Sharon Cupp Pennington

Sharon Cupp Pennington

About

Like most writers, I always had a head bursting with scenarios and a . . . drawer, shoebox, folder . . . of unfinished manuscripts. My first short story, "McTammany's Bed of Roses," appeared online in The Emporium Gazette, Issue 46, February 2003. With that sale, I earned enough to buy a novel in the paperback section at Wal-Mart or a couple of trade-ins at the local paperback swap-n-shop.


But I was a published author at age 54 - and I was flying!


Why did I wait so long? I grew up during a time when parents believed their daughters should take typing and shorthand, master that keypunch machine, become competent fodder for the secretarial pool. You can't make a living as a writer, you know.


So I worked in office and museum and university settings, and typed words dictated by others. I became a file clerk, an executive secretary, an office manager. I married my favorite protag - no regrets there - raised three most excellent children, who later gave us five most excellent grandchildren.


But in my head and heart, the dream still simmered. And my favorite protag knew this. When I left my last job, he said enough, and threw his full support behind me.


Now my short stories have appeared in numerous online and print venues, with anthology contributions to The Rocking Chair Reader (in the Coming Home edition and Family Gatherings). A Cup of Comfort for Weddings: Something Old, Something New and Good Old Days Magazine. Finally, after years of rewrites and the unwavering patience of my "do or die" critique group (Writing Well), Hoodoo Money was released by Draumr Publishing in May 2008 and followed by the sequel, Mangroves and Monsters, in November 2009.

Sharon resides in Texas with her husband, Wayne, where she is currently working on her next project.

The Kurdish Connection

The Kurdish Connection

0.0
0 ratings

Description

<p><strong>KURDISH SCAVENGERS UNCOVER A CACHE OF NERVE GAS IN IRAQ AND OFFER THEM TO KURDISH FIGHTERS IN TURKEY. THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS BEDLAM ALPHA TEAM MUST SECURE THE WEAPONS BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED.</strong></p><p>&quot;<strong>You must swear by Allah never to say a word of what I'm going to tell you. </strong><strong>This is the most important secret. Ever!&quot;</strong></p><p><em>In their daily struggle for survival, Iraqi Kurdish scavengers uncover a cache of chemical weapons. They offer the weapons to fellow Kurdish rebels in Turkey and Syria to assist in their quest to free an imprisoned leader and create a unified homeland. After receiving a tip from an unlikely source, the newly formed Special Operations Bedlam team is called to arms! </em></p><p><em>Travel with Craig Cameron and his international team on their covert operation as they weave their way through war-torn regions seeking to locate and recover the weapons before they can be used to cause irreparable harm and instigate a world crisis. </em></p><p><em>The odds are stacked against them. Can they manage to keep their operation hidden and prevent further clashes before it's too late?</em></p><p>&quot;The Kurdish Connection--a compelling read. A story of friendship, danger and intrigue.&quot;--<em>Ann Everett, Amazon Best Selling Author.</em></p><p>..&quot;. Randall's authentic voice adds a powerful push to keep a reader turning the pages.&quot; --<em>Janet Taylor-Perry, author of The</em><em> Raiford</em><em> Chronicles, The Legend of</em><em> Draconis</em><em> Saga, and April Chastain Intrigues.</em></p><p>&quot;Topical - Engaging - Intriguing - Powerful ... A real page turner.&quot;--<em>Rikon Gaites</em><em>, author of Mummy's Little Soldier and Darius</em><em> Odenkirk</em><em>.</em></p><p>..&quot;. Randall Krzak brings his wealth of experience living in this troubled part of the world and his military knowledge to bear in this exciting story...&quot;--<em>John L.</em><em> DeBoer</em><em>, author of When the Reaper Comes.</em></p><p>..&quot;. a journey full of history, suspense, intrigue, and action...a MUST READ for all!&quot;--<em>Les Stahl, Retired</em> NSA Executive.</p><p>..&quot;. Readers need to fasten their seatbelts for a fast-paced tale made believable by a writer who knows what he's writing about.&quot;--<em>Preston</em><em> Holtry</em><em>, author of the Morgan</em><em> Westphal</em><em> mystery series and the</em><em> Arrius</em><em> trilogy (forthcoming).</em></p><p>&quot;A behind the scenes story, ripped from today's headlines deepening the reader's understanding of an ancient strife ... filled with the sights and smells of the market place and secret meetings, the reader is admitted to the secret heart, the desperate longings of those that must fight and win, or see continued subjugation by their masters...&quot;<em>--Oliver F. Chase, author of Camelot Games, </em>Levant Mirage, Blind Marsh, and Marsh Island.</p>

