New Blog

Heads Up!

Just wanted to let you all in on a little secret. Okay, not so much a secret as a little 

known fact . . .

I've started a new blog on my website. So if you're looking for the latest in book news, teasers, releases, giveaways, etc check out:

                http://jamiecanosa.wix.com/author

Not So Easy Re-launch!

To celebrate the re-launch of Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) I am giving away TWO audio books!

Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) has a new cover, exciting edits, (a new chapter has been added), and now Not So Easy is an audio book, narrated by the talented Ryan Shaughnessy.

Not So Easy has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon!

Blurb:

Not So Easy

Senior Max Sanchez has it all. He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare High’s baseball team. He’s dating the head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of friends. 

Junior JD Miller's life is Not So Easy. Unlike Max, JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely surviving. 

A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives together, and Max soon learns that life is not so easy for everyone. Max works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed.

Not So Easy is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up.



What others are saying about Not So Easy (from the Souls in Peril series):

*Once Upon a Twilight: As I try to compose all my emotions to write this review I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do justice to this book through my review. I laughed, I cried, I felt such bewildering sadness and in the end I laughed again. Sherry Gammon takes us on an astonishing journey through the eyes of Max Sanchez. Handsome and athletic with a wonderful and supportive family, Max lives a charmed life. Even as a seventeen year old Max knows that his girlfriend Emma will be the woman he grows old with. Em's beauty and brains are only out shone by her inner compassion and kindness. Max already recognizes that he can learn from her sweetness and tolerance. For the full review click her (Warning: SPOILER ALERT!)

*Kindle booklove: Dani: 10 Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul because I know what it's like to be bullied relentlessly by kids at school and then go home and have to deal with an abusive stepfather and feel like you have nobody to turn to, nobody to trust, and nowhere to go. I know as it said at the end of the book that not all people being bullied have the same home situations but mine almost resembled Izzy's experience with some differences of course. My heart broke while reading about JD's and Izzy's story. I cried for them and their situation. I fell in love with Emma's character because she was one of those rare people with an untarnished soul who doesn't look at people and judge them by what they look like....Read the full review here:

* Momma's Books. Brandy: If I could rate this book a 10 I would but Goodreads as well as amazon will only allow a 5. So it is 5+++++++  It was such an emotional read for me. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book once I started I could not put it down. I am honestly at a loss for words to explain how I feel about this book. But I will try so here I go… You will be taken on an emotional ride and your heart will hurt more times than not. You will wish you could just jump into the book and just rescue JD. I know I absolutely fell in love with Em she is the sweetest and kindest kid. I can only hope that my children turn out to be like her... It is absolutely AMAZING! Read full review (and check out the old cover;) here:

                 * Dani of KindleBookLove.blogspot.com: Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars. This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul...This book is amazingly written and so awesome. I will never forget this book. It got me deep... I recommend it to everybody with children, children, and adults alike. Everybody should read this amazing book. 

*Camelia Skiba: Sherry drives the reader to real emotions masterfully creating trials, conflicts and doubts. You'll cry and laugh, ache and root for these heroes. I also liked the messages that come with this book, that life is worth living, that we should never give up and we should always try our best.

                   * Cindy Bennett: Souls in Peril is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. It had me in turn laughing and crying, my heart aching for all the characters involved. 

Gammon's writing is full of humor, sorrow, realism, and pulls you into places you might not want to go, but will be happy you did when all is said and done. I HIGHLY recommend this book!  


* Donna~ The Romance Cover Heart wrenching, sobbed and sobbed through this book, so many familiar circumstances it was like reliving my school life all over again...very sad, very emotional but unfortunately oh so very true. A fabulous book, that puts you through an emotional wringer..not my usual romance but a great YA book that had some very important messages throughout the book..brilliant.

More reviews here, here and here.

Purchase links

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Scrib | Audio

Not So Easy ebook is specially priced for the next few weeks as I introduce the exciting audio book. 

