Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Blog Tour: Taking Time by Mike Murphey #blogtour #giveaway #humor #scifi #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Book 1, Physics, Lust and Greed Series
Humorous Science Fiction
Date Published: June 15, 2020
Publisher: Acorn Publishing

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The year is 2044. Housed in a secret complex beneath the eastern Arizona desert, a consortium of governments and corporations have undertaken a program on the scale of the Manhattan Project to bludgeon the laws of physics into submission and make time travel a reality.

            Fraught with insecurities, Marshall Grissom has spent his whole life trying not to call attention to himself, so he can’t imagine he would be remotely suited for the role of time travel pioneer. He’s even less enthusiastic about this corporate time-travel adventure when he learns that nudity is a job requirement. The task would better match the talents of candidates like the smart and beautiful Sheila Schuler, or the bristle-tough and rattlesnake-mean Marta Hamilton.

            As the project evolves into a clash between science and corporate greed, conflicts escalate. Those contributing the funding are mostly interested in manipulating time travel for profit, and will stop at nothing, including murder, to achieve their goals.





About the Author


Mike Murphey is a native of eastern New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from the newspaper business, he and his wife Nancy entered in a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Their company produced the A’s and Mariners adult baseball Fantasy Camps. They also have a partnership with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization in Fort Myers, Florida. Mike loves fiction, cats, baseball and sailing. He splits his time between Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

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Thursday, June 25, 2020

PROMO Blitz: Six Word Wonder by Doug Weller #promo #shortstories #literary #fiction #rabtbooktours @realdougweller @RABTBookTours



Short Stories, Literary Fiction
Date Published: June 18, 2020

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“Six words to tell a story.
Not three, or eight, or twenty.
You may ask - is six enough?
Well, trust me, six is plenty.”

A collection of over five hundred stories, each one exactly six words long. Some stories are funny, some poetic, some vulgar, and some are a little disturbing. Each story has been lovingly crafted to amuse and entertain you in six words.
 
Doug Weller’s Six Word Wonder is a social media sensation, with over 10,000 followers on Instagram.
 
Now, for the first time, Doug brings his best tiny stories together in one collection.
 

Unlocking the cage, she stepped out.
*
Cupid. Tomorrow, aim for his head.
*
Home alone, but toilet just flushed.
*
Baby loves whining. Mother loves wine.
*
…reader. I’m a very gifted mind…
*
I poured two glasses… then remembered.
*
Take a moment out of your hectic schedule to enjoy these Six Word Wonders.

 
 
 About the Author

Doug Weller is an emerging thriller writer and creator of the Six Word Wonder.
 
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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Blog Tour: I'm a Gigolo by Andrew Segal #blogtour #giveaway #fiction #literary #shortstories #rabtbooktours @HappyLDNpress @RABTBookTours


Book one - The Aberration Series of short stories
Short Story,  Crime thriller & Romantic suspense
Date Published: 1st July 2020
Publisher: Happy London Press
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I am a Gigolo

He’s gorgeous, cool and slick. Small wonder those wealthy American dames are falling over themselves to taste his flirtatious skills, just where it counts. Seduction is the name of his game, and he knows how to keep
a secret. Trouble is, our Gigolo is also a mischief maker, a man with a mission - to make a killing. So he’s got a secret of his own. But, can he keep it that way?

Deliciously sensual, with a touch macabre, the opening tale, I am a gigolo contains ten startlingly original and provocative short stories, that you’ll need to be brave to read at bedtime.




Review


I was quite surprised by how different each of these stories were. 

It truly is a collection of stories of substance. 

They span a few different genres, and are all a bit darker and gritty. 

I definitely had my favorites and some that didn't connect as well, but I think that is to be expected by any collection. 

Overall I thought this was a great group of stories that are each well written. 


About the Author


My inspirations have come from real people, events or situations that have presented themselves. Titles like, I am a Contract Killer, I am a Gigolo, Death Zone, License to Kill, are all based on my own lifetime experiences, questions asked, incidents occurring.
Let me be reassuring, thus-far, nobody has been murdered on my watch. But the notion gave rise to the impetus to write my first murder mystery, The Lyme Regis Murders. Could I make the jump after years of writing macabre short stories to a full length drama? That familiar beating in the gut, said, ‘Yes, try it. Give it a go.’
And so to that cosy coastal town where nothing untoward ever happens. Or perhaps it does. The author seeks to shatter notions, change people’s perceptions, spoil long held views. That was my intention in entering into the world of crime thrillers. I’ve found that ‘nice’ people are not always what they seem. The helpless can be transformed into the most dangerous, the most dangerous become the most harmless. It’s all up to the writer and what they’re hoping to achieve. 
For me there have been 10 children’s books, 4 books of short stories and so far, three novels, with a fourth in the mixer.
Whilst a short story might be written with a flurry of adrenalin in the space of a few hours, a book will need more than just a flash of creativity. It will need perseverance, discipline and dogged determination.
But then, isn’t that what is required of every ambition?

