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If there’s one thing we know about wedding cakes today, it’s that they come in a wide variety of style, flavors and sizes. If you look on the internet you can find wedding cakes ranging from simple two or three layers to towering monstrosities or multi-flavored cakes connected with plastic bridges and even individual cupcakes. But nowhere have I seen a wedding cake that resembles the one the groom broke over his bride’s head in Roman times. In ancient history, and even up to Victorian times, the wedding cake bore little resemblance to the sweet confections of today.

Wedding toppers appeared in the 1940s, and by the 1950s, American brides began moving away from the traditional fruitcake of Colonial America. Today, you’ll find wedding cakes in many styles, themes, and flavors. If you can dream it, there will be someone who can make it.

When I was writing the book I hadn’t thought much about what kind of cake my characters would have, but I think it would look a lot like the one on my book cover. And Mama would have been sitting on a layer just as she is in the cover. After all, she was Cupid’s helper.   

 

Second Edition for A Groom for Mama Coming Soon…

 

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

 

 

 

I’m the type a person
who, once I commit to something, I’m all in. Especially if my heart has
anything to say about it. Let’s talk writing for instance. At the beginning of
2025, I was faced with a dilemma. My publisher was closing at the end of the
year, and I had to take action if I wanted my books to continue to show up in
the world. So, I queried (not fun, but a necessary task) a couple of publishers
based on referrals from my author friends. Within a month, I signed on with two
publishers! The first publisher, Pandamonium
Publishing House for my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from
Fairy Falls (read more about that news HERE),
and the second publisher, Next Chapter
for The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures. Once I signed both
contracts, the stress literally rolled off my shoulders. Woohoo!

That said, I know I’m
in it for the long haul. As mentioned, I’ve got two young adult book series on
the go—four done in the time travel series, and three completed in the teen
psychic tales. What you don’t know is that I’ve got nine more to write in
total. Stating this fact shows I know it’s going to take years before each
series is completed. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Keep in mind I’ve had
to learn that patience is my friend, not foe. I removed myself from the hustle culture a few years ago, and feel much calmer, more focused, and less stressed.
If you’re familiar with the Tarot cards, there’s one particular card that I
visualize in my mind to help me keep showing up. It’s the seven of wands, and
the energy this card carries is one of valor, of holding firm, and of having
the advantage in spite of the stiff competition facing you. I’ve embodied this
card’s meaning many times throughout my author and personal life. To have the
courage to work through adversity and all sorts of pressure. It’s
determination, perseverance, and a sense of purpose wrapped up in a gift with a
bow. This card reminds me not to give up the struggle, and that if I make the
effort, I will achieve victory.

As writers, sometimes
obstacles are placed in our path (like losing your publisher) just to enhance
our ability to use our skills and wisdom wisely. Take the amount of times a
writer has been rejected, and you get the gist. It’s a test for us to see if we
can truly handle what we believe we can accomplish. To keep showing up is a
testament to your dreams and goals. I mean, why did you come to the earth plane
anyway? You showed up here for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and
make things happen in your life.

Sometimes just showing
up means carving out that fifteen minutes a day to write your story or even a
blog post. Do up a few ad blurbs for the books you’ve already written and
published, and do some marketing. Back lists sell new books, right? Plot and
plan that next novel. Meet with other writers and network or brainstorm. Reach
out to your local bookstore, and see if they’ve got any author events planned.
Jump in with both feet, and share your reading wares with the local libraries
or schools. Donate copies of books to charities like Ronald McDonald House
Charities to enhance their libraries and raise spirits. Be courageous and
brave, like the figure on the seven of wands, who takes the bull by the horns,
and soldiers on.

In this writing
business, it’s easy to feel daunted, to retreat, to feel overwhelmed, and not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. I have
at times too. Just take a breath, step back from the action periodically,
reassess your plans and goals, then take back your place, and know you have the
advantage even if you don’t realize it. Because, trust me, you do.

