A Life Through Books: January 2019

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Virtual Book Tour: Flygirl by R.D. Kardon @rdkardonauthor with a #interview and #giveaway for the #womensfiction #novel @RABTBookTours

6:00 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

Upmarket Commercial/Women’s Fiction

Date Published: January 3, 2019

Publisher: Acorn Publishing LLC

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Let pilot Tris Miles lift you up, and fly you to new heights with her inspiring story of love, ambition and the meaning of success.

R. D. Kardon's debut novel puts you in the cockpit with Tris Miles as she navigates the challenges of integrating an all-male corporate flight department in 1997. Tris encounters harassment, marginalization, and backstabbing on her journey to becoming a jet captain.

____________________________

It’s 1997. Women stand beside men in combat and fly fighter jets. Pilot Tris Miles is not content with her job as a First Officer for tiny Clear Sky Airlines. She wants to be a Captain—the only way she knows to prove her worth as a pilot and atone for a deadly mistake.

To further her career, Tris accepts a prestigious job with Tetrix, Inc. But her dream of becoming pilot-in-command twists into a nightmare.

As the company’s first woman pilot, she encounters resistance, marginalization, and harassment on a daily basis. Fortunately, Tris has one thing her co-workers can’t deny—skill.

When Tris finds herself in a crippled airplane thousands of miles from home she must prove she can lead. With her career on the line, can Tris earn the respect she’s been craving? And if this is the end, can she find the strength to forgive herself?

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The hardest part of writing a novel, to me, is the editing/revision process. While writing a first draft isn’t easy, generally it just needs to be a shell that I’ll fill in during the revision process. Revisions are where I do the really hard work of fleshing out the characters and the plot.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

Ha! I really like Bruce Springsteen, so I guess ‘Born to Run,’ ‘Thunder Road,’ and some of his other classics would be the most often played.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have had a number of Beta readers, who have been ridiculously helpful to me.

What book are you reading now?

Right now I’m reading “Educated,” by Tara Westover

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve been writing ever since I was a little kid. I wrote poetry and short essays in primary school and then I penned a couple of short stories.

Tell us about your next release.

Ahh! My next release follows the career and personal life of Tris Miles, the main character of ‘Flygirl,’ and puts her in career and life-threatening situations. She gets a boyfriend, but the reader will still wonder who is the true love of her life.

About the Author

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Robin "R.D." Kardon was a litigation attorney before beginning a twelve-year flying career as a corporate and airline pilot. She holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and three Captain qualifications. Her travels took her all over the world in every type of airplane from small single-engine Cessnas to the Boeing 737. Robin earned her B.A. in Journalism and Sociology from NYU and J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law. A native New Yorker, Robin now lives in San Diego, California with her beloved rescue pets. , a work of fiction inspired by her own aviation experience, is her first novel.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Blog Tour Fiction

Virtual Book Tour: Of Metal and Earth by Jennifer M. Lane @Metal_and_Earth with an #interview of the #fiction book @RABTBookTours

9:55 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

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Mainstream Fiction

Date Published: July 19, 2018

In 1964, a rural town is rocked to its core when only one young man returns from Vietnam. Emotionally scarred, James hides from their pity and only finds the determination to lift himself up when he realizes what remains to be lost. He buys a little green Jeep, like the one that gave him shelter in the war, and hopes it will lead to salvation again. But the fortune it brings tarnishes, and James is left to sacrifice the thing that gave him hope for the people who need him most.

Over the next thirty years, the Jeep changes hands, passing between friends, family, strangers, and lovers. A single mother who buys a car for her reckless son nearly destroys a friendship with a man who silently loved her for two decades. An insecure youth at the start of his career learns that the most important lessons are the ones you never set out to learn. A family torn apart by their differences finds that love can be the hardest road to take. And a city architect must choose between the easy way to restoration or a difficult path that could save far more than just a rusty old Jeep.

Fans of THIS IS US, MITCH ALBOM, and NICHOLAS SPARKS will enjoy this heart-warming tale of restoration and redemption, a must read book for anyone inspired by the the resiliency of the human spirit.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Taking a plot concept, infusing it with emotional arcs for many characters, and bringing it all to life is the easy part. The hard part is turning feedback from critique partners and editors into actionable editing notes, especially when those notes are conflicting. Though it can be challenge, learning to filter through critique is also the most rewarding part of the writing process for me.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

I tend to listen to classical music when I write. No specific song stands out.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have been very lucky to find myself among a talented group of writers in a variety of genres. Their feedback, support, and friendship means the world to me.