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PROMO Blitz: Human Kindness Shortfalls by Edmund F. Byrne #promo #poetry #rabtbooktours @efbyrnejdphd



Poems, Poetry, Social Issues
Published: May 29, 2020
Publisher: Austin Macauley
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Diverse indications as to failure of humans to find and follow pathways to peace.
Human Kindness Shortfalls is a collection of poems that vary as to topic but all address some problem or issue regarding which kindness is in short supply as we too often resort to harmful efforts at controlling who and/or what is allowed to prosper.
These poems deal with family matters, government misbehavior, human flaws, war, ecology. The overall theme is how we humans fail to live up to our potential in dealings with others in which we too often act indifferently, even hostilely.
 

About the Author

Edmund F. Byrne is a retired philosophy professor who has taken up poetry after years of publishing books and articles in his professional field. For twenty years, he was a section editor for the Journal of Business Ethics and more recently, has reviewed books critical of ‘Just War Theory’. At IUPUI, where he taught, he has established a Peace and Global Justice Award. Edmund also published a memoir entitled Remembering My Self.
 
 
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Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Blog Tour: Tier Zero by D.B. Sayers #blogtour #scifi #giveaway #interview #romance #rabtbooktours @DirkSayers @RABTBookTours



The Knolan Cycle, Book 1
Science Fiction (First Contact)/Science Fiction (Romance)/Science Fiction (Military)
Date Published: November 26, 2019
Publisher: PhoenixPhyre

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They’re already here, and no one knows about it...yet.



Two bedrock assumptions seem to find their way into almost all science fiction tales of first contact between Earth and a hypothetical alien race. The first is that we will necessarily know when it happens and the second is that alien motives will likely be malevolent. In Tier Zero, Vol. I of The Knolan Cycle, first contact occurred over thirty years ago and no one on Earth...not even SETI...has a clue it has happened.

Martin Tellus is a graduate student at UCLA. His past is riddled with mystery, including a lifelong recurring dream he cannot explain. And just as a volcano’s first discharges of gas and magma often signal a coming eruption, Marty’s dreams signal a transformative change. The transformation arrives in the form of a “chance” meeting with Lysia in philosophy class. Their connection is instantaneous.

A seductive Asian woman with an untraceable accent, Lysia sticks to Marty’s thoughts. During a casual conversation after their next class, Lysia offers to teach Marty “eastern” philosophy. But to Marty’s surprise, her teachings open a mind-bridge between them, accompanied by an intense physical connection. And Marty’s progress doesn’t end with the connection he and Lysia share. As her teachings progress, he discovers new powers, at once exhilarating and disquieting. Not for the first time, he wonders,  who is Lysia really?

Marty’s questions have answers, but Lysia isn’t telling. At least not yet. The truth is she’s a Seeker and Waykeeper of Knola, in a nearby arm of our common galaxy. She’s been waiting for Marty’s awakening, specifically to be on hand to mentor him in the Way. As Marty’s powers grow with Lysia’s teachings, she realizes he’s unique in ways not even the Oracle, to whom Lysia answers foresaw.

Lysia finds Marty’s growth in the Way at once inspiring and unnerving. Sharing her concerns with her superiors back on Knola, she precipitates a fateful decision that will change Marty’s life and alter the history of both Earth and the Knolan Concordant. Tier Zero begins Marty’s perilous journey to a destiny beyond his—or anyone’s—imaginings.



Tier Zero, Volume I of The Knolan Cycle was published in November 2019. Eryinath-5, Volume II in the series is due out from PhoenixPhyre Publishing in 2021.







Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

Tier Zero, Vol. I of The Knolan Cycle, is first and foremost an evocative adventure of first contact. But attentive readers should also see a possible alternative to our existing social order and rewards system. The Knolans value honor, service and a sense of stewardship above tangible personal reward. For a Knolan, the concept of reward is inseparable from the social consequences of their actions. Their system ups the ante on organizational responsibility. Knolan lawkeepers would never have killed George Floyd or Breonna Taylor. Nor would the Knolan ethical framework allow citizens to be locked into no-win economic situations or to let their for-profit commerce guilds use their ecosystem as a sewer.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I sometimes struggle with the muddy middle. We’ve all heard most writers are either planners or pantsers as writers. I’m kind of a hybrid, or “plantser.” I start out as a planner, meaning I map the story out in detail. But almost invariably, the pantser comes out about half-way into the first draft. I’ll get this really killer hair-fire that I think will make the story better and wind up writing myself into a corner. I always seem to find my way back out, but I do have a tendency to wander off and get lost.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I currently have four in print. My first, West of Tomorrow, is a story of corporate intrigue, betrayal, misplaced love and the phoenix in all of us. In Best-Case Scenario, Act I of Nyra’s Journey a young woman fresh out of college searches for her personal and professional identity, against daunting odds. My third work is an anthology of short stories entitled Through the Windshield, Drive-by Lives.  And my latest is Tier Zero, Vol. I of The Knolan Cycle. Regarding my favorite. I go back and forth. I think West of Tomorrow is a really thought-provoking book and I’m proud of how it turned out. But I’m not sure that Tier Zero isn’t a little better. For most, I’m guessing it comes down to genre preferences.


