Friday, September 24, 2021

The Original Cakewalk by Sharon Ledwith, Author of The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Vol. 3) - Young Adult, Time Travel @SharonLedwith @MirrorWorldPub

 

Welcome to the 1-week virtual book tour for 
The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave
The Last Timekeepers, Book 3
by Sharon Ledwith


Please welcome Sharon Ledwith to the blog today!

The Original Cakewalk


Y’all ready to set the flo’? Say what? Not sure what I’m talking about? You’re not alone. I had no idea what “set the flo’” meant until digging into the research I needed to bring readers into my point-of-view character Drake Bailey’s world in the next book of The Last Timekeepers time travel adventure series. Set in 1855, during the antebellum period in Georgia, Drake will show you it’s not the best place for an African American time traveler, but he endures and lives to tell his tale.

Plantation slaves in the deep south of America weren’t given many pleasures in their hard lives. Author Julius Lester sums it up beautifully when he wrote in his book, To Be A Slave, “The prayer meetings, the parties, and the holidays did not make being a slave pleasurable. Nothing could do that, but whatever pleasure the slave was able to provide for himself was a remarkable testimony to the ability to retain humanity under the most inhuman conditions.” One of those small pleasures was to set the flo’ or set de flo’—a dance style competition—where the best couple or single dancer won a cake through their creative jig.

In The Last Timekeeper and the Noble Slave, I wrote a cakewalk scene during the slaves’ Good Friday celebration. My interpretation of a set the flo’ dancing contest involves an elder slave drawing a circle on the dirt floor with a charred corn cob. The rules require the dancers not to step outside the circle or they’ll be disqualified. Next, the fiddler would call out to begin the competition. Since I had slave couples compete, the man and woman would bow to one another, then the woman placed her foot on her partner’s knee, so he could tie her shoelace. Traditional cakewalk dance contests had the woman put her hands on her hips while the man rolls his eyes and grins before they started dancing. I combined both techniques to break the tension and create the necessary humor in the scene.

Strutting was an element always present in set the flo’ dancing, and there were different styles, such as water dances. As you may have guessed, this jig demanded the dancer keep a glass or pail of water on his or her head and see how many kinds of steps they could make without spilling the water. Um, no thanks. Already dressed in their best clothes, why tempt fate? The fluid and graceful steps of the dance may have given rise to the colloquialism that something accomplished with ease is a ‘cakewalk’, but the life of a slave was far from that.

However, there is an interesting element with the history of this dance. A firsthand account from ex-slaves interviewed during the 1930’s shares that the cakewalk was meant to covertly mock their owners without getting punished, through the signals and expression of dance. Now that’s what I call getting their just ‘desserts’.

Book Details:

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy  

Page Count: 244 Pages

Publisher: Mirror World Publishing

Release Date: September 17, 2021

Follow the Tour to Read Exclusive Excerpts, Guest Posts, Reviews, and Spotlight Posts:


Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing:








Meet the Author:

Escape to the past and have a blast.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the award-winning teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her spoiled hubby, and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOGLook up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOKTWITTERPINTERESTLINKEDININSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS

Publisher Website:

Mirror World Publishing 

Giveaway Information and Entry Forms:

2 winners!

1 winner will received a signed paperback of The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (International).a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 winner will receive a Kindle copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (US only).a Rafflecopter giveaway


Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Read an Exclusive Excerpt from The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Vol. 3) by Sharon Ledwith - Young Adult, Time Travel @SharonLedwith @MirrorWorldPub

 

Welcome to the 1-week virtual book tour for 
The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave
The Last Timekeepers, Book 3
by Sharon Ledwith


About the Book:

Eleven-year-old Drake Bailey is an analytical thinker and the genius of the Timekeeper crew. However, no logic or mathematical acumen can change the color of his skin, or prepare him for this third Timekeeper mission in antebellum Georgia. To survive, Drake must learn to play the role of a plantation slave and when confronted with the brutality, hatred, and racism of the deep south, he’ll have to strategically keep one move ahead of his sadistic captors to ensure his lineage continues.

In a dark world of Voodoo, zombies, and ritualistic sacrifice, the Timekeepers must ensure a royal bloodline survives. Can Drake remove both literal and figurative chains to save both himself and a devout slave girl from a terrible fate? If he can’t summon the necessary courage, humanity could stand to lose one of its greatest leaders.

Book Details:

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy  

Page Count: 244 Pages

Publisher: Mirror World Publishing

Release Date: September 17, 2021

Follow the Tour to Read Exclusive Excerpts, Guest Posts, Reviews, and Spotlight Posts:


Read an Excerpt:

Tossing his seed bag, Drake raced toward the end of the field, making it look like he was escaping. With any luck, he’d regroup with the rest of the Timekeepers at the big house and seek out their protection. At least this would be a diversion for the sadistic slave driver. What he wasn’t counting on was being cut off by O’Hara on his horse. Drake swerved sharply, missing the horse’s hooves by inches, and he rolled away. Spitting out dirt, he wiped his mouth, still tasting the remnants of regurgitated pork. 

“You wouldn’t by chance be running, would you, boy?” O’Hara adjusted his wide-brim hat and leered down at Drake from his saddle. “’Cause here at the Taylor Plantation, we deal with escaping slaves one way, and one way only.”

The sound of beating footsteps made Drake lift his head. Henri glared down at him, strangling his whip’s braided leather handle. “Thought you was a smart slave, Drake.” He raised the whip over his head. “But even a blind man sees you as dumb as dirt.”

