Over 250 Chicagoans came out to The Chicago Lighthouse to celebrate the release of the new book Chicago Treasure which stars local children, many of whom are preschool students at The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled. In this inclusive hardcover book, photographs of Chicago children have been digitally imposed into fairytale illustrations, classic works of art, and photography of Chicago landmarks to create a colorful world where every child, regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender, or age is free to see themselves take on great roles.

The young stars enthusiastically flipped through the pages of Chicago Treasure until they found their pictures, then proudly shared them with friends and family. Chicago Treasure creators Larry Broutman, Rich Green, and John Rabias happily signed autographs until their hands hurt for the never-ending line of eager book buyers. But the fun didn’t stop there.

VisionQuest, a rhythm and blues band made of members of The Chicago Lighthouse Adult Living Skills Program, gave a dynamic performance that had the crowd cheering for more. Elsa sang “Let It Go” with some help from talented and starstruck youngsters. Tinkerbell and Peter Pan even stopped by to pose for pictures with their new young friends.

A puppet show, face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts, ice cream sundaes, cupcakes, and cotton candy were enjoyed by the young and the young at heart.

The Chicago Lighthouse President & CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk and Board of Directors Chairman Gary Rich spoke to the crowd about Mr. Broutman’s support of The Chicago Lighthouse over the years, which includes serving on the Board and donating proceeds from Chicago Treasure and his three other books of photography to The Chicago Lighthouse and Access Living. Access Living President & CEO Marca Bristo joined in the praise of Chicago Treasure and reminded the crowd of the necessity of telling everyone’s story. Coming to the podium after thunderous applause, photographer and author Larry Broutman shared that the idea for this innovative project came to him in a dream to which a supporter in the crowd yelled, “Keep dreaming, Larry!”

Chicago Treasure is available now from publisher Everything Goes Media, on Amazon, and in Chicagoland bookstores and gift shops.

Find out more at:

https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-treasure

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Treasure-Larry-Broutman/dp/1893121798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546910366&sr=8-1&keywords=Chicago+Treasure+Larry+Broutman

*Photographs appear courtesy of Othervertical for The Chicago Lighthouse.

REMINDER:  booklikes has scheduled maintenance next Tuesday so posting early.

See https://www.fictfact.com/BookReleaseCalendar for all the books.  Usually more than 80% of the new releases shown will need to be added to booklikes (maybe something Tuesday's maintenance will help resolve?).

NEVER HAVE WE BEEN MORE CONNECTED
NEVER HAVE WE BEEN SO ALONE

So, about that short story…

I started writing the idea back in December 2016 while I was passing through Kansai International Airport. I was just starting my winter vacation and was thinking about cracking on with Glade. Unfortunately, those good intentions got lost in transit and ended up somewhere else entirely (apparently, they ended up on an island passing the time playing cards with a Lost and confused manuscript). They have since returned to the wardrobe I tentatively call ‘home’, having stowed away on a passing cargo ship before hitching a ride back up to Osaka and making themselves a cup of tea.

So, while my good intentions and I parted ways, I found myself stumbling upon an idea whilst making my way through the airport. One thing led to another and I ended up with a short story.

The story is called 01134.

Life is sometimes that phone call

you wish you had never got.

That train you wished you had missed.

That person you wish you had never met.

Sometimes we take a wrong turn. We lose our way.

We slip through the cracks.

Sometimes it's our fault. Sometimes it's not.

Sometimes we are nudged, other times we are pushed,

screaming into that empty abyss.

Sometimes we just close our eyes and fall.

For Tatsuya, it may already be too late...

01134 is psychological fiction set in Japan. The blurb doesn’t really give much away, but… well, there is this fella you see… called Tatsuya… and he is in love.

Those that have read advance copies have described it as being ‘sad’ and/or ‘unsettling’. So, if you like feeling sad and/or unsettled then this is just the book for…. umm… yeah… it’s also a ‘cracking good read’, too. Honest.

There will be no separate cover reveal this time around since… well… you can probably see it on the right of your screen or at the end of this post. The woman on the cover is a singer in an up-and-coming Japanese rock band and a part-time model. I searched high and low for the look I wanted. Trust me, it’s not as easy as you would think to try to convince someone to pose for a cover shoot, least of all in Japan! Fortunately, Asuka graciously agreed to let me take some shots and, well… all I can say is that the cover looks beautiful in print.

01134 is available in digital and print from all major online stores near and far (well, quite far).

In the meantime, here is the opening…

12:12

It’s 12:12am. The white numbers on the screen are crisp and clear in the dark. I should be asleep.

Tiredness drapes her arms around me in an attempt to draw me back beneath the covers. I try to shrug her off.

The screen on my phone dims as I wait. Time no longer ticks. It is digital now. Clinical and perfect. A constant reminder of the emptiness that flows through our quiet lives.

I blink. The screen now reads 12:13am. I let the screen darken and set the phone down on the floor by my bed. Tiredness whispers sweetly in my ear and I don’t think that I can resist her for much longer. I’m not sure I want to.

I reach out for my phone again. The screen springs to life and I type in my four-digit passcode. The screen shifts and I check my messages, hoping that perhaps I missed one. I didn’t.

I drop the phone back on the floor, lie back and close my eyes. Sleep eludes me.

I don’t sleep well. Not anymore.

Not since I killed her.

AVAILABLE NOW AT ALL MAJOR ONLINE STORES!

Kyla was born the younger daughter of the royal family of a planet known throughout Coalition space for its indulgence and debauchery. Travelers come from all over to give into their deepest desires in the decadent royal court, but Kyla has been surrounded by sex and physical indulgence since childhood. Now she wants nothing to do with such empty pleasures--at least, until she encounters Hall.

Hall is irresistibly sexy and mysterious, and he seems to know her from the inside out. He makes her want to explore the sensual side of herself for the first time. But he has already declared himself as a potential suitor of her sister, which means he's completely off limits to Kyla. He's also hiding a gift that makes him as dangerous as he is attractive.

When she discovers a plot that threatens to bring down the iron fist of the Coalition on her peaceful planet, Kyla is forced to rely on a man who has been hiding secrets from her all along--a man who makes her want things she's never wanted before.

Review

I was very excited when I realized Kent was going to put out more books in the world she set Hold.

This book isn't a prison planet one but it does feature a character we met there. He has cool powers and time in the prison changed him into a better person. Kind of... lol The heroine is a bookworm living in a public sex/orgy society who does care for that sort of thing. T

his is an odd book for me. I read it easily and happily. I like the characters and the writing as always with Kent/Noelle Adams is very good. But everything is paper thin. The love between the couple, the world building, character motivation... I think because I knew the hero from the last book and had snuck and read the third book in the series, I was more inclined to hang in there.