If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

Honestly, I’d never given it much thought. Purely from a looks perspective, I think Chris Hemsworth would make a pretty believable Marty Tellus. He looks a lot like I picture Marty, Chris surfs as Marty does in Tier Zero. so yeah. Chris Hemsworth is probably close to perfect.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing in high school. Poetry and short stories, mostly. I continued my creative writing in college but went through a 22-year hiatus while I was in the Marine Corps. I started writing again when I went to work in corporate America as a corporate trainer. That job proved to be the catalyst and inspiration for my first full-length novel, West of Tomorrow. I’m now working on my sixth novel with two more in the plotting/planning stage.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

A lot longer than it should. You remember when you asked if there was anything I found particularly challenging and I said the muddy middle? I first experienced that with West of Tomorrow. I had a plan, then I got creative, with the now-familiar dilemma of getting bogged down in the middle. And I was still working then, so all told, I think it was close to 9 years before West of Tomorrow saw the light of day.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an author. My grandfather who worked for the Associated Press, had his own by-line and was always going to write “the great American novel.” He never did and I’m sorry he didn’t, because his command of language and nuance would have guaranteed it would have been brilliant. So though he was never a published author in the traditional sense, I owe my appreciation for an elegant turn of phrase to him. I treasured the letters he wrote to me, growing up.

Additionally, there are lots of traditionally published authors whose work I admire. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, of course. I love the deft prose of Jane Austin and the wry, gentle wit that shines through in many of her stories. Then there’s Hermann Wouk and Frank Yerby, who wrote some genuinely epic historical novels and of course Robert Heinlein, Issac Asimov, Frank Herbert, John Scalzi and Pierce Brown for science fiction. Oh, and Robison Welles’ speculative dystopian novels are really well done with sophisticated characterization.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I suspect almost no one is going to buy this, but for me it’s critiquing and editing. I sponsor a critique group that has been very successful in advancing everyone’s writing skills. They let me get away with nothing, but they’re so helpful in how they critique that I actually look forward to their feedback. And self-editing has gotten so much better now with the MS read-aloud routine. Even allowing for the mechanized monotone and occasional pronunciation glitches, it’s great for catching typos, wonky wording and verbosity.

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Exciting, evocative and thought-provoking.

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

I’ve just finished the refinements to Eryinath-5, Vol II of The Knolan Cycle, the second book in the series beginning with Tier Zero. It’s already been through peer review and beta, and I’ve passed it on to my editor.

I’m also thirteen chapters into the first draft of The Year of Maybe, Act II of Nyra’s Journey, the sequel to Best-Case Scenario. And I’m in the process of planning Volume III of the Knolan Cycle, title to be determined.



About the Author




Dirk’s path to authorship wasn’t quite an accident, but almost. It’s not that he didn’t write. He did. But through two previous careers, first as a Marine officer and subsequently as a corporate trainer, Dirk started way more stories than he finished.” But in the backwash of the 2008 financial meltdown, his employer filed for Chapter 11. Cordially invited to leave and not return, Dirk found himself out of work and excuses.

Since then, Dirk has published West of Tomorrow, Best-Case Scenario and a collection of short fiction entitled, Through the Windshield. Works in progress include A Year of Maybes, sequel to Best Case Scenario and Tier Zero, Volume I of the Knolan Cycle now available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle.

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Book Blitz: Dear Lyme Disease by Wendi M. Lindermuth #promo #nonfiction #giveaway #selfhelp #rabtbooktours @LindenmuthWendi @RABTBookTours



Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Chronic Pain
Date Published: 4/21/20

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This book is a must-read for anyone who lives with Lyme Disease, chronic pain, and illness and is still seeking answers and support.
In 2015, Wendi’s life drastically changed when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and other life-threatening infections. She was once a competitive athlete, enjoyed the flexibility and freedom of her life to being bedridden. She shares her struggles along with her celebrations of living with Lyme disease and chronic pain.
As you read this book, Wendi guides you through each chapter taking you from theory to practice learning alternative healing tools and engaging in experiential exercises to start implementing a new way of thinking, living and finding your “new normal” and hope again.
If you are struggling with Lyme Disease, chronic illness, and pain, you will learn to forge a new relationship with your body, mind, and soul and learn new tools to optimize your life despite your limitations.