O’Hara held up his hand. “Get back to the field and get those slaves planting. I’ll deal with Drake personally.”

“Yes, boss.” Henri lowered his whip, looking almost disappointed, then turned and trudged back to the field where Harriet was still on her knees and Benjamin had resumed plowing.

Feeling the impatient stomping of O’Hara’s horse vibrate through the earth, Drake attempted to catch his breath and climb to his feet. His dress clothes were stained with the sweat and dirt his hands and face reflected. O’Hara circled him with his horse. The warm breath of the dark horse mimicked spiders crawling across Drake’s skin. Then, O’Hara reached down, grabbed Drake by the belt, and heaved him over his horse. Drake squirmed as O’Hara kicked his horse’s flanks, heading for the sun-bleached barn. Holding onto the long mane and gripping any part of the saddle he could manage, Drake squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to scream out in pain, as the saddle horn continuously jabbed into his rib cage. O’Hara whistled and coerced his horse to the right, throwing Drake off to the left. He rolled until his back hit a solid wooden post. 

I think I’m about done now, Lilith, he thought, still trying to catch his breath. Please get me out of this hell hole.

“Stand up!” O’Hara commanded. “Face the whipping post!”

Did…did he just say whipping post? Dizzy, Drake opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. A pitted wooden post over eight feet tall towered over him. His nose wrinkled. It emanated a combination of putrid smells; urine, sweat, and puke. A number of shackles in different sizes were nailed into both sides of the post. Claw marks, some embedded with fingernails, caught Drake’s eye and he trembled. Henri was right. He was dumb. Downright stupid to think he could somehow help Harriet and show the others how to take a stand against the oppression that was so ingrained and beaten into them.

O’Hara snatched the bullwhip hanging from his saddle’s horn and dismounted. “Take off your fancy shirt, less’en you want it ripped to shreds.”


Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing:








Meet the Author:

Escape to the past and have a blast.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the award-winning teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her spoiled hubby, and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOGLook up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOKTWITTERPINTERESTLINKEDININSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS

Publisher Website:

Mirror World Publishing 

Giveaway Information and Entry Forms:

2 winners!

1 winner will received a signed paperback of The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (International).a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 winner will receive a Kindle copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (US only).a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thursday, September 16, 2021

Book Tour Schedule ~ The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Vol. 3) by Sharon Ledwith - Young Adult, Time Travel @SharonLedwith @MirrorWorldPub

 

Here is the 1-week virtual book tour schedule for 
The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave
The Last Timekeepers, Book 3
by Sharon Ledwith


About the Book:

Eleven-year-old Drake Bailey is an analytical thinker and the genius of the Timekeeper crew. However, no logic or mathematical acumen can change the color of his skin, or prepare him for this third Timekeeper mission in antebellum Georgia. To survive, Drake must learn to play the role of a plantation slave and when confronted with the brutality, hatred, and racism of the deep south, he’ll have to strategically keep one move ahead of his sadistic captors to ensure his lineage continues.

In a dark world of Voodoo, zombies, and ritualistic sacrifice, the Timekeepers must ensure a royal bloodline survives. Can Drake remove both literal and figurative chains to save both himself and a devout slave girl from a terrible fate? If he can’t summon the necessary courage, humanity could stand to lose one of its greatest leaders.

Book Details:

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy  

Release Date is September 17, 2021

Book Tour Schedule:

September 17 - Release Day!

Mirror World Publishing - Spotlight

sapphyrias.book.reviews - Spotlight


September 20

Jojo Debrazza.com - Exclusive Excerpt

Teatime and Books - Spotlight

Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote. - Spotlight

September 21

The Bookwyrm - Guest Post

Leigh Goff - Exclusive Excerpt


September 22

Tales from the bayou - Spotlight

Sapphyria's Book Promotions - Exclusive Excerpt


September 23

The Writer's Life - Spotlight

Sapphyria's Books - Guest Post


September 24

Books, Ramblings, and Tea - Spotlight

Reviews by Saph - Review

Sapphyria's Book Promotions - Guest Post

Thursday, September 9, 2021

1-Week Book Tour Sign Up Invitation - The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Vol. 3) by Sharon Ledwith - Young Adult, Time Travel (September 17-24, 2021)

 

Mirror World Publishing and Sapphyria's Book Promotions present the 1-week book tour for The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave (Vol. 3) by Sharon Ledwith.

About the Book:

Eleven-year-old Drake Bailey is an analytical thinker and the genius of the Timekeeper crew. However, no logic or mathematical acumen can change the color of his skin, or prepare him for this third Timekeeper mission in antebellum Georgia. To survive, Drake must learn to play the role of a plantation slave and when confronted with the brutality, hatred, and racism of the deep south, he’ll have to strategically keep one move ahead of his sadistic captors to ensure his lineage continues.

In a dark world of Voodoo, zombies, and ritualistic sacrifice, the Timekeepers must ensure a royal bloodline survives. Can Drake remove both literal and figurative chains to save both himself and a devout slave girl from a terrible fate? If he can’t summon the necessary courage, humanity could stand to lose one of its greatest leaders.

This 1-week virtual event is for September 17-24, 2021 (no weekends).  I don't require top or only post of the day for any of my tours.  Materials will include a standard post and an HTML.

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy  

Sign up to host here: https://forms.gle/1rfFS7TtJY9YVK1u9 
or fill out the form below: