Beyond The Blue -- Free today in the Kindle Store

BEYOND THE BLUE is a coming of age novella. 12 year old Anthony Breckenheimer is a clever boy with blue eyes, red hair and like his father he is a little on the chubby side. He lives in the big City of Toronto with his mother, his little brother Ronald and his little sister Leona. His father died a year ago and Anthony misses him greatly especially when he is confronted by bullies on his way to and from school; the biggest and baddest one being Jerry Hasselbergen. One day while in his classroom Anthony discovers a magical window. What he sees through this window and beyond the blue changes his life forever.

 

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 Paperback Edition

 

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BEYOND THE BLUE  is a story that takes place in a Toronto neighbourhood way back in the 1950's.   I actually remember those days well.  Bullying was a problem then as it is today although to a lesser degree in that in those days it was rare that weapons be used or that drugs be involved.   Yes, it was more innocent but make no mistake, for the child being bullied it was a harrowing experience.   "Enigami" is the message beyond the blue but what on earth can that possibly mean?  This coming-of-age story is one I believe many young children will find believable and inspiring.   I hope you will enjoy it too.

About the Author

Audrey Austin's passion is creative writing. She recently celebrated her seventh writing anniversary and invites you to enjoy her many short stories, novellas and novels. Check out her author's page at http://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin    Austin lives and works in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada.

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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:    #87 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Life

No Stone Unturned -- free today in the Kindle Store

No Stone Unturned, a short story, is free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites.

To Honour The Dudley - No Stone Unturned

This is a short story for animal lovers.  Fear reigns in Dudleyville. All the animals turned to their leader King Dudley for guidance. This is a story for the young at heart aged six to sixty -- there is a lesson to be learned.

This story is currently 99 cents in The Kindle Store

on all Amazon sites

however on Wednesday, Jan. 28th it will be free

for your reading pleasure.

Dudley, often called The Dudley or King Dudley, was a prime reason for me to wake up in the morning.   At a time when I lived alone I was never alone; he was always there for me with his high energy, his affectionate ways, his unconditional love.

Dudley was growing old; on his way to 16.  I knew the day would come when I would need to say good-bye to my best friend.   The day did come and I thought I would die along with him; I missed him so very much and to this very day, I still miss him and I am sure I always will.

When I wrote "No Stone Unturned", this short story was my way of honouring my boy; the Jack Russell Terrier who was by my side for so many years.

Once I completed the short story I realized that this short story is also my way of honouring all of our four-legged and winged friends.  

They deserve so much more than too many humans are prepared to give them.  King Dudley inspired his subjects to leave no stone unturned in search of justice for the animal kingdom.

I wish we humans would do the same.   I hope you enjoy The Dudley's story.

Dudley at the age of 15.  

His little face used to be brown

and one ear always flopped over.

Along with the aging white face The Dudley

perked up his ears - even in old age he didn't want to miss a thing.

 

Check out my author's page  http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

Thanks for always being kind to animals.

Find Firinn - a short story free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites

Uncle Farlan teaches his young niece, Forba, Scottish folklore and history. Emigrating to Canada is not something he wants but to stay with family determines his decision. The importance of finding firinn he instills into Forba's young mind. Many years later Uncle Farlan is ill. Alzheimer has made its claim. Forba is there at her uncle's bedside when he takes his last breath.

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Uncle Farlan and his niece Forba invite you to "Find Firinn". This Kindle short story is free today, and if you have any Scottish blood in you, it's a story you don't want to miss. If you have known & loved a victim of Alzheimer Disease this is a story you don't want to miss. 

 

 Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin  And if you enjoy the story thanks for your positive review on Amazon.com   

      

From the Author

The relationship between Uncle Farlan and his young niece is enduring.   Yes, he taught her to respect and always remember their Scottish heritage but even more important is the loyalty and love the two share throughout life up to the day of his death.  Alzheimer Disease is a terrible thief.  But even Alzheimer could not steal Farlan's memory of the secret he shared with his niece.

 

Review by Eleanor Lambert; Bermuda.
 I just read "Find Firinn" and enjoyed it immensely. It brought back a few memories of my own and of course thought immediately of  my sister-in-law. Anne,who was from Scotland. I gave this story 5 stars. 

 

Currently #4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Parenting & Relationships > Aging Parents > Aging

 

 

Find Firinn is a short story that dares to stand alone but it is also one of the twelve stories included in short story anthology, Social Studies - Book One;  Dying To Be Popular which is available in both Kindle and Paperback format on all Amazon sites.