About the Author

Wendi M. Lindenmuth BS, MPH, is an Author, Energy Medicine and Alternative Healing Specialist and an Intuitive Healing Artist. With over 25 years of experience in teaching, medical and public health, and healing, she helps people suffering from Lyme Disease, chronic illness and pain find relief from their symptoms and limitations and start creating a life of hope, strength and purpose again. She lives in Dresser, Wisconsin with her husband and 2 dogs surrounded in the tranquility of Wisconsin Interstate park.

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Monday, June 22, 2020

Release Blitz: ZON by @MaureenAMiller #promo #yascifi #releaseday #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

(Can be read as a stand alone)
Young Adult – Science Fiction - Adventure
Date Published: June 22, 2020
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From USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller, comes this young adult cosmic adventure.

With a father from the planet, Ziratak, and a mother from Earth, Zon's challenges are galactic. Zon doesn't possess superpowers, though. If anything, he's a bit of a klutz.
In Ziratakian folklore, the tale of the Temple of the Monarch has been passed down for generations. As legend has it, a series of miniature globes lead to the temple’s gate.
Folklore…nothing more.
Except, Zon knows of a cave with small globes in it. And with one clumsy mishap, he triggers the gate–opening a portal to other worlds.
A trip through this vortex transports him to Earth, where the first human he encounters is a young woman with challenges of her own.

This is a brand new saga, and a new generation. There is no need to read the BEYOND series. However, for readers of the series, you will enjoy this continuation of the epic science fiction adventure.

 
 About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller worked in the software industry for fifteen years. She crawled around plant floors in a hard hat and safety glasses hooking up computers to behemoth manufacturing machines. The job required extensive travel. The best form of escapism during those lengthy airport layovers became writing.
Maureen's first novel, WIDOW'S TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. After that she became hooked to the genre. In fact, she was so hooked she is the founder of the JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE website.
Recently, Maureen branched out into the Young Adult Science Fiction market with the popular BEYOND Series. To her it was still Romantic Suspense...just on another planet!
Find more about Maureen at www.maureenamiller.com

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Saturday, June 20, 2020

PROMO Blitz: Building Self-Esteem by Joseph Burgo, Ph.D. #promo #selfehelp #nonfiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours @jburgo55



How Learning from Shame Helps Us to Grow
Self-Help
Date Published: May 2020
Publisher: New Rise Press

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Despite what most people believe, shame and self-esteem are not opposites.

"With the skill of a master storyteller, Burgo vividly brings to life, through his clients' struggles and his own, our shared journey to accept a startling truth: shame can either hobble us or help us thrive; it all depends on what we do with it. Savor this book's lessons and exercises. You'll come away with the kind of self-compassion that makes us all better people. "-- Dr. Craig Malkin, Lecturer, Harvard Medical School and author of the internationally acclaimed book, Rethinking Narcissism.

Challenging widely-accepted views within the self-esteem movement, author Joseph Burgo argues that self-esteem does NOT thrive in the soil of non-stop praise and encouragement, but rather depends upon setting and meeting goals, living up to the expectations we hold for ourselves, and finally sharing our joy in achievement with the people who matter most to us. Along the way, listening to and learning from our encounters with shame will go further than affirmations and positive self-talk in helping us to build authentic self-esteem.

Richly illustrated with clinical stories from Burgo's 35 years in private practice, Building Self-Esteem also describes the myriad ways that unacknowledged shame often hides behind a broad spectrum of mental disorders including social anxiety, narcissism, addiction, and masochism


For fans of Brené Brown and John Bradshaw

#BuildingSelfEsteem #self-esteem #self-help #bookbuzz





About the Author

Joseph Burgo began writing short stories when he was 12 years old, wrote and published his first fantasy novel with Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster) at the age of 23, and then went on to become a clinical psychologist and author of self-help books. His articles and commentary have appeared in major publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and USA Today, as well as on sites such as CNN, CNBC, Forbes, Vox, and Glamour. He also contributes regularly to Psychology Today and writes the popular blog After Psychotherapy where he discusses personal growth issues from a psychodynamic perspective.

As a clinician, he has practiced psychotherapy for more than 30 years, holding licenses as a marriage and family therapist and clinical psychologist. He earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his masters and doctorate at California Graduate Institute in Los Angeles. He is also a graduate psychoanalyst and has served as a board member, officer and instructor at a component society of the International Psychoanalytic Association. He continues to practice psychotherapy by Skype with clients around the world.


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