A Life Through Books: April 2019

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Book Blitz: Master Your Moods: It's Not All In Your Head by Jacqui Fleury, ND @SaskatoonND #promo #excerpt #nonfiction #health

10:05 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

photo Master Your moods Cover_zpsftgjrtjo.png

Mind/Body - Health

Date Published: January 2019

ARE YOU READY TO HAVE A HAPPIER BRAIN?

We know we should exercise regularly, get enough sleep and eat well to increase our quality of life and performance. So why is it so hard to do?

According to brain health enthusiast Jacqui Fleury, ND, it’s because we take on too many big changes all at once and get overwhelmed! Plus, if you are already anxious, depressed or have a foggy brain, making positive changes can be even more of a struggle!

Master Your Moods is a proven, practical, easy-to-read guide that will help you understand what contributes to a happier brain and show you how to make a few simple changes that will make a big difference in your moods, your energy and your outlook on life. You can thrive. This guide will show you how!

Excerpt

What you eat and how you move your body affects the way your brain works. Conversely, the thoughts you think can have a dramatic effect on the way you eat and the foods you choose and, in turn, can affect how (and if!) you move your body. But knowing this isn’t enough. Many of us know that we need to eat well, exercise and get adequate rest; yet we struggle most with these three things. The number one reason diets fail and we stop going to the gym is because we can’t sustain the regimen. Deciding on a few small changes, committing to these changes 100% of the time, and staying consistent over a sustained period of time will ultimately bring you more longterm results than any fad diet or extreme eating or exercise plan. In this book, I will lead you through creating a customized 3-step plan that will help you make small changes toward better health and wellness. The ultimate purpose of this book is to adopt a few key strategies as part of your routine. These strategies will simplify your habits around brain health while providing the best outcome for you, both mentally and physically. I firmly believe in keeping this simple for you, as I know simplicity is the key to long-term success! I’ve seen this to be true over and over. As such, this book is meant to be user-friendly. I intentionally chose the length and size of this book to help you succeed in reading it front to back quickly and to avoid overwhelming you with too much information. I will give you just enough information to inform and educate you on how your mind and body are connected and show you the way to upgrade both without committing an unnecessary amount of time and resources to the process.

About the Author

Dr. Jacqui Fleury, ND, is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and naturopathic doctor with a passion for helping people survive and thrive as top performers. Her consulting is tailored to guide individuals, teams, small businesses and large corporations to build emotional and physical resilience with the vision of fostering higher levels of engagement, creativity, well-being, and performance. Having been in private practice since 1998, Dr. Fleury has successfully treated many patients for the acute and chronic effects of stress. Her treatment style is to provide clients with a framework and customized recommendations on how to make small, sustainable and highly effective upgrades to their physical and mental health that results in better sleep, moods, digestion, hormone balance and overall happier brains.

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Friday, April 26, 2019

Blog Tour Childrens

Virtual Book Tour: Those Who Seek God by Niki Milburn #childrens #giveaway #christian #interview @RABTBookTours

4:00 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

Childrens / Juvenile Fiction : Religious - Christian - Values & Virtues / Juvenile Fiction : Religious - Christian - Animals /Juvenile Fiction : Religious - Christian - General

Date Published: April 11 2019

Publisher: Lucid Books

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God Wants to Be Found! In 'Those Who Seek God', little readers will enjoy a sweet story about young animals wanting to learn more about God. Through Bible verses and conversations with loved ones, these characters discover that seeking God is simple. He wants to be found! Curious littles and big kiddos too, snuggle in close as you listen to how the swan, otter, kitten, caterpillar, and others learn more about God and what it means to seek Him.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The hardest part of writing for me is the very beginning! To take an idea and turn that idea into an actual story. Once I start connecting the dots and forming character relationships, the details and conversation come easily. Of course, that is the initial draft, and many more hours are needed to perfect the story.

What songs are most played on your iPod?

I am sure I’m in the minority here, but I do not love music like so many do! I rarely listen to the radio