 

Cover design by Susan Ruby K.

http://www.yuneekpix.com

 

 

Short Story - The Silent Star is free in the Kindle Store today

Amazon.com rating #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories > World Literature
Amazon.co.uk rating is #1 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories > World Literature

Short Story - The Silent Star is free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites.

http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

The Silent Star -- free short story tomorrow in the Kindle Store

Young Andrew suffers many losses. An orphan he feels alone and unwanted. He becomes the silent star. He walks alongside the track in life; often getting stuck on the wrong side. Rose is his redeemer and because of her and their love for one another he overcomes all odds and becomes an inspiration to others.

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From the Author

The Silent Star won first place in a WynLit writing competition hosted by Wynterblue Publishing Canada.  In addition to standing alone as a short story it is also a part of my anthology titled The Silent Star Plus a Dozen which is also available as a Kindle Book on Amazon.  If you enjoy this story you will want to check out the anthology.   This is a story of abuse, overcoming, redemption and inspiration.

 

 

Short Story - The Silent Star is free tomorrow in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites.

 

Check out my author's page  http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

 

cover design Susan Ruby K.

yuneekpix.com

 

 

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy #1 in the Kindle Store on Amazon.ca

#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Canadian

I'm so happy about the Kindle Store rating of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.

Cover design by Susan Ruby K. of yuneekpix.com

Moose Road is also available in paperback format on all Amazon sites

 

Cover Design Susan Ruby K.

http://yuneekpix.com

From the Author

2012 was spent writing Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.   Here in my home town of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada we had recently suffered great losses due to a mall collapse which killed two people, injured others and of course deprived many of their jobs and businesses.

Moose Road is not about this mall collapse however my frame of mind while writing this story was influenced by all that was going on around me.   And of course an Inquiry was happening here in the real world and I realized the importance to many of placing blame for what had occurred.

This was the bedrock of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.  My thought was what if no one is to blame?  What if it were an accident.  And, indeed, on Moose Road there is the accident between the snow plow and the school bus. There is an investigation; an inquiry and judgment is made.   But what happens once this decision is made by the Judge is what shocks the small Town of Mansey and fills headlines across the nation.

I put my heart and soul into the characters who live along Moose Road.  They became very real to me and I sometimes had a hard time keeping up with them.

I hope you enjoy the story.

Thank you Alan Black for the 5 star review on Amazon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragic and compelling April 7 2014

By Alan Black - Published on Amazon.com

 

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

 

Austin has written a not so simple story, weaving the lives of multiple residents on Moose Road around one tragic accident that leaves no one on the road or in the nearby Northern Ontario Canada town untouched. The subplots tug at our desire to comfort some residents of this town with a hug and those same subplots yank at our exasperation switch yelling at us to slap sense into some of these same people. The main story cries for our attention and gets it.

Austin is able to show us one tragedy from every point of view except the moose. The characters are so real that I wonder what Austin's neighbors thought about having their secret lives dragged into the public view. I started this book just to have something to read in between my own chores. However... to heck with the chores, I finished the book in one sitting.

 

 

 

In Control is free today in the Kindle Store

They say that Mary Lynn McAfterson is a control freak. It is true that since the death of her parents her work is her life. The day Marcel Leblanc enters the café the hope and light of romance flickers. Mary's life is transformed. If you enjoy "In Control" you will want to read the short story anthology titled The Silent Star plus a Dozen in which this short story is included.

In Control is free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites.

Check out my author's page  http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Kindle Edition of Moose Road free today on Amazon

Currently #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Canadian

#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Canadian > Drama

    Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy is free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites. This book is also available in paperback format for your reading pleasure.

  Thanks for taking the time to write your positive review on Amazon.

   http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

  Cover design by Susan Ruby K. of yuneekpix.com

Proud to be Independent

In the modern contemporary world of the 21st century we celebrate independent film makers; independent musicians, visual artists, crafters and the days of the giant movie studios are gone giving us cause to celebrate independent actors. 

The days of the giant publishing houses are not gone however there is a wonderful new wave of activity in our writing world.  Today we celebrate independent authors.

I am an independent individual and I very much enjoy being one of our modern world's independent authors.   

I don't get excited about every song I hear sung but I do get excited about many and I love music.

I don't enjoy every movie that I view but I do enjoy many and I love to watch movies.

I don't want to purchase every painting that I see but I do buy quite a few and I love the work of  the visual artists.

I don't want to finish every book that I start reading.  I don't love every book that I read but I do love many books and I love reading.

You may or may not like every story I write but perhaps you will like one, two or maybe more. 

The point I am trying to make is that just because you read one book that is not your cup of tea by one independent author, why blast all of that author's work and, furthermore, how is it possible that this entitles one to blast the work of all independent writers?      

In fact, why blast or be harsh with anyone?   It's okay if you don't like the work that an artist has produced.  And it's okay if you do.    But do you really think it is okay to be hurtful to someone because you did not like whatever it was that they produced? 

No musician expects every person to appreciate his music.  No visual artist expects every art lover to want his work.  No film maker expects everyone in the world to love his film.   And no writer expects every reader to love his story. 

If I don't like the music of one independent musician I do not say I will not listen to the music of independent musicians.

If I don't like one artist's rendering of a subject I do not say I will never appreciate the artistry of any independent visual artist.

If I don't like a story written by an Indie Author I don't say I will never read any of his books or that of any other independent author.

Why not celebrate the fact that musicians, visual artists, crafters, film makers, actors, poets and, yes, authors, are willing to put their hearts on the line; willing to express their art; willing to take the risk of being accepted or rejected?

As for me, I celebrate them all.

And I am very proud to be what is popularly termed  an Indie Author.

Thanks for checking out my author's page at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

No Mercy For Magdalena

Magdalena Macaire lives with her family in Greektown which is in the east end of Toronto, Canada. In her short life she has known nothing but violence. It's time for celebration. With her friend, Katie, she attends A Taste of The Danforth. There the girls meet local hoodlum, Andreas Christakos, and his buddies. Magdalena accepts a ride with these boys. Will she be driven to murder?

No Mercy For Magdalena  is a short story which dares to stand alone.    This story was short listed in a Wynterblue Publishing Canada writing competition.

This story is offered to short story lovers free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites.

No Mercy For Magdalena is also available as one of the twelve short stories contained in short story anthology titled Social Studies, Book Two - Shattered and Broken.    This anthology is available through createspace.com or on any of the Amazon sites in both Kindle format and in Paperback.

Check out my author's page at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

cover design by Susan Ruby K.

of http://yuneekpix.com

 

The Face In The Mirror

Randolph is a gang member. Rumbles and motorcycles are his big city way of life. He has made a lot of wrong choices in life. What happens when little brother Jimmy becomes his full responsibility?

Short story "The Face In The Mirror"  is free today (Jan. 12) in the Kindle store on all Amazon sites.

My author's page is found at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin 

REAWAKENING

REAWAKENING is free today in the Kindle Store on all Amazon sites. (Also available in paperback format)

With regard to this book let me share with you one review by Maggie Kirton who is the Executive Director of Wynterblue Publishing Canada.

She writes, "Every now and then a manuscript comes across my desk that completely captivates me. Austin has reached inside the human heart and removed all boundaries pertaining to everlasting love ... and her ability to play with the English language successfully is astounding.

Austin's Reawakening is a must read. It will take you into a land not far from your heart and bring you back to earth again believing that all things are possible with love and hope."

Another review of REAWAKENING:

" Let me first wipe my droplets of moisture from my eyes. Some shed from sadness of a love so strong and true, that never seems to be a " togetherness of two the way I would hope. Then some shed for the amazing job... Austin did in making me laugh at the craziness of our "human" lives.
"Reawakening" is a story I could not give anything less than 5 stars too. It is a love story, mixed with sci-fi, also mixed with drama and the comedy that sneaks up if you have the ability to laugh at oneself. Would I go as far as calling this book a romance...no I cannot! It is a book of love, true love, something many think they know, but will realize if by this story very few may actually have it right. A love on earth were age, appearance were not important to the two involved, happiness, comfort, and love was without a question in their lives. A must read for men and women.

Ann237 Beauregard 
       

From the Author

Reawakening is a novel that reveals itself in a place called Notsew.   Here is a story that takes the reader on a journey, along with the story's characters, far from earth.   In this place called Notsew the powers that be have great curiosity.  They want to learn more about why human beings do the things they do and mostly they want to learn about some strange phenomena best described as emotion.   The story's characters find themselves unwilling participants in an experiment. 

Cover design by Susan Ruby K.

http://yuneekpix.com

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy is doing very okay on Amazon.ca    This book is available on all Amazon sites and is there in both Kindle and Paperback formats.   Its current rating is #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Canadian > Drama

#7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Canadian

#20 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theatre

 

2012 was spent writing Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.   Here in my home town of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada we had recently suffered great losses due to a mall collapse which killed two people, injured others and of course deprived many of their jobs and businesses.

Moose Road is not about this mall collapse however my frame of mind while writing this story was influenced by all that was going on around me.   And of course an Inquiry was happening here in the real world and I realized the importance to many of placing blame for what had occurred.

This was the bedrock of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.  My thought was what if no one is to blame?  What if it were an accident.  And, indeed, on Moose Road there is the accident between the snow plow and the school bus. There is an investigation; an inquiry and judgment is made.   But what happens once this decision is made by the Judge is what shocks the small Town of Mansey and fills headlines across the nation.

I put my heart and soul into the characters who live along Moose Road.  They became very real to me and I sometimes had a hard time keeping up with them.

I hope you enjoy the story.

