We're excited to announce that A Call to China, written by Jeffrey Meyer has been named as a finalist in the historical fiction category of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards (TM). The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for excellence in book publishing is regarded as one of the highest national honors for small and independent publishers.

IngramElliott is very proud of this achievement and congratulate our author, Jeffrey Meyer!

For Immediate Release
Susan K. Morgan’s sultry new romance, Surrender, and her metaphysical crystal shop have one thing in common--they’re all about love.

Paducah, KY--March 15, 2017--IngramElliott is excited to announce the release of Surrender, a fun and flirty romance novel based on the Kentucky author’s travels to Mexico. Writing under the pseudonym,  Susan K. Morgan, Susan Edwards is also the owner of one-of-a-kind crystal store and metaphysical resource center in historic downtown Paducah. Wildhair Studios’ Rock Shop strives to raise positive vibrations through energy work, healing crystals and aromatherapy.
 
“It’s about people finding their true nature and inspiring them to surround themselves with positive energy,” Susan said about her shop and her new novel. “When I visited Mexico, the beauty of the landscape inspired me, but also the love and happiness I felt from the people. I just gave into it. I knew there was a story to tell there. The title of my novel, Surrender, is a nod to how wonderful things can happen in our lives when we surrender to who we are at the core.”
 
Surrender follows Jessica, a woman who has it all together—the fiancé, a great job, and an upcoming wedding to plan. It seems her future is set . . . until her intended is a no-show for their pre-wedding trip to Cancun. When Jessica decides to go it alone, it’s a decision that takes many unexpected turns.
“Who hasn’t had a wild hair and wanted to escape to a tropical wonderland?” said Charlotte Piel, Acquisitions Editor at IngramElliott. “Susan is an eclectic soul whose writing evokes love, passion, and excitement, a great combination in a romance writer.”
 
Susan’s special place
Walking through the door of the Rock Shop, it’s apparent that it’s a special place. An Enchanted Fairy Garden, the sweet tinkling of crystals, fresh greenery, and soothing scents and sounds create an uplifting environment that mirrors Susan’s effusive joy. Recently expanding to their 311 Broadway Street location in Historic Downtown Paducah has allowed Susan and her husband of more than twenty years to offer a retreat center that hosts spiritual and wellness events, in addition to retail space that features crystals, gemstones, essential oils, and inspirational gifts.
But to Susan, the shop is much more. It’s a sanctuary where she can reconnect to her own passions, one of which is writing. “I’ve been a wordsmith for the corporate world for decades,” Susan says. “I’m an avid storyteller. I wanted to bring some of these characters and their stories to life.”
Her publisher agrees. “We resonated with Susan’s philosophy to ‘live like you mean it’,” says Charlotte. “What we loved about Surrender was its heart. The heart of the story is—like the author and the spiritual work she does for others—all about love. We’re very excited to have Susan join the IngramElliott family.”
 
Book Signing Events
Readers can stop by the Rock Shop to meet Susan in person and get an autographed copy of Surrender April 26-29, 2017, when the city of Paducah hosts the AQS QuiltWeek® event. Book signings are scheduled at Wildhair Studios’ Rock Shop (311 Broadway Street, Paducah, KY, 42001) for Friday, April 28 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Central Time.  
Surrender can be found in most major retailers in print and eBook. 

About IngramElliott
IngramElliott is an independent publisher located in Huntersville, North Carolina.  Founded in 2015, IngramElliott delights in publishing the non-traditional, unconventional, and alternative. The company offers a personal, hands-on approach to publishing and working with authors. IngramElliott is built and managed by writers and readers. Please learn more at www.ingramelliott.com.
 
For more information about IngramElliott (press):P.E. Calvert
704-453-9464
pecalvert@ingramelliott.com
 
For more information on Susan K. Morgan or the Rock Shop:Susan K. Morgan
www.susankmorgan.com
www.nicerockshop.com
270-444-6115

We're excited to introduce Jeffrey Meyer, author of the highly-anticipated historical fiction novel, A Call to China. Jeffrey Meyer joins the IngramElliott team after a career in higher education as a professor of Asian religions at the University of North Carolina. Jeffrey's upcoming novel is the story of the coming of age of two daughters; one without family in rural China, the other in urban America. Set against the background of revolutionary change in 20th-century China and America, the story follows the spiritual journeys of the two sisters through compelling characters, exotic locations, and a rich plot.

​We recently spoke to Jeffrey about his work and about A Call to China.

​IngramElliott (IE): Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer. What inspired you to write your book?
Jeffrey Meyer (JM): I've been fascinated with China for most of my life.  My research and teaching at UNC Charlotte was focused on Asian religions, especially Buddhism and Daoism, and I've lived in China and Taiwan for about three years. My daughter was adopted in China. So it was a love for China and Chinese culture that inspired me to write the novel.

​IE: Tell us a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
JM: "A Call to China" refers to the initial calling which took a missionary family to  China to bring the Gospel to the Chinese people. At the same time it refers to the personal call, felt by Livia, the main character in the novel, to return to China to find her lost sister.

IE: Do you have any advice for other writers?
JM: Join a good, hard-working writers' group.

IE: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies?
JM: Travel, sketching and landscape gardening.
​IE note - We're using some of Jeffrey's original sketches in the book!

​A Call to China is Jeffrey's first novel. It will be published by IngramElliott in 2017.

P.E. Calvert, IngramElliott's director of development, will be speaking at this weekend's Body Mind Spirit Expo in Raleigh, NC. This unique event hosts speakers and booths from all over the world highlighting metaphysical and new age concepts. Her lecture, Writing Your Metaphysical Novel, will focus on crafting your manuscript, finding your voice through automatic writing, creating reading cards and journals, and publishing resources. P.E. Calvert is co-author of Medicine Hat Moments, Native American-themed animal cards, and was featured in PHI: The Evolution of Consciousness, a documentary about the evolving human mind. Learn more at www.pecalvert.com.

IngramElliott is unique. We're a boutique (that rhymes!) publishing company focused on helping authors find their special voice. We strive to be hands on with authors that partner with us...and we're truly about partnership, in spirit and in practice. If you are a writer looking for a home, visit our submission page. We're open to all genres, so if you don't see your genre or category, select Other and submit. It's that easy. Some of the topics we're working on now include middle grade fiction, metaphysical philosophy, historical fiction, and non-fiction how-to's with a twist. We're a company built and managed by writers and readers. If you fit either category, please reach out to us.