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Students of Heidi E. Kent now have a reason to celebrate. Heidi's new non-fiction book Highlights of Palmistry goes on sale September 7th. Heidi spent a decade sharing her wisdom with students at The Kent-Cook Institute in Davidson, North Carolina. The Institute, now closed, served the Lake Norman community for many years as a school of meditation, mysticism, spiritual healing, and a place for seekers to discover their deepest gifts and connections. Heidi is a highly-experienced Master Palmist and has practiced palmistry and other metaphysical arts all over the world. Her psychic gifts of clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience were trained at the Spiritual Community of Camp Chesterfield where she received a diploma as a Certified Medium. Heidi is now sharing some of those gifts through her new book, Highlights of Palmistry. We caught up with the author recently to learn a bit more about what inspires her.  Author Heidi E. Kent What fact about yourself would really surprise people? My hobby throughout my life has been history. I fit the description of “Armchair Archaeologist.” Most Sunday afternoons you will find me in my comfy chair reading my Archaeology magazines. What motivates you to write? My writing gives me an avenue to share some of my experiences, my passions and my accumulated perceptions. One of the most important aspects, in my opinion, of being human is sharing information which one has experienced. What makes you happiest? The greatest joy of my life is spending time with my grandchildren. The fun of watching them interact with their peers, participating in sports and listening to their opinions of world events. These and other sensory inputs bring chuckles and pride. What books did you love growing up? Since I learned to read, reading has been one of my greatest joys. In early years my favorite books were by Carolyn Keene--both the Nancy Drew and the Dana Girl series. Later in life, one of my favorite authors was Robert Heinlein, especially Stranger in a Strange Land. Today I mostly read metaphysical authors, particularly The Impersonal Life by DeVorsa &Co. Publishers, and I Ching (the book of change) by John Blofeld. Please tell us something about Highlights of Palmistry that is not in the summary. Palmistry gives a person a reason to touch another person (hold hands). With this connection and a few basic palmistry lessons, an individual is empowered with personal knowledge of this stranger. Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about? The study of the human mind is infinitely fascinating and the hand projects a great deal of that information. Sharing it has been a long time project for me. I have demonstrated palmistry, lectured extensively on the subject, and now have shared my knowledge with the world through publication. I hope you all enjoy it!  Highlights of Palmistry Available September 7, 2021 in e-Book and paperback Explore who you are . . . with Master Palmist Heidi E. Kent. Highlights of Palmistry is designed to help you explore the world of palmistry with simple techniques and illustrations. This introduction to the art of palmistry is a quick method of exploring your own nature—in simple shorthand and useful tidbits. Learn to see the hand as a map of the self, a physical expression of the inner you. Embark on your life’s journey with a map of your destiny . . . in the palm of your hand. Pre-Order Highlights of Palmistry today!
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Courses of the Cursed is named a finalist in the 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards6/4/2021  Congratulations to our author Vince Bailey as the second book in his award-winning Curtis Jefferson series was just named as a finalist in the 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Celebrating excellence in independent publishing, the NIEA named Courses of the Cursed as a finalist in the Regional Fiction category for Southwest-focused fiction. Vince Bailey grew up in central Arizona, starting in the late nineteen-fifties. His youthful experiences there contribute significantly to the nostalgic aspect of his fiction writing. Courses of the Cursed is the second book in the award-winning Curtis Jefferson series. His debut novel, Path of the Half Moon, is the Winner of the Arizona Authors’ Association Literary Award and the Chanticleer International Book Awards for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction. Courses of the Cursed African American youth Curtis Jefferson is still serving his one-year term at Fort Grant, the cursed site of an ancient Native American massacre. In Courses of the Cursed, our hero continues to be challenged by his nemesis, Harvey Huish, while a café owner struggles with a premonition that her nephew will be the victim of a treacherous plot. The parallel stories share a common theme: the curse of Fort Grant. "A rollicking, Western-flavored frightfest. Werewolves and worse haunt the Arizona desert in this supernatural thriller." —Kirkus Reviews Path of the Half Moon Vince Bailey's award-winning Path of the Half Moon is the first book in the Curtis Jefferson series. Set in a remote detention facility for wayward boys in the early sixties, Curtis is tested by a murderous inmate and a century-old Native American curse. Winner of the CIBA Paranormal Book Awards and the Arizona Authors' Association Literary Award, Path of the Half Moon presents an edgy and thrilling escape from the ordinary. More Praise for the Curtis Jefferson series: Bailey's voice sparkles in this gritty tale about injustice, survival, and the mysterious world of angry ghosts and dark magic. Don't miss it." —Todd Fahnestock (bestselling author of The Wishing World, Fairmist, and Wildmane) "Curtis does what all great storyteller’s do—he creates a suspension of disbelief, granting the listener the right to believe.” —5 Star Rating, Chanticleer Book Reviews Vince has also been published in several college and local newspapers, and for the past ten years he has penned a column for a nationally distributed trade periodical. Mr. Bailey currently resides in Arizona with his family. He's currently working on the next book in the Curtis Jefferson series. Connect with the author at VinceBailey.com  For thrills and chills
For heroes and horses
For lovers of literature and romance
For young adults
For young readers
 IngramElliott Publishing wishes you a wonderful holiday season.
