There are only six days left until “Shifts in Time” launch day. The first of the series, “Shifts in Time: The Adventure Begins”, will be released on April 9, 2024. This realization has left me with butterflies in my stomach from a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I’ve done all that I can do at this point. The final covers are uploaded, as well as the corrected manuscripts for all three versions of the title – e-book, paperback, and hardcover. I hope you are getting excited to read it for yourself. Every day until launch day, I will share a quote from the book and something new about the book, without spoilers. Promise. I will also share something you may not know about me.

Today’s Book Quote:

“To lead them well, dear child of mine, walk in truth and always be kind. For kindness is true strength you’ll see…”

from Charlie’s puzzles in book 1

About Me

Today’s fun fact about me is that I learned to read when I was three and have been devouring books ever since. To be fair, I was highly motivated to learn because my parents spelled everything out if they didn’t want us to know what they were talking about. ‘P-o-o-l’ might have been the first word I could recognize. Bonus fact – I love to swim.

About “Shifts in Time: The Adventure Begins”

First in a Series but Could be a Stand-alone Novel

“Shifts in Time: The Adventure Begins” is the first in a series of four novels. However, it could just as easily be a stand-alone novel. I recognize that readers have their own preferences when it comes to book series. When I have invested time and energy to read roughly 65,000 words, I would like to feel satisfied with a proper ending of the story. Sometimes, a series will leave me feeling frustrated between books. In this series, I have tried to marry those two ideals – a proper ending within a larger story. Each book is told from a different first-person perspective.

Features a Strong Female Lead

Book one in the series features Ann and is told from her unique point of view. Annabelle Ruth Copeland is a strong and capable sixteen-year-old who rises to every challenge that is thrown her way, without ever losing her innate femininity. One of my personal pet peeves is when writers confuse the terms ‘strong’ and ‘masculine’. These writers often portray female characters behaving in ways that most females would not behave. This practice makes the character feel less than genuine to me. I wanted to show that Ann could be strong and still embrace her feminine qualities.

Values Championed in the Series

Family and friendship are two values that are woven into the stories. Inclusion is another. The characters are representative of many ethnic and cultural groups, some even fantastical, from all over time. Even so, they embrace the unique attributes each possesses as a positive contribution to the group as a whole. The other values that run throughout the series are honesty, kindness, stewardship of the planet, and perseverance in the face of life’s challenges.

Things to do while you wait for launch day…

Are you getting excited yet? I am getting excited for you to read the books. Here are a couple of things you might want to check out over the next few days while we are waiting:

Let’s Get and Stay Connected

I have never been a big social media person, but I am learning as time marches onward. Here are some of my most recent social media account additions:

Goodreads – is a wonderful place for readers to connect with other readers around the world. Authors listed on Goodreads have been vetted – they are who they say they are – following your favorite authors is easy to do. I have only been on Goodreads for a few days and I’m wondering why I waited so long to join.

Facebook – this is my public author profile on Facebook.

Instagram – @anitaayresauthor (also @anita_ayres_author)

Watch the Book Trailer

What’s a book trailer? That’s what I was asking when I first heard about them. Basically, it’s a short video presentation introducing the book to the world. Here is the book trailer I created for “Shifts in Time: The Adventure Begins”. It’s my first attempt at a book trailer, so please be gentle.

Sign up for My E-mail List

If you haven’t read chapter one yet, let me remind you that you can get your free copy by joining my e-mail list. It’s painless, risk free, and an easy way to decide if you are likely to enjoy my writing style.

Read Chapter One Free While You Wait for Launch Day