Here is a fun interview with my narrator Ryan Shaughnessy

1.  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m from a cornfield an hour and a half southwest of Chicago and the oldest of three children. I was high school valedictorian and passed the CPA exam after obtaining a Masters degree in accounting. Then I followed my dream and moved to Los Angeles to make a career in acting and not from a cubicle. Every day brings a new adventure!
2. What do you do when you are not acting/narrating? Every day I’m doing something that relates to my acting. Whether it be auditioning, shooting, or social networking, the acting never stops. Even when I’m watching shows on Netflix, I watch certain shows that would appeal to my age demographic.
3. What is your favorite smell? Mom’s pot roast coming from the slow cooker when I travel back to Illinois.
4. What was your first acting project? There were the spring concert shows in grade school, but my first main gig was in the summer before my 8th grade year where I was the ventriloquist’s dummy in the radio show in a production of “Annie”.
5. How/Why did you get into acting? I love entertaining people. After getting a feel of making so many people laugh with my lines, I was hooked. Looking back, I wish I would have pursued in sooner, but I didn’t realize I could make a career of it because of how and where I was raised.
6. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Skydive, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jump off a bridge, and take my family to the gorgeous beaches of Thailand
7. What is your favorite kind of cheese? Pepperjack
8. Is there any particular actor or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? I grew up watching all the James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. It’s been a goal of mine to be James when I’m the right age. But Harrison Ford has always been an influence because he is also from Illinois and wasn’t given much of a shot at the beginning of his acting career. I feel I am very similar to him in that regard in that we both have had a chip on our shoulders to prove the world wrong.
9. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Nope. I keep things pretty clean. If I let one thing go, it would probably be the dust in my bedroom.
10. How would you describe yourself in three words? Intelligent, sarcastic, loyal
11. Who is your favorite actor? It’s hard to pick just one. Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Tom Hanks are at the top of the list.
12. What is your favorite part of acting and why? Your least favorite and why? Favorite: Things are always changing but yet they are still structured. You may be on the same set, but the storyline is changing and things don’t get stagnant. Worst: Rejection haha.
13. Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? I’m a fan of both actually, especially if the brussels sprouts are doused in butter.
14. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an actor? I was new to a class and the teacher thought I wasn’t taking the scene seriously. He said I wouldn’t amount to anything.
15. What has been the best compliment given to you as an actor? I took a three week intensive with a casting director, and after we finished the scene in the last week, he told me he could easily see me as a contract role on the show.
16. What is your least favorite smell? Rotten eggs
17. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring actors? If a kid from a small town in Illinois with no formal training can move across the country and find a place in this crazy entertainment world, there is no reason you can’t do the same. You will most likely need lots of patience and a strong backbone, and most people from back home won’t understand the extent of what you are doing. But you will. As long as you believe this is what you were made to do, you will find a way to make it happen.

Ryan's Links

http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy

Demo: http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI

Viral Clip: http://youtu.be/hbeEuYAZFL4

@RynoShaughnessy (Twitter and Instagram)

Enter to win an audio book!

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Thanks for stopping by!

Sherry Gammon

Free Book/Giveaway This Weekend ONLY!!!

Friday-Saturday Falling to Pieces will be FREE on Amazon!!! 

AND I'll be giving away a signed paperback version. All you have to do is grab your copy, read, and review. It's that easy. When Falling to Pieces reaches 100 review on Amazon, I'll choose one random lucky reviewer to receive a signed paperback. 

Good luck!!! 

Happy Spring!!!

Coming Soon!!!!

Rock Bottom

My newest release, Rock Bottom, is headed your way this April! That's less than a month away!!!

Want to know what it's all about? Here's the release of the official blurb:

Sometimes life can change in an instant. Sometimes you can point to a single event and say, ‘That’s where everything changed.’ And sometimes the change is so gradual you don’t even realize it happened until you're looking in the mirror one morning and no longer recognize the person staring back at you.

My name was Rylie Stark. And I had everything.

The looks. The money. The brains. The athleticism. Even my very own Prince.

Everything, until . . .


The thing about being on top of the world is . . .

                                                                                     . . . it leaves you a

                                                                                                         . . . long, long

                                                                                                                     . . . way to

                                                                                                                                 . . . fall.

**Reader be aware: This book isn't my normal style. It dives into a darker and grittier reality, containing issues not suitable for all audiences, including drug use and instances of dubious consent.

Sound like your type of read? Add it to your Goodreads TBR today! :) And if you haven't already, hop on over to my Facebook page to see all the new teasers and news about the release. 

Stay tuned! There's an absolutely fantastic cover reveal on the way ;)

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop: Day 12

For unto you is born this day . . . a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

      ~ Luke 2:11

For me, Christmas is 100% about Christ.  It’s
in the name.  And you can’t have
Christmas without the joy of music.  As a
teen, I dreamed of one day making it big as a singer.  That did not happen, but my love for music
and singing has not changed.  Narrowing
down only twelve Christmas songs was quite difficult, as I could sing Christmas
songs for hours, until I go hoarse, but the following twelve songs reflect my most favorite and the reasons why.  And the order has no bearing on which is the top, as that can change on any given day.

1. Away in a Manger

This was one of the first Christmas songs I remember learning as a child
and I remember lovingly swaddling my own baby doll as was the Christ child. Our
Lord and Savior came to this earth in the humblest of circumstances, as the
song states “…no crib for a bed,” and it is this reason I place this one first
on the list.

2.The First Noel

Noel is an Old French word meaning Christmas.
It can also refer to a carol or hymn sung in honor of The First Noel sings of the shepherd, also in humble circumstances,
that recognized right away the magnificent meaning of the star “..Shining in the East beyond them far.” Christ’s birth. 

3. What Child is This?

Set to the familiar tune of Greensleeves, this is one I sing and hum throughout
the year.  I recently was blessed to sing this for members of my church Sunday, the
14^th with a good friend of mine.  I sang the melody, the soprano part while she
sang the alto.  The arrangement was  slightly different than standard, and it was a great joy to sing it and feel the spirit deep in my heart.  You can listen to and download this version for yourself by following this link.

4. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

Meant to be sung majestically and joyfully, this hymn is in reference to verses
in Luke chapter 2.  In verse 9 and 10 it says, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. . . and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”  And those tidings were the birth of Christ,
an event people had been awaiting for some time.  I can only imagine the joy of being a part of
that, and I am grateful I have the light of Christ in my life today.

5. Joy to the World

One of the 53 arias in Handel’s Messiah, which he wrote in only 24 days, this is one sung annually in home and church, and one I look forward to each year.

6. Handel’s Dream

This is a beautifully arranged piece, composed by Michael Mclean, that tells a poignant fictional story of Handel.  It is a dream, and perhaps Handel had such a dream as his inspiration for the Messiah.  It is partly sang and partly narrated. Young Handel is auditioning for the choir of angels to sing at Christ’s birth.  But he doesn’t make it.  Told he has a different voice, one that will be brought to the world in his own time, and that more orchestras and choirs than he can now imagine will be giving voice to his feelings leaves me with
tears in my eyes every time I listen to it. One you must hear, if you haven’t already.  And if you have, give it a listen again.  

7. Were You There?

Composed by Natalie Sleeth, this is a treasured song.  I have sang this many times for others since
I was a teenager and played my flute as well.
With many thought provoking questions throughout.  Were you there on that first Christmas night?
Were you there when the wonder foretold came to earth? Did you hear how the choirs of angels sang?  Did you see how they bowed?  Did you know if was God’s own son, the salvation of the world begun?
Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the earth?  These are but a few of the glad, powerful messages in this song.  To learn more about this great American composer, follow this link.

8. Jingle Bells 


9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You have to have the classics.  And though the focal point of these songs is not the Savior, they are about Santa Claus and what a great example of goodness was Saint Nicholas.  If we all spread the goodness and cheer, the true spirit of Christmas, like St. Nick does, the world would be a fantastically
better place to be.  I believe in Santa Claus.  In the goodness and cheer and love and service of his name.

10. Angels We Have Heard on High

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Latin for “glory to God in the highest,” in this French carol, the single word ‘Gloria’ is carried through four full measures, for a total count of sixteen beats, with the rest less than half that.  Beautifully arranged and fun to sing the ups and downs of the Gloria, is why this is on my top 12 most loved Christmas songs.

11. It Could Happen Again

Part of Colin Raye’s Christmas CD The Gift, this song has touch me from the first time I listened to it.  Even during the devastation of war, this is a
retelling of the well known story during WWI when opposing sides came together to celebrate Christmas, only returning to fight against each other after they
were ordered to.  This portrays the true meaning of Christ-like love, that men could put up their arms, share what little they had, sing Christmas carols and bring the spirit to an otherwise
bleak time.  Find the CD here. This CD also happens to be the giveaway item for today. Don’t forget to enter below.

12. O Holy Night

Many, many versions of this song are out there. Rearrangements, numerous singers, wonderful song.  Cantique De Noel, or as we know it O Holy Night, was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 and later the words were added, written by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet who was also a professed atheist. Over 150 years later this song is still bringing joy to those who know Christ.

As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the
Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion
always.

~Thomas S. Monson

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. May we remember to keep Christ the center of our Christmas celebrations and try to bring the feelings and actions surrounding Christmas throughout the year.

Written by Stephanie N. Pitman

Author of Honorable Disgrace due out Feb 2, 2015

Available for pre-order http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPCYIIC

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The Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop: Day 11

Every year my house as a kid was visited by elves. The sneaky Santa helpers would leave tokens, gifts, candies, and oral hygiene treasures in our homemade stockings, the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

The highlight of any cold December morning would be to reach my grubby little hands into my stocking and pull out the delivered bounty.

One gift per day would be the norm. However, sometimes the elves would be

lost in a blizzard, slept-in, or just down right forgetful and our stockings would be bare.  This tragic occurrence would be promptly echoed in the house, as all five of us kids would voice our let down to our loving parents. Double gifts would find their way into our empty stockings the next day, a king’s loot, and joy would be established once more.

This tradition has remained forever endeared in my heart. When first married, I tried to surprise my husband with such elfish tokens. Jerky, chips, soda, all made their loving way into his stocking, mine, however, remained bare. Sadness, and self-present-giving soon replaced tradition. Bahumbug!

With luck and joyous renew, the arrival of my first born, Christian, the elves have found their way through the blizzard and gifts will be given once more. Hazaah!

I am excited to start this tradition with my babe, for many Christmas’ to come. Merry Christmas!

Candace's humorous short story, Train Station: 3:00 p.m. can be found in the Beginnings anthology.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop:Day 10

“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” 

How I loved singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song in elementary school chorus and high
school glee club. For Creative Prose Publishing’s special event celebrating The
Twelve Days with their authors, I won’t have to sing so I decided on something
better. I have the tenth day which is 10 Lords a Leaping and I’m going to share
my Top 10 Christmas movies. Here they are and I hope you’ll share your
favorites as well.

Laurie’s Top 10 Christmas Movies

Every year my family and I watch these classics and they
never get old. From finding the right love, to simply believing in something (like magic or the power of love) or someone (like Santa), these titles truly highlight something special about the
holiday season.

10. TIE: While You Were Sleeping, Love
Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary

Sorry, but I couldn’t choose between these three zany holiday love
stories. Who can escape the charm of Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping? Just because we may 'crush' on someone, doesn't mean that's 'the right one' for us. By the time Lucy shows Jack that
snow globe, I’m tearing up. As for Love Actually, what’s not to love
about this movie? There’s the stellar cast with the wide variety of love stories stemming from young to old, each sharing the backdrop of the holiday season. And we can’t forget the music! I love to watch Renee Zellweger
and Colin Firth in Bridget Jones’s Diary. So comical with sprinkles of truth, these two leads showcase the best of 'opposites attract'. That ending scene with a scantily clad Bridget with Mr. Darcy on
the sidewalk in the snow is hysterical and yet endearing, just like these three movies.

9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Each holiday season I play this DVD and giggle like crazy at the hilarious
antics of the Griswold family. Who can forget the squirrel in the Christmas
tree? Clark trying to put lights on the outside of his house? The holiday meal? The sewer scene? The list
goes on and on….

8. A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim,
1951)

The version of this holiday classic I adore features
Alastair Sim as Scrooge. In glorious black and white, Sim truly embodies
everything 'Scrooge' from his glare to his biting voice, even down to the
way he walks. When he's a changed man, he's a delight to behold. The lack of color helps dramatize the scenes even more. The
holidays are not complete without one viewing of this classic.

7. The Dead

Based on my favorite James Joyce short story, this movie directed by the late great John Huston, is film-making brilliance. Married couple Gabriel and Gretta attend Christmas dinner and enjoy the company of friends and family. With lively conversation, dancing, singing and music, we are privy to how music invokes different emotions in each person, particularly in Gretta as she reminisces about her first love. Anjelica Huston steals the film with her revealing speech which captures my heart every single time.