How about you? Have you
ever let the competition get to you? Let me know if you’ve ever felt at a
disadvantage in your writing life. Do you cut your losses and withdraw from
your dreams and goals? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for
taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

About Mirror’s Fate:

Balance is Everything

The Mask Tendro picked up after the battle in the Mirror World is more than it seems. When he puts it on he is flooded with all the memories of his previous lives and all the ways his future could play out. Choosing to destroy the Mask instead of giving into the temptation of hiding beneath it, Tendro decides that this time he’s going to do things differently. And that means staying one step ahead of Caralain in his own world and the one that Mirrors it.

Mirena agrees to help Tendro with his plan, even though it will have her facing harsher consequences for her involvement in the attack on the Capital. But in order to break the cycle, they’re both going to have to tread into uncharted territory and face down friends and enemies alike. Alliances shift, fates change, and the past comes back to haunt them as they finally unravel the secrets of the Mirror Worlds and their places in them.

Release Date: 

July 17, 2025

Genres: 

Dark Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy

Meet the Author:

J.A. Dowsett (she/her) writes scifi and fantasy with strong romantic subplots. Her books range from young adult (the Crimson Winter trilogy, Neo Central) to adult fantasy romance (Mirror Worlds, Ismera). She loves superheroes, Dungeons and Dragons, and Star Trek. In her spare time, she owns and operates Mirror World Publishing, an independent Canadian press specializing in Escapism Fiction. She lives in Windsor, Ontario.

Connect with J.A. Dowsett:

Website: 

http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com

Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Justine-Alley-Dowsett/e/B004MNQAUA/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4637105.Justine_Alley_Dowsett

The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book One:

Children are the key to our future. And now,
they are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old
Amanda Sault and her classmates land themselves in hot water after a cafeteria
food fight, they’re assigned to yard duty as punishment. After the kids uncover
a mysterious stone arch hidden in the overgrown backyard owned by the Witch of
White Pines, they learn that it’s an ancient portal created by the lost
civilization of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus, Amanda and her reluctant companions are swept
into the secret world of the Timekeepers: legendary guardians entrusted with
preserving history from a sinister force known as Belial. Their first mission?
Travel back to 13th-century England to ensure a young Robin Hood fulfills his
legendary fate.

But time travel comes with strict rules, and one wrong move could rewrite the
past… and erase the future.

Packed with high-stakes adventure and a touch of ancient magic, THE LAST
TIMEKEEPERS AND THE ARCH OF ATLANTIS is the first book in Sharon Ledwith’s
series of novels for middle grade readers and adults alike.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/4NE2kx

The
Legend of the Timekeepers, Prequel:

There is no moving forward without first
going back.

After the
fall of Atlantis, young Lilith and her father seek refuge in the mysterious
Black Land, but Lilith’s heart remains connected to her lost home—until an
encounter with a high priestess reveals her true destiny.

She is meant to become a Timekeeper, a guardian tasked with protecting the very
fabric of time itself. When Lilith and a band of newfound friends are summoned
through the legendary seventh arch of Atlantis, they are thrust back into a
critical moment in history. Their mission? To prevent the dark magus Belial
from rewriting a sacred prophecy and unraveling the future of Earth.

Armed with ancient knowledge and trust in one another, the young Timekeepers
must navigate a dangerous path. But even together, can they outwit Belial and
preserve humankind’s future?

An epic adventure rich with ancient mystery, LEGEND OF THE TIMEKEEPERS is the
prequel to Sharon Ledwith’s The Last Timekeepers series.

UNIVERSAL BOOK
LINK: https://books2read.com/u/baxQw6

The
Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book Two:

Only
a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.

When
fourteen-year-old Jordan joins his second mission with the Last Timekeepers, he
and his companions are thrust into Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War 2.

Tasked with locating a powerful, ancient book before it falls into enemy hands,
Jordan and his fellow Timekeepers are plunged into a fight far more dangerous
than anything they’ve faced before. With help from the Dutch Resistance and a mysterious
baron, they must stay one step ahead of a regime determined to silence the
truth.

As danger closes in, Jordan discovers that true courage is forged through
trust, sacrifice, and the strength of those beside you. But will that be enough
to change the past – and protect the future?

A fast-paced adventure rich with historical detail, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND
THE DARK SECRET is the second book in Sharon Ledwith’s series of novels for
middle grade and adult readers alike.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/499B8k

The
Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book Three:

True freedom happens only when you
choose to be free. 