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|  A gunslinger with Tourette's and a quick draw . . . |
 Award-winning paranormal historical fiction. For thriller and history lovers. |  Pulse-pounding action for military thriller fans. Great for guys! |  Book clubs take note! Award-winning historical fiction for fans of family and culture. |
 Sweet vacation romance for anyone who loves love! Great for the women you love. |  Great for teens! Fantasy and romance collide in this island of magical creatures. |  Your tweens and middle-graders will love this award-winning magical adventure! |
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| Book 1 in middle grade mystery series for all the young sleuths on your list! | Book 2 is great for boys and girls ages 8-12 who like ghost stories with a twist! | Fun picture book about friendship and inner strength for ages 2-6. |
 For boys who love animals and motorcycles! Or any kid struggling with today's challenges. Book 1 in series. |  Book 2 in the series takes Benny on a Vision Quest and into the racing finals. For kids ages 8-12. |  These animal spirit cards are for the nature lovers on your list. Native American wisdom for every day. |
We've talked much in our blog about the importance of social media and building an author platform through an online presence. As the leaves change color, consider changing your approach as well. It can be a challenge to make time to keep up online presences but as the leaves go on falling, the world of social media goes on spinning. We get feedback from partners all the time on how important it is that an author have a strong presence online when searched for. An author's social media platforms are used in marketing programs, book awards programs, blog tours and reviews, and even purchasers can find you if you put yourself out there where you can be found.
This fall, we encourage all authors to take a fresh look at their platforms by following three simple steps.
This fall, we encourage all authors to take a fresh look at their platforms by following three simple steps.
 | Pick 3. Pick 3 platforms that you'll commit to keeping fresh. We recommend that all authors start with Goodreads and Amazon Author Profile. These are the first places that reviewers and purchasers will find you. After that, pick at least one social media platform you will keep updated (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). |
| Post 2 times a week. Commit to posting new content on your platforms twice a week. You can re-use content if you like, just tweak the format for the platform. For instance, create an Instagram posting with a cool photo of your book and comment with hashtags that support your brand (#yalit #authorname #authorsofinsta #paranormallit #middlegradereads... there are many ...) and then select the 'share' option on the post to instantly share the post to Facebook or Twitter. |  |
 | 1 blog post per month. Setup a blog and keep it fresh. At least once a month will help show you are an active writer that cares about their platform. Think about topics that relate to your book, your professional expertise, or a special interest that ties into your brand (mystery writer creates a post on being a back-yard-detective; fantasy writer expands on the real-life setting of the novel, etc.). The simplest way to do this is to create a Goodreads blog. They make it very easy to setup. You can then include your Goodreads blog on your Amazon Author Central profile. |
Even if you are not a pro at this, what matters is that you stay active. It really is about connecting to other people which may include other authors, readers and fans, or groups that you are interested in.
A few pro tips
Lastly, if you don't have the desire, interest, or time in doing all of this, search for and hire a virtual marketing assistant to help you do all these things . . . and it won't break the bank! You can specify marketing assistants or social media assistants and hire someone to help build your brand, keep your sites fresh, and work with you on connecting to followers. Search on LinkedIn or Google for people in your area (if you want someone local) or work with people around the globe offering their services. You can also find students at local colleges that may be interested in the job or just through people you know and already work with. Ask around!