6. Prancer

There's a special place in my heart for Prancer. Some may find this movie corny but I don’t care, I love it. When twelve year old Jessica thinks the injured reindeer she found belongs to Santa, no one believes her. She’s just a kid, right, but this determined girl will show the non-believers how wrong they are. With each repeated viewing, I’m always drawn in by her story and her voice and by the end I'm tearing up as that reindeer disappears off that cliff. Talk about magic.


5. The Nightmare Before Christmas

What’s this you say?
I say this movie is a unique tale about the unforgettable Jack Skellington and friends all done up in
typical eerie cool Tim Burton style. Funny, bewildering, with songs to hum along to, who would
think something so ghoulishly creepy could be so much fun to watch in December? Me!

4. The Polar Express

While we’re on the subject of ‘believing’, what better movie
encompasses kids growing older and not having faith in Santa any more than The
Polar Express? Based on Chris Van Allsburg's beautiful picture book, director Robert
Zemekis (who also wrote the screenplay) transfers the magic of the story into an animated wonder. A nameless young boy gets to go on an adventure (on a wonderful train with Tom Hanks as a cool conductor) which helps him believe once again in Christmas.

3. The
Santa Clause trilogy

I never thought Tim Allen--the droll tool guy from the hit comedy TV show Home Improvement--could ever make me believe in his portrayal as a divorced dad who takes over as Santa Clause. He did. The first movie
was humorous, engaging and totally captivating. The first film is a classic, making this trio a wonderful series to watch with the family.

2. TIE:  A Christmas Story & A
Miracle on 34^th Street (1947, b&w)

It's a battle of the kids! Ralphie and Susan rule these enchanting family gems. All
Ralphie wants for Christmas is a BB gun. But he'll shoot his eye out! All Susan wants is a family. Stern mom Kate is set in her chilly, independent ways. Each
story captures the magic of the holidays through the eyes of a child. Both are filled with poignant moments, lots of humor, and lovable kids.

1. It’s A Wonderful Life

I never tire of watching this film in its original black and
white splendor (keep that creepy colorized version away from me). When James Stewart and Donna Reed are on screen, I can’t look
anywhere else. "Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight..." Director Frank Capra created a true holiday classic with this endearing film. For me, each Christmas isn’t complete without one or two viewings. “Merry Christmas Bedford
Falls!” George Bailey has become synonymous with everything good
about Christmas and Clarence the angel, well, he gives the movie tremendous heart and leaves a bell as his calling card.

Honorable mentions:

They may not be movies, but these television specials will forever hold their own special places in my heart and in the hearts of many.

About the author:
Laurie Treacy is a fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary YA and NA romance writer. A graduate of Marist College, she lives in New York's picturesque Hudson Valley with her husband, three children, and various pets. When not writing or book blogging, she’s a proud Whovian, loves reading, photographing abandoned places, frozen Goobers, and watching anime. A member of the SCBWI and RWA, Laurie can be found at local writer's events and online at www.laurietreacy.com and www.readergirlsblog.com.

Find Laurie here: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Beginnings anthology

ENJOY THE SILENCE by Laurie Treacy
Young fae Zander only wishes to live in the human realm, and leave Ashwoulde behind. But his reckless actions in one night might forever change his world - and that of those who love him.
ETERNITY CRUX by Jamie Canosa
Aurelia and Sayer are on the run from the Legion, who would have them killed for what they know. In a moment of desperation, Aurelia is forced to leave Sayer behind, and manipulate the bounds of time itself to save him.
ELEMENTAL PRINCESS by M.M. Roethig
Kaesen, an elemental princess, lives on a distant star called Maia. She loves Alwen, but as her sworn protector they're forbidden to be together. Promised to a cruel man, Kaesen will do whatever is necessary to change the stars and be allowed to love her Alwen.
TRAIN STATION: 3:00 P.M. by Candace Gleave
A ball of gold the size of a cow's eyeball and a man worth his weight in fortune bring together a motley group of criminals, all who will do anything and everything to obtain both treasures.

Pick up Beginnings here: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All other ereaders \ Paperback

Giveaway

I'm giving one winner a $10 Amazon gift card. Enter below.

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