What book are you reading now?

I just read Bits and Pieces by Dawn Hosmer. It’s a moving psychological thriller with a unique premise that I highly recommend.

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve always enjoyed creative writing, but my early professional path was journalism. My career then turned to marketing where I did more concise copywriting than creative work. It took a long time before I was able to share my work and focus on it as a craft, but overcoming that fear and committing myself to the success of Metal was truly the start of my journey.

Tell us about your next release.

Stick Figures from Rockport was released just before Christmas. In it, a woman chases a family secret, not knowing it will unravel her isolated life. My third book, tentatively titled Blood and Sand with a targeted release of spring 2019, starts a series of stand-alone books set in a small Maine town.

About the Author

A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane is a resident of East Norriton, PA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Barton College where she served as editor of the newspaper. She also holds a master’s in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials. She once co-hosted a daily automotive blog and served as the president of a large car club. She enjoys coffee, whiskey, Earl Grey tea, and spending time with her partner Matthew and their own 1964 Jeep CJ-5.

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Monday, January 21, 2019

Blog Tour Giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: Killer Lawyer by Mark Nolan @marknolan #thriller #giveaway #booktour @RABTBookTours

10:33 AM BY EverLeigh 9 Comments

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Thriller

Date Published: 12/10/2018

No rest for the wicked.

Trained as an assassin by the CIA, Jake Wolfe now wants a new life of peace and quiet, living on a boat and practicing law. But when his city is shocked by a serial killer and he’s framed for the murder of a friend, Jake must race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.

Drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse; at every step, Jake and his loved ones are being hunted by the clever, twisted madman. As the city is gripped in fear of the seemingly random shootings that could strike anybody, Jake investigates and uncovers ominous clues until a shocking reversal of fortune changes everything.

With the clock ticking and lives at stake, will Jake be able to find and stop the killer in time, or will he become the next victim?

Buckle up for a wild ride as Jake Wolfe and his exceptionally intelligent dog, Cody, return to action in this page-turning thriller in Mark Nolan’s bestselling series that has earned thousands of 5-star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.

About the Author

Mark Nolan is the author of Dead Lawyers Don't Lie, an Amazon top 20 bestsellers, along with Jake Wolfe book two titled Vigilante Assassin and book three titled Killer Lawyer. He tries to make time every day to answer emails from readers. You can reach him and subscribe to his newsletter at marknolan.com.

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Friday, January 18, 2019

Blog Tour Giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: Still Breathing by E.A. Fournier @gammera #interview #giveaway #womensfiction @RABTBookTours

6:29 AM BY EverLeigh 2 Comments

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Women’s Fiction

Date Published: November 17, 2018

Designer: Damonza

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Newly widowed and on the threshold of seventy, Lizzie Warton questions the value of her remaining years. Uncharacteristically, she decides for the first time in her life to do what she wants, instead of what everyone expects.

Against the wishes of family and friends, she sets out for Africa to work at a Ugandan middle school. When she lands at night in the Entebbe airport, her hosts are not there to meet her. Near panic, she hires a local taxi. The driver drugs her, steals everything, and dumps her limp body in a slum. Waking in the dark, she feels someone tugging off her shoes.

Without money, a passport, clothes, or medications, Lizzie is forced to start over and find a way to survive.

Soon she learns that nothing in Africa is as it appears. The grind of daily life in the third-world is beyond anything Lizzie imagined. Nevertheless, encouraged by budding friendships in surprising places, and against every sensible instinct she’s ever developed, Lizzie’s own personal search for meaning becomes the grand adventure of a lifetime.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The most difficult sections for me to handle are the ones that contain a lot of exposition. As a former screenwriter, I love writing dialogue and action, but give me scenes with a lot of information to impart and watch me sweat. In STILL BREATHING, the meeting with the travel clinic consultant was one of my most difficult assignments. Yes, the information was important, and it even set up some major plot points, but it ran the risk of becoming dreary. I’m probably overly sensitive, but I revised that scene more times than any other part of the book. I’m always relieved when my readers leave that moment behind them.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

For me, music is a distraction. Sorry. When I write my initial drafts, I crave quiet. Not silence, but it’s best if nearby sounds are low. I don’t write well in coffee shops or fast food malls. In fact, the world is getting noisier, and even libraries have lost the knack for shushing.

