the surface.
   Now that the magic has been released it is up to those few elves and dwarfs that have stayed behind to put things back. With the help of three special women and a small air force of vintage aircraft this courageous group battles the darkness and is the light that ushers in a who new age of magic.


Monday, June 5, 2017

Meet the Author: IABE

D. Nichole King

Born and raised in Iowa, d. Nichole King writes her stories close to home. There’s nothing like small-town Midwest scenery to create the perfect backdrop for an amazing tale.

She wrote her first book in junior high and loved every second of it. However, she couldn’t bring herself to share her passion with anyone. She packed it away until one day, with the encouragement of her husband, she sat down at the computer and began to type. Now, she can’t stop.

When not writing, d. is usually curled up with a book, scrapbooking, or doing yet another load of laundry.

Along with her incredible husband, she lives in small-town Iowa with her four adorable children and their dog, Peaches.

The Spirit is the first book of The Spirit Trilogy, and is her debut novel
.
Moments.

Every life is made of thousands of them, each one strung together with the next. Some are yellow and happy, some are blue and sad, and some…

Some wipe out color altogether.

“I love you,” is what I should have told Maverick.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m still fighting.”

Instead I just watched him leave.

Now my husband, my everything is battling for each breath, and all I can do is stare at the machines as the clock ticks off precious minutes.

The doctors said the first twenty-four hours are critical—but every moment is critical.

You never know which will be your last.

This is our story, and I’m not ready for it to end.
Dear Diary, 

Leukemia’s been my life since I was eleven. Now, six years later, I want my life back. Only I’m not sure what that is. The test results came back today. 22,000. Which means I’m officially out of remission—again. I have three options:

1) Another round of chemo.
2) A super-new experimental drug.
3) Dump it all— forget the meds and treatments and enjoy the time I have left.

I think I know what I want. Then, in walks Damian, changing everything.

I mean, everything… 

He’s got his own set of issues. It binds us together, you know? We understand what it’s like to lose what matters most in seconds. Still, the last thing I need is to have someone else to crush if I can’t fight hard enough. And the last thing he needs is someone else to grieve. 

Never mind. I’m down to two options now.

Somehow I know that whichever one I choose, the result will be the same. With the sand in my hourglass seeping to the bottom, I hope there’s enough left to show Damian that life’s worth living. 

Worth fighting for. Worth dying for.

Love Always,
Kate



While seventeen year-old Carrie Reese’s parents were working out the details of their divorce, she headed to Villisca, Iowa to stay with her grandparents.

Villisca was home to the infamous Axe Murder House…

It’s known to be haunted by the ghosts of the victims and their killer. Carrie doesn’t believe in ghosts, but the moving curtains and red flashes of light in the windows of Lot 310 were starting to give her reason to watch her back.

Then in walked Lucas…

Within days, Carrie knew she was in love. But Lucas seemed strange: his hands were cool and hollow, he barely touched his food, and there was sadness behind his brilliant green eyes.

Lucas was falling for Carrie but knowing that loving her puts her in grave danger, he reluctantly slips out of her life….

He struggles between staying away and telling Carrie his darkest secret. Unable to stand being apart from her any longer, he decides she must know.


They say time heals all wounds. 

What a load of bull. It’s been four years, and Kate’s voice still echoes in my mind. 

Every. Damn. Day. 

I numb her memory when it taunts me. In college, I drown her out with booze and easy lays. 

I can’t do what she asked.

I can’t let her go.

Not even when Lia shows up, freaking ripping what’s left of me to shreds. Caring about someone isn’t worth the deadness that follows after they’re gone. I didn’t ask for this. Didn’t ask for her.

And I sure as hell didn’t plan to miss her when she walked out of my front door. Now, if I want to keep her, I have to straighten myself out and earn her. I can’t screw this up.

Because if I do, I’ll lose more than just Lia.

I’ll lose my life…

Monday, May 29, 2017

Meet the Vendor: IABE

Usborne Books and More

Mission
"The future of our world depends on the education of our children. EDC delivers educational excellence one book at a time. We provide economic opportunity while fostering strong family values. We touch the lives of children for a lifetime."

Why are Usborne Books so incredible? Because of the founder's philosophy:
"Children are clever - they are our equals. We shouldn't talk down to them, but look across at them.
 Books should be friendly, and as much like magnets as possible.
 They should be reliable and accurate, stylish and artistic.
Books should help get you off your couch so you're not just sitting there watching TV and chewing gum.
They should promote wondering.
They should be better than good."
- Founder, Peter Usborne

The Kane/Miller Philosophy
For more than 25 years, Kane/Miller has been publishing award-winning children's books from around the world. We're proud that our books bring the world closer to children but at the same time, open their minds to the differences that are part of that world.
Our aim is to publish books that make kids say "Wow, that's just like me." and also "Wow, that's different." And for them to know that maybe someone in another part of the world is saying "Wow" about the exact same book.
Brought to us by Michelle Armiger

Monday, May 22, 2017

Meet the Author : IABE

Thom Hotka 

Thom Hotka is the author/illustrator of the science fiction comic Nextuus: The Search for the Ocean Shard. The comic has been published and continually updated online since 2006 and in April of 2017 released its fourth printed volume. Thom grew up and lives in Des Moines, where he continues to write and draw three new pages of Nextuus every week.


 

             

Monday, May 15, 2017

Meet the Author: IABE

Author of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance. Lover of fairy tails and dreams. Hospital worker and business owner. Often referred to as the crazy bird lady










Love doesn’t come easy. It doesn’t come fast. It comes with everything that’s made to destroy the heart and soul. Nikolai is a crippled PI suffering from fibromyalgia and a bad case of brokeitis. On the surface his crass disposition comes off rough, but deep down a loneliness eats at him Ada is hiding from her past, a victim of being pimped out at a young age. Her dream of becoming an artist is cut short by a boss with an evil agenda and creatures trying to attack her in the night. When Ada reaches out to Nikolai for help they soon realize neither of them will have answers if they can’t address their own emotion turmoil. They are thrown into a dark world, but when her life is in danger it’s the mysterious vampire named Steel who saves her. Together they can break a curse hundreds of years old and in the process might just find the love they have been yearning for. Together they make a love triangle between two people no one expected.


Monday, May 8, 2017

Meet The Author: IABE

Jackie Wiles
Jacquelyn Wiles is 27 and lives in Davenport, IA. She loves writing and enjoyed English in school. Writing is her passion. She is currently working on the sequel You Can't Trust Anyone and Neighborhood Nightmare.

Have you ever wanted to date someone online? Do you trust people easily? Sometimes that can be a deadly thing. Julia finds out first hand the dangers of being with someone you don't really know.  Never settle for less than you deserve. 

Monday, May 1, 2017

Meet The Author: IABE

This week, I bring you a newcomer! However I am sure she will fit right in!
Sara Weis
Sara J. Weis is a creative and passionate teacher who has inspired children for over eighteen years. Through her bestselling book, Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Using Yoga for Kids, she has combined her experience as an elementary and junior high teacher and as a certified kid and adult yoga instructor to help introduce children to the lifelong benefits of yoga. She is also the creator of the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards which allow adults and children to move progressively through yoga poses at their own rate and abilities.



Sara holds a Master’s degree in Education as well as a Bachelor’s degree in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She is a teacher for the West Des Moines School District and leads kids yoga classes for a nationally known health and fitness club. She lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, with her three children and her husband.

You can find Sara at gogoyogakids.com, on facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest and youtube.