A few pro tips
- Set aside a half hour each week to search for authors and books you enjoy. Follow them.
- Scroll through your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook feed and "like" or "heart" content in your feed from those you've followed.
- Review books on Goodreads and follow other members' and authors' reviews.
- Follow your favorite authors on Goodreads and check your Goodreads feed once a week.
- Join a Goodreads group that interests you.
- Make sure your author photo is up to date across all sites.
Lastly, if you don't have the desire, interest, or time in doing all of this, search for and hire a virtual marketing assistant to help you do all these things . . . and it won't break the bank! You can specify marketing assistants or social media assistants and hire someone to help build your brand, keep your sites fresh, and work with you on connecting to followers. Search on LinkedIn or Google for people in your area (if you want someone local) or work with people around the globe offering their services. You can also find students at local colleges that may be interested in the job or just through people you know and already work with. Ask around!
 | There’s something inherently classic about a story set in the Wild West. Guns slinging, spurs spinning, cowboy hats casting a shadow on the dusty ground. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Robin Elno’s Clown William series has been so successful. The first book, Clown William, was the Silver Winner of the 2018 IPPYs & Winner of the Arizona Literary Award, as well as a finalist for the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in Western Fiction. The second book, Clown William and the Lincoln County War was the winner of the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in Western Fiction, and the series, as a whole, was the Bronze Winner of the 2019 IPPYs Best Fiction Series. William's latest ride – Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance – will be released December 1, 2019 and continues our hero's journey from clown to friend to hero. |
Sometimes our greatest strengths can come from what we view as our greatest weaknesses. Robin Elno says this idea was a huge inspiration for him when he was writing the Clown William series, which is about a young man, William, who suffers from a physical ailment we now know as Tourette's Syndrome. After being kicked out of his house by his father in the first book of the series, a self-defense situation teaches him that he has astounding accuracy with a six-gun.
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The book series follows this unexpected hero through Colorado and New Mexico as he defends himself and those around him with this unexpected talent. And now, Elno has the third installment in the series ready for readers.
Picking up where book two left off, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance finds William still in New Mexico. In the book, he is obsessed with tracking down and finishing his war with the man he blames for his life turning out the way it has – Jesse Evans.
Picking up where book two left off, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance finds William still in New Mexico. In the book, he is obsessed with tracking down and finishing his war with the man he blames for his life turning out the way it has – Jesse Evans.
As always, William is a target for many. He battles an inner conflict, as well, deciding to wait until Jesse is out of a compromising position before making his attempt on Jesse’s life. William is in a race against his own inner tornado . . . Will he beat it before it takes him out?
Robin Elno brings his experience as a retired army colonel and semiretired psychiatrist to this book series. He says he was also inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks’s work about the unusual speed and accuracy often displayed by people with Tourette’s syndrome. The third installment in this series, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, is now available for pre-sale at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. And, until then, here’s a little sneak peek . . .
Robin Elno brings his experience as a retired army colonel and semiretired psychiatrist to this book series. He says he was also inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks’s work about the unusual speed and accuracy often displayed by people with Tourette’s syndrome. The third installment in this series, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, is now available for pre-sale at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. And, until then, here’s a little sneak peek . . .
An isolated cabin in the New Mexico wilderness, February 1878
A bullet splintered the wood window casing of the cabin where William waited to kill Jesse Evans. William ducked lower. Things had not gone as planned, though one of Jesse’s men lay dead on the snow-covered ground a few yards in front of the cabin. Jesse hid in the tree line fifty yards away, cracking away with his rifle at William.
“You’re a damn fool, William,” Jesse shouted and fired again. “I know you’re fast, but a six-gun against a rifle?”
“This d-d-day has been coming for three years.” William watched the trees, trying to spot Jesse’s position. “Hoot. Ever since you first put a gun in my hand.”
“Seems more like God’s act than mine,” Jesse bellowed. “He’s the one made you defective with your jerks and mumbles. It was me helped you discover the gift that came with that curse.”
“It is no gift.” William fired at the trees. “I hate being a gunfighter. But you and God made it so I have no other choice. I despise you both for it.”
“Your hatred addled your brain. You let yourself be caught under my gun like this.” A shot, the bullet digging another splinter from the cabin wall, punctuated the statement.