 

The beautiful cover design is by talented artist/illustrator Susan Ruby K.   Check out her website at  http://www.yuneekpix.com

 

A Stranger In a Strange Land

One of my short stories titled "A Stranger In A Strange Land" is doing well in the Kindle Store.   It is currently  #31 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 15 minutes (1-11 pages) > Romance

This short story has been previously published in The Standard, Elliot Lake's local newspaper.   It is also found as one of the short stories in Book One of my trio of anthologies titled Social Studies.  Book One is sub-titled "Dying To Be Popular".

 

 cover design by Susan Ruby K.

of Yuneekpix.com

 

Little did she know when she tripped over his big, bare feet on her way to work on Christmas Eve morning that she was meeting her future happiness.  A Stranger In a Strange Land is a short story about homelessness, angels, strangers, the Holy Bible, music, love, faith and perseverance.

 

"A Stranger In a Strange Land" is a love story with a very unusual beginning.  At Christmas time especially we are reminded that  strangers can indeed be angels in disguise.  "I was a stranger and you took me in."    

 

       My joy and my passion is creative writing.  This summer of 2015 I will celebrate my eighth writing anniversary.  It is my pleasure to invite you to enjoy my many short stories, poems, novellas and novels.  Thanks for taking the time to check out my author's page at http://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

       I feel blessed to live and work in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada.   As a small town author I am proud to be what is popularly known as an "Indie Author".    With the help of Amazon I am able to share my creative work with you.

I miss working with Mags  and Wynterblue Publishing Canada.   But when I found myself without this wonderful support I didn't make any attempt to find another publisher.  This decision was made primarily because I am in my senior years and I want to make the most of the time  God is granting me.    And so I became an "Indie Author" and I am glad that I did.

Eight years ago I retired from what we call the working world.  And then eight years ago I went to work.  

To date I have created for your reading pleasure,  six novels; three novellas; four short story anthologies; one book of self-discovery; one poetry anthology and many short stories including "A Stranger In a Strange Land."    Most of my creative writing focuses on current social issues.  I have also written two plays that I am thinking I may one day publish.   One of my plays was performed a few years ago by the Elliot Lake Amateur Theatre Group.   The other play was short listed in a Wynterblue Writing Competition.

My current works in progress are (a) a romantic novel titled "Dinner At Seven"  and (b) "All Them Houses" - my memoir.   Whether I will publish "All Them Houses" is debatable, however, I hope to have "Dinner At Seven" published and available for your reading pleasure sometime before 2015 comes to a close.

"I was a stranger and you took me in."    This is the basic theme of "A Stranger In A Strange Land."   However I apply this description to myself as well.

In the creative writing world I am a stranger.   Many of you have already let me in and this makes me very happy    But I remain a stranger in this vast, strange, publishing world, and the truth is I will do so until you pick up one of my books and let me in.  

This is a brand new year.  It blows my mind to even realize that it is now 2015.  I wonder where all the years have gone sometime and it is for this reason that I feel it is important to write my memoir.  I want to get it down before I forget it all.  :-)     My memoir may be a little scattered, somewhat like the fictional memoir of the beautiful Ellen but it will come from the heart.

To those of you who have let me and my stories into your life I just want to say thank you.  And I wish you every happiness and success in 2015.

Happy New Year to everyone! 







 

Keeping It Simple -- Imagine Being Whole

#3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Holistic

#16 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Hinduism > Chakras

 

Keeping It Simple is free today in the Kindle store on all Amazon sites.

 

This book explores the trinity of the seven major chakras, meditation, and psychospiritual therapy.

 

A number of years ago while teaching  in the one-room school house within Creative Connections Centre in Caledon East, Ontario, my students requested that I put this information into book form.

 

Keeping It Simple is the result and I hope it will be of benefit to you in your life journey as it has been to others.

 

This books is available in both Kindle and Paperback format on all Amazon sites.

 

Check out my author's page at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

 

60,000 visitors. Thank you everyone :-)

As of today my writer's blog has just passed the point of more than 60,000 visitors. Wonderful! http://www.writecreatively.blogspot.com
  
I also have a poetry site if you care to share your poems and another site for writers who live in small towns to promote their works.

Thanks to all who visit and thanks to those who participate.
 

Audrey Austin is ..... CALLING ALL WRITERS

 

Each day is a gift to be unwrapped ...

"Sara was happy with all the presents she received but her mother's gift, a leather bound journal containing more than a hundred wonderful blank pages, was the one she held closest to her heart. 'It's like my life, mama. Full of possibilities.' "
  (excerpt from Sara, a Canadian Saga).

   And this is how I feel today and each New Year's Day -- life is full of possibilities. Each day is a gift to be unwrapped. Each day is unique and it is there to be lived.

  If we really want something done the time is forever now. Happy New Year to all my family and friends.