When eleven-year-old
Drake Bailey embarks on his third Timekeeper mission, he must confront a dark
chapter of history:  the antebellum South. No amount of genius can prepare
him for the dark reality of the past, as he assumes the role of a plantation
slave.

In a time of fear and cruelty, Drake must outwit his captors, protect a vital
bloodline, and find the courage to break the chains that threaten to destroy
him. In a race against time, the Timekeepers confront Voodoo, zombies, and
ritual sacrifice. But do they have what it takes to complete their mission and
protect the timeline?

The third book in Sharon Ledwith’s Last Timekeepers series, THE LAST
TIMEKEEPERS AND THE NOBLE SLAVE blends rich historical detail with gripping
adventure.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/bW2jxW

So, what do you think of the rebrand created by my new publisher Next Chapter? Would love to read your
comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate
you! 

Writers Need to
Perfect the Art in their posts if they want to sell books. Authors tend to think in
black and white. We are words-on-paper people who weave our worlds for readers
in print. However, when sharing book posts on the Internet, we need to do
better in regard to the art we use, me included.

Think of how much time
and effort you spend choosing cover art for your books, an often-laborious task
that has us second-guessing our choices, even the moment after we hit the send
button giving the final go ahead.

In the Huffington Post
story, “Yes, We Really Do Judge Books by Their Cover,” Smashwords founder Mark
Coker said, “A book’s cover is the first thing a potential reader sees, and it
can make a lasting impression. Our brains are wired to process images faster
than words. When we see an image, it makes us feel something. A great cover
(can) helps the reader instantly recognize that this book is for them.”

The same idea holds true
for blog posts. The picture you share is what catches the reader’s eye, not
your clever verbiage. So, if you post a fuzzy photo or one that looks
amateurish, the chances of readers getting to the meat of your post lessen
dramatically.

Authors should want to be
perceived as professionals, even if they’re writing that novel in the wee hours
after the kids are put to bed and before that ear-splitting alarm signals it’s
time to head off to their day job. Shoddy artwork instantly symbolizes the
blogger is an amateur.

“But I’m not a
photographer,” I can hear you mumble.

No worries, because we
live in the world of Google images. However, it’s extremely important that when
you scan those images, looking for just the right fit for your post, you do a
safe search. It’s simple. Just enter in the type of picture you’re looking for,
then click on images. On the tool bar, you’ll see Settings. Click and scroll
down to Advanced Search. At the bottom of the page you’ll see Usage Rights.
Because you’re an author selling books, you’ll need to choose Free to Use or
Share, Even Commercially. Then go back to your images. While the choices are
significantly pared down, the images remaining are free to use, without the
risk of running afoul of the art’s owner, an adventure that might include
lawyers and lawsuits and a big hit to your wallet.

When
searching for images online, it’s imperative that you only use pictures that
are marked Free to Use or Share.

You must then size your
art. Often, authors post art that’s too small, leading to those blurred
pictures. And remember, different social media platforms require different
sizes of art. What looks great on Twitter might be blurred Facebook. For an
in-depth look at sizing for various social media platforms, check out https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-image-sizes/.

Before taking your own
pictures to post, locate images you’d like to emulate online. Then read David
Peterson’s “ Six Classic Design Elements for Outstanding Photographs”: http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/2679/six-classic-design-elements-for-outstanding-photographs/.

Note that it’s the little
things that can ruin a picture. Take food photos, which are notoriously tough
to shoot. Is the tablecloth the food rests on wrinkled? Is there an errant dab
of catsup on the plate? Are there shadows covering those scrumptious cookies?
“The Serious Eats Guide to Food Photography” might help: http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/03/beginners-guide-to-food-photography.html.

 

For those of you who are,
like me, a bit older, try not to be scared off by the technology. Over the course of
your lives, you learned new things. You got better at them with practice. The
same applies here.

If you peruse the
websites of well-known, successful authors, you’ll see the art is first rate.
You’ve labored vigorously to perfect your writing. It makes sense than, if you
want people to find your books, you’ll do the same with those images you’re
using to market your work.

Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women’s fiction novel for your reading pleasure.

The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.

Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.

When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia. Stay connected on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.