The muzzle flash marked a spot in the trees, creating a perfect target for the next time Jesse fired—provided the outlaw didn’t shift to a new spot. William goaded him into another shot. “Your men killed my friend. You drove away my girl, Emily. Sheek, poot. You ruined my chances for a real home in Lincoln.”
“Well, when it comes to killin’, your Regulator pals ain’t any better. How many of Brady’s men have they killed? And locked Sheriff Brady up in his own jail. This war ain’t personal. Hell, I offered you a job on my side.”
“This is personal. I am not riding with those murdering Regulators now. This is about me f-f-finding a place to settle down, in peace.”
“Why're you gunnin’ for me?”
“Because God is out of my reach.”
“And so am I.” A muzzle flash just where it had been before.
William snap fired. And waited.
The sun climbed the sky, and the branches of the trees shed their white sleeves. Ice crystals glistened in the receding snow banks. The air lay still and cold as the top of a frozen stream. The dead man he’d shot that morning sprawled in front of the cabin. The man’s horse stood in the open, its head down, nuzzling snow aside as it pulled at tufts of dry grass.
The waiting dragged on. Was there some way to draw Jesse out? With one eye on the tree line, William threw a side of bacon onto the griddle of the potbelly stove heating the rough-hewn cabin. A pot of coffee simmered beside it—a nice welcoming scent to torment a cold and hungry man. He hoped it would make Jesse act rashly. Come and get it, William thought, revolver ready in his hand.
The bacon crisped and the coffee boiled. Jesse did not take the bait.
William ate the bacon and drank the coffee.
There had been no more shots. All was quiet. Too quiet.
A bullet splintered the wood window casing of the cabin where William waited to kill Jesse Evans. William ducked lower. Things had not gone as planned, though one of Jesse’s men lay dead on the snow-covered ground a few yards in front of the cabin. Jesse hid in the tree line fifty yards away, cracking away with his rifle at William.
“You’re a damn fool, William,” Jesse shouted and fired again. “I know you’re fast, but a six-gun against a rifle?”
“This d-d-day has been coming for three years.” William watched the trees, trying to spot Jesse’s position. “Hoot. Ever since you first put a gun in my hand.”
“Seems more like God’s act than mine,” Jesse bellowed. “He’s the one made you defective with your jerks and mumbles. It was me helped you discover the gift that came with that curse.”
“It is no gift.” William fired at the trees. “I hate being a gunfighter. But you and God made it so I have no other choice. I despise you both for it.”
“Your hatred addled your brain. You let yourself be caught under my gun like this.” A shot, the bullet digging another splinter from the cabin wall, punctuated the statement.
The muzzle flash marked a spot in the trees, creating a perfect target for the next time Jesse fired—provided the outlaw didn’t shift to a new spot. William goaded him into another shot. “Your men killed my friend. You drove away my girl, Emily. Sheek, poot. You ruined my chances for a real home in Lincoln.”
“Well, when it comes to killin’, your Regulator pals ain’t any better. How many of Brady’s men have they killed? And locked Sheriff Brady up in his own jail. This war ain’t personal. Hell, I offered you a job on my side.”
“This is personal. I am not riding with those murdering Regulators now. This is about me f-f-finding a place to settle down, in peace.”
“Why're you gunnin’ for me?”
“Because God is out of my reach.”
“And so am I.” A muzzle flash just where it had been before.
William snap fired. And waited.
The sun climbed the sky, and the branches of the trees shed their white sleeves. Ice crystals glistened in the receding snow banks. The air lay still and cold as the top of a frozen stream. The dead man he’d shot that morning sprawled in front of the cabin. The man’s horse stood in the open, its head down, nuzzling snow aside as it pulled at tufts of dry grass.
The waiting dragged on. Was there some way to draw Jesse out? With one eye on the tree line, William threw a side of bacon onto the griddle of the potbelly stove heating the rough-hewn cabin. A pot of coffee simmered beside it—a nice welcoming scent to torment a cold and hungry man. He hoped it would make Jesse act rashly. Come and get it, William thought, revolver ready in his hand.
The bacon crisped and the coffee boiled. Jesse did not take the bait.
William ate the bacon and drank the coffee.
There had been no more shots. All was quiet. Too quiet.
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