So, why don’t I write at home? I’ve found I write first drafts better when I’m out of the house. Maybe it's a holdover from years of working at an office, I don't know. Thankfully, I discovered a small horticultural library where few people go. The beautiful tables are fashioned from slabs of wood, chairs are handmade, tall windows overlook ponds and meadows, and best of all, the rooms are wonderfully quiet. No, I won’t tell you the location.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Yes. I have a small clutch of faithful beta readers who provide me with an ongoing sense of how I’m doing at different stages in my books. They keep me honest. This was never more critical than in STILL BREATHING because the genre is women’s fiction and the main character is an older woman. Virtually the entire story is experienced from her point of view. Since I’m a man, I depended on my beta readers, all women, to be frank about the accuracy of my characterization. I’m pleased to report that they were as captivated by Lizzie as I was.

What book are you reading now?

This week I finished the novel ALTER by Jeremy Robinson. The main character is an American doctor on a medical outreach who becomes stranded in the Amazon rainforest. In his desperate fight for survival, he discovers a frightening capacity for evil within himself. The first half of the book was utterly compelling but in the second half, I felt the author lost control. The story grew so bizarre and unbelievable that I quit reading. I skimmed to the end just to check the finish. Sad. The premise was catchy, the writing was good, but the conclusion spun totally into the ditch.

How did you start your writing career?

Initially, I saw myself as a poet. Through college I wrote poems until I was swept into the visual poetry offered by motion pictures. I pursued movies for many years both in college and in Hollywood. It turned out, I had a knack for script writing.

Only recently did I try my hand at books. I belatedly realized that writing novels gave me the ultimate freedom. I was no longer hemmed in by restrictive screenplay formats or producers with short attention spans. I could take my time with the characters. I could fully develop plots, fill in the background info and even add additional scenes. My imagination wasn’t limited by budget or length and the only people who mattered were my readers. I only wonder now what took me so long to do it.

Tell us about your next release.

WHITE EYES is my current work in progress. The setting is a struggling cattle ranch in South Dakota during the 1950’s. The story focuses on an emotionally broken family and what it will take to heal them. Separated from his wife and son for 12 years, a rancher receives a lawyer’s letter informing him that his wife has unexpectedly died in Chicago. With no other options, his city-raised, 14-year-old son is being sent to live with him. Father and son haven’t seen each other in more than a decade and all the boy knows is that his dead Mom hated everything about the ranch and the people who live there.

About the Author

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Originally from South Minneapolis, Gene Fournier earned a BA in Philosophy & Literature from St. Louis University followed by a Masters in Film from USC. Gene is a member of the Writers Guild of America West (WGA) and worked as a screenwriter and editor in Hollywood, but sadly, he never got that big break.

Seeking a return to his roots after twelve years in California, he accepted a Director of Media position with a multinational company headquartered in the Midwest. For thirty years he wrote, directed, edited and distributed corporate video programs around the world, managed live presentations, and orchestrated the creative elements for national and international meetings.

Retired now, with his seven children grown, and a dozen grandchildren to distract him, Gene is finally able to write down the stories he’s been carrying in his head all these years.

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Thursday, January 17, 2019

Blog Tour Interview

Virtual Book Tour: The Mindset Accountability Journal by Allie Hudson @livinglifebeyo1 #interview #selfhelp #nonfiction @RABTBookTours

5:00 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

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Self-help, inspirational, motivational

Date Published: December 10, 2018

Publisher: Lucid Books

Are you stuck in a life you want to be different, but have no idea where to start?

The Mindset Accountability Journal will jump-start you to a life you can enjoy living every day. By establishing incremental daily habits, you will embark on a path to gratitude, self-growth, and fulfillment. This journal will help you:

· Discover who you were meant to be

· Shift your focus to what is good and wonderful in your life

· Create an attitude of mindset growth

You will never regret taking charge of your life and living with gratitude. The journey is rewarding and challenging. It takes only 30 minutes each day to make progress with your future, one day at a time.

