Archive for January 2014

Title: Free Fall

Author: Amber Lea Easton

ISBN: 0615879543

ASIN: B00EWSWID8

Purchasing links:

Amazon: http://getBook.at/FreeFall

Barnes and Noble: http://goo.gl/fnX5T7

OmniLIt: http://goo.gl/kfgT6u

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353127

Book blurb:

"Understanding suffering always helps the energy of compassion to be born."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

In an instant my husband stripped away my identity as wife, stay-at-home mom, and best friend. With his suicide, our world changed forever. He'd been the center of our universe, but then he was gone.

Grief is a dark journey, one often tainted with judgment and false perceptions. Add the word 'suicide' to the mix and more complications arise. This memoir, Free Fall, is intended for those who may be facing their own tragedy and feeling alone, hopeless, confused, scared, and misunderstood.

Free Fall is the journey of piecing our lives back together—overcoming children's anxiety as we traversed the brutal grief and trauma process, learning to say the words 'widow' and 'single mom' without cringing, surviving the fall out with friends and family who simply couldn't understand our healing process, triumphing over the stigma of 'suicide', forgiving my husband, and finding peace after chaos.

Free Fall is for widows, widowers, parents, survivors of suicide, family members or friends of one who mourns. This story is for anyone who needs encouragement that there is another side to grief. There is. We're there now. We're looking back and holding our hands out to you saying, "hang in there, you're not alone, and you'll get here, too."

Video book trailer:

Author bio

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of both nonfiction and fiction. She spent years working in journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial sector. She has three published romantic suspense novels—"Kiss Me Slowly", "Riptide", and "Reckless Endangerment"—and a contemporary romance novella, "Anonymity." Her memoir about surviving the suicide of loved one, "Free Fall", published in September 2013.

Easton is also an editor and professional speaker. Links to radio interviews can be located on her website, http://amberleaeaston.com .

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She gives thanks daily for the view outside her window and healthy children. As long as she's writing, she considers herself to be simply "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."

Author website and social links:

Website: http://www.amberleaeaston.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MtnMoxieGirl

Some of the review comments:

"A heart-wrenching read, Easton's courage to share her experience is of great benefit not only to those who have lost a loved-one to suicide, but also to those not knowing what to say or how to deal with the family trapped in the nightmare. The insights are invaluable to anyone surviving such a profound loss." 5 stars Tanja Bruner http://www.amazon.com/Free-Fall-Amber-Lea-Easton-ebook/product-reviews/B00EWSWID8/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

" This is a story that must be told, but is not easy to tell, which I think speaks to the bravery of the author. Life can be viciously dark at times, especially regarding the death of a loved one; even more especially in the manner that it happened for the Easton family. This story is important to share, not only for those who need the encouragement, but also for those who are ignorant of the internal struggles of the impacted family. I feel that by reading this memoir, those of us that might find ourselves on the outside of a devastation such as this, can better understand and be a better resource to those who need us in such a crisis." 5 stars Ceri http://www.amazon.com/Free-Fall-Amber-Lea-Easton-ebook/product-reviews/B00EWSWID8/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

"A remarkable woman, an inspiring book, outstandingly told and indispensable on the self-help / inspirational publishing market. Tragic, raw, without make-up but with a message of hope and encouragement for others.

Unlike the author says in the foreword, this book is certainly not just for people with such a bereavement and/ or their friends. It is a good read for anyone. If the book taught me something it is to be more aware of how such a drama may feel. I'd like to thank the author for opening up and sharing her story for the rest of us to learn from it." 5 stars Christopher Fischer Books http://www.amazon.com/Free-Fall-Amber-Lea-Easton-ebook/product-reviews/B00EWSWID8/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Amber Lea Easton

Mini Interview:

Why did you write this book?

When I endured the suicide of my husband, I felt very alone. Scarred. People around me couldn't understand why I grieved because they thought I should automatically hate him because of the way he died. Some blamed me for his death. It was an isolating experience in a very emotion-filled time. I wrote this book because I want others to feel like they are understood, that they are not alone, that what they are feeling is okay.

Anything in particular you'd like to share about this book or it's creation?

It was a painful experience to go back in time and open journals written with raw pain. I poured over each page, sometimes tracing tear stains with my fingers while reading words I remembered writing but now I read them from a different perspective. I felt compassion for the woman I was then. That's why I knew I was ready to write this. I wouldn't have been strong enough a few years ago. This ultimately a story of hope and inspiration. I made it to the other side of grief...that's what I want to convey. I write about the savagery of grief, but I also write about the triumph of hope and love.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

More romantic suspense novels! In fact, I just released a contemporary romance novella, Anonymity. It's pure fun. I think I needed to write something lighthearted and after writing something so serious.

Before I start today's blog post I'd like to wish you all a happy 2014! A bit late I know but I was ill at New Years and so my year started a bit late. Back to normal now though and busy catching up with various projects.

2013 was a busy year but I have even bigger plans for 2014. My new years resolution for this year is simple, to be more awesome than last year.

New release

The Jasmine at Work Coloring book is now with author Maria Rochelle and will be released on Amazon in the very near future. Here's the cover so you know what to look for ;)

BTW... Jasmine At Work was a best seller (print version) over Christmas, and a best seller (kindle version) this month on Amazon.

VBT review campaign

Over this week I'm doing a review campaign for Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From the Comfort of Your Own Home. This is the first one to be posted to Goodreads:

Jan 11, 2014

Alberta Ross rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was given this book for review always a chancy business what does one say if it is a terrible read? I have read Jo Linsdell before so I felt fairly safe :)

When I first wandered up into cyberspace with my first publication I tried a virtual book tour - it was hard hard work. With little knowledge of the web and insufficient know how it wasn't an overwhelming success, but I learnt a few things from it, I also lost confidence in doing another!

How I wish I had had a book such as this back then. For those of you who, like me, need a little helping hand, read Jo's book. She writes in clear, concise language, has laid out each point without clutter. She takes us step by step through the process gently and firmly.

A book tour is not the easy option without a great deal of work organization and it will fail - but anything worthwhile requires that.

Not only has she laid out the steps succinctly, Jo is also generous with links and suggestions of other sites, which will prove useful to the reader. I have read it through cover to cover and now I will go back over it slowly, notebook in hand. Obviously not everything mentioned needs to be done, it is a matter, as Jo says, of working out what will work for each individual. I am pleased to say I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Work in progress

I'm currently working on a new children's picture story book, a non-fiction book about Twitter, and doing revisions of my romance/thriller novel Vengeance.

I'm also working on a guest chapter for a marketing book I'm collaborating on. My topic; Virtual book tours.

Other stuff

As if all that wasn't enough, I'm also working on a series of e-courses that will be available later this year.

Re-organising

Given the work load I've set up for myself I'm doing some serious thinking about what current tasks I do that could be cut and basically organising my time better. One thing I'm going to be changing is stopping the Writers and Authors TV channel on YouTube and running all my video's through my Jo Linsdell channel.

I also want to make more time for illustrating and hope to work with new clients this year as well as work on new projects with current clients. If you'd like a quote for your book email me at webmaster@jolinsdell.com

How are you going to be more awesome than last year in 2014?