Story Behind The Book

What readers are saying... Hoodoo Money was like ice cream. I just couldn't put it down! Every time I looked up from my Kindle I couldn't fathom why I wasn't in New Orleans, or Galveston. I could feel the heat, taste the mugginess. AND your mouthwatering descriptions of all those foods! OMG! Could I get a kitchen, please? I absolutely ate up the ending - and then it was gone. ~ Jodi, Goodreads.com Is it really a hoodoo curse? Or is there something else that can explain the series of tragedies that dog Braeden McKay's every step after her best friend, Angeline St Cyr takes a nickel from the grave of a hoodoo woman in a New Orleans cemetery? This is an intricate, engrossing romantic suspense. Moving from New Orleans to Galveston it is brilliantly paced with an intriguing, multi-layered plot and a host of well-developed characters. Cleverly written, taut, suspenseful with believable dialogue, some really humourous characters and situations, and not one, but two realistically written heroes. ~ Jill, Goodreads.com This is the perfect book to curl up with when you have an evening to yourself. Sharon Cupp Pennington's vivid unforgettable characters, intricate plot, humor, drama, and bayou charm will keep you turning those pages. I read Hoodoo Money straight through and it left me salivating for a sequel! ~ G Stewart, Amazon.com Braeden and Angeline are in New Orleans on a working vacation when Angeline takes a souvenir nickel from the grave of a hoodoo gypsy. What follows next is a twisting and turning tale of murder and love. This will keep you turning pages to get to the end, I sat up late to finish this one. ~ Theresa N, Goodreads.com

Reviews

<p><font face="MS Serif"><strong>Love, culture, setting and a brilliantly crafted mystery plot make this a one-day, can't-set-it-down, page turner. With heroes to die for and evil lurking from all corners of New Orleans and Galveston, Hoodoo Money contains all the ingredients for a summer beach read or a cozy day in front of a fire. Either way, you won't put it down until the last page. I've read it, I own it, and I don't intend to let someone borrow it for fear I won't get it back. ~ C. Hope Clark, author of Lowcountry Bride, Tidewater Murder, and owner of </strong></font><a href="http://www.fundsforwriters.com/"><font color="#0066cc" face="MS Serif"><strong>www.FundsforWriters.com</strong></font></a><font face="MS Serif"><strong> </strong></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font face="MS Serif"><strong>Romance, the tradition and history of New Orleans and a lead character that's as spunky and spicy as Cajun food all combine to make Sharon Cupp Pennington's book a page turner. ~ Rebbie Macintyre, author of Cast the First Stone and A Corner of Universe</strong></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font face="MS Serif"><strong>Pennington's book is a breath of fresh air in the genre. Her subtle yet uncompromising characters weave a unique story of unrequited desire, power and lust, which spiral into self-fulfillment, the hope of love, ultimate loss and murder. Every facet of the human condition is painted skillfully across the broad canvas of a vibrant and often dark New Orleans, where curses are weighed on a single nickel - or are they? A pure delight to read. ~ B. J. Kibble, author of Chasing the Wind, Dry Rain, and Legion </strong></font></p> <div style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><font face="MS Serif"><strong>Hoodoo Money had me turning the pages with enthusiasm and excitement.  The characters are great, plot exciting and the romance wonderful. It showcases Southern charm and spine tingling suspense. MY RATING: <span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf f<span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or rereading! ~ Amy Jacobs, Reviewer, <a href="http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/">MY OVERSTUFFED BOOKSHELF</a> </span></span></strong></font></div> <div style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><font face="MS Serif"><strong>If you love really evil bad guys, spooky settings, and a story that will keep you wondering all the way to the end, you will love Hoodoo Money! I hope Ms. Pennington has more planned like this book because this book just whets my appetite. ~ Stevi B, Reviewer, <font><font><a href="http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews">MANIC READERS</a></font></font></strong></font></div>