A portion of the book's proceeds will support BridgeHope, whose efforts enable survivors of exploitation and trafficking to THRIVE!

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Making sure I am connecting to people I am trying to help with my journal.

What songs are most played on your iPod?

I listen to contemporary Christian music. I love Laura Daigle.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Being a first-time author, I feel that the best feedback has come from my family and close friends, as well as my editing team help who helped in creating a book that will help other people in their personal journey.

What book are you reading now?

Mastin Kipp - Claim Your Power. I have also been mentoring under Mastin Kipp the last six months. Mastin Kipp is the Founder of Functional Life Coaching. In his book he takes you through a journey to dissolve the hidden blocks that keep you stuck. I love reading information about improving myself to become the best person I can be. My goal is to put 10,000 hours into reading and audio book listening in the next five years. Most of these books are self-development related. My goal is to become a master of who I am inside. I listen to at least one audio book a week and read as much as I can in addition to watching Youtube videos from people currently working in this field.

How did you start your writing career?

I wanted to create this journal for people who want to get a consistent practice of gratitude and self-development going. I was trying to create the habit in myself because I was always starting and stopping in my self-development journey and instead wanted to be consistent. I heard that if you practice something for 40 days, it will become a consistent habit. It was in the process of developing this habit over 40 days that I knew the practice could help other people who were also looking to start and be consistent with their self-development. I developed this journal because I took the journey, and I know it changes your life when you go through the process.

Tell us about your next release.

I do not have a second book yet, but I am studying the connection between the brain and the heart. Following your heart really is something that can be done, but we have to get out of our head first.

About the Author

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Allie Hudson grew up in LaGrange, Ohio, and attended Moody Bible Institute, studying education. In 1991, she married Larry Sellers, who passed away of a heart attack in May 2009. In 2010, she married Michael Hudson who passed away of cancer just three years later. In January 2012, Allie lost her corporate job of 20 years because of downsizing in the newspaper business. Throughout this five-year period of three major losses, the only way she survived was to focus on God and trust that He had a plan for her life. After struggling to maintain a daily consistent practice of growth and gratitude, she began a 40-day challenge to practice gratitude and personal growth. That journey taught her the need to help other people develop a daily practice of thankfulness and inspired her to share 'The Mindset Accountability Journal' with the world.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Blog Tour christian

Virtual Book Tour: He Made Me Brave by Pam Ogden @Pam__Ogden #interview #nonfiction #parenting #christian @RABTBookTours

9:12 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

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Non-Fiction - Parenting, Christian Living, Inspirational

Date Published: June 14, 2018

Publisher: Lucid Books

This is not a fairy tale--but it does have suspense, humor, a quest, and a happy ending. When Jason and Pam Ogden decided to adopt a baby, they had no idea that their adoption process would stretch over a period of two years, and that their baby would be a toddler by the time they were able to bring him home. Taken straight from Pam's personal travel journal, He Made Me Brave chronicles the long-awaited emotional trip she and her husband took to South Korea to meet their new son. Through these powerful journal entries, you will:

· Experience Pam's fear, grief, anticipation, and joy as you read her private, honest thoughts.

· Discover the challenges faced by these adoptive parents as they started the bonding process.

· Be encouraged by God's sovereignty and power over anxiety.

He Made Me Brave is the touching memoir of a mother defying fear to be united with the little boy she had been dreaming of for two years, and an account of hope fulfilled.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

For me, the hardest part of writing in general is finding the time! I love to write but I also love to be a mommy, and managing the schedules of 5 children doesn’t leave me a lot of free time. I notice that I am almost always “telling the story” of my day in my mind, though, because I love to try to find meaning in and make sense of everything.

What songs are most played on your iPod?

“Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money, “White Winter Hymnal” by Pentatonix, and “Animal” by Neon Trees because I’m moody.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have several wonderful literary-minded friends who give me their honest and thoughtful critiques while encouraging me to keep telling the story.

What book are you reading now?

I’m always somewhere in Les Miserables because it’s my all-time favorite book, and I love to reread and underline the best parts. My new favorite is Paula Dean’s Southern Cooking Bible.

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve always wanted to write. I used any opportunity to embellish my essays and written answers in college because it was a “safe” way for an introvert like me to express myself. I finally felt like I could write something worth reading about when we adopted our son, though.

Tell us about your next release.

My hope is to be matched with a sibling for our son and to write about our experience with this second adoption. The world of adoption is changing, and it is becoming harder and harder for families to offer homes to these children who need them. We need a new awareness of how difficult it is, and a fresh perspective on what is in the best interests of the children.

About the Author

Homeschool mom and pastor's wife Pam Ogden had dreamed of being a mom since she was a little girl. She and her husband wanted six children, but their plans were waylaid when high-risk pregnancies and premature births threatened their first four babies. In 2012, they adopted their son, and in 2017, they started the process to adopt one more child. Pam graduated with honors from George Fox University, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Writing and Literature, and a Master's degree in Counseling. Pam loves her small town life in Sweet Home, Oregon, with her husband, Jason, and their five children, Kelly, Luka, Ivan, Ember, and Hudson. Pam and Jason hope to add one more child soon.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Blog Tour Fantasy

Virtual Book Tour: Hidden by Megan Morgan @morgan_romance #paranormal #romance #fantasy #interview #giveaway @RABTBookTours

8:11 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

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Hidden (Fire and Iceland #1)

Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy

Date Published: October 31, 2018

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

After a breathtaking journey through Iceland, Vanessa Evanston finishes her dream vacation with her two best friends in the capital city of Reykjavik—and wakes up the next morning on the ground, on a tiny island 250 kilometers north, with no memory of how she got there.

Luckily, handsome and kind-hearted local Gunnar Heimirsson stumbles upon her—unluckily, he can’t explain her mysterious journey either. Nor can anyone explain why Vanessa soon discovers “last night” actually happened a year ago, and everyone thinks she’s dead.

Iceland is known for its folklore, but beyond the elves and mountain trolls, there are other creatures: beautiful, powerful, and vengeful, known as the huldufólk. Gunnar has been alive for a century, trapped by their curse after angering them. From the far flung Westfjords to the black sands of Reynisfjara, the answer to Vanessa’s missing year might be connected to Gunnar’s punishment—as well as his long-lost wife, Hera—but the truth lies somewhere in the realm of magic, myth, and love, and Vanessa has only just discovered fairy tales are real.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Sometimes, it’s just knowing where to start—and when to stop! When I get an idea, I struggle for a bit over where the story should begin. Sometimes I write a beginning and then realize it should start somewhere else, so I have to cut things out and start over at that place. Also, sometimes I overshoot where the book should have ended, and need to go back and revise. Figuring out where the actual story lies and cutting it out from the rest can be a bit of a challenge. But I enjoy the challenge, because it’s part of the writing process.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

I mostly listen to Spotify, and right now I’m super, super into Icelandic music—can you tell, from the setting of my book? There’s a lot of Icelandic musicians who are just fantastic but don’t get much international attention because they mainly sing in Icelandic. They have a huge hip hop scene there too, and it’s so creative. Even if I don’t understand the words I love listening to the songs because they sound so good.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Yes. I like to share my young work with other writers so I can get feedback on it. I think it’s important to get a second opinion before you put something out into the world. It’s easy to miss things when you’ve read it over and over so many times that you’ve gone blind to the mistakes.

What book are you reading now?

Lately I’ve been reading a lot of self-help/inspirational books. I started reading ‘May Cause Miracles’ by Gabrielle Bernstein, but I’ve been busy in life and need to pick it up again.

How did you start your writing career?

I was really young—only 13!—and I wanted to write horror like Stephen King. I was very naïve and silly, but I thought I was going to blow up huge like him and become a bestselling horror author. My early writing was awful, but I found my passion in producing words and I never gave up and got better over time. Now I here I am, all these years later, not writing horror but paranormal romance instead. Close enough, right? It’s not a bad place to end up!

Tell us about your next release.

I don’t have anything awaiting release right now, but I have the sequel to Hidden written and I’m doing revision/edits on it now. I’m also going to be continuing my Man Catalog series from Evernight Publishing. I’m hoping 2019 will be a productive year!

About the Author

Megan Morgan is an award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author from Cleveland, Ohio. A mild-mannered airport bar supervisor by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she lives on the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie with her spoiled cat and adult son, both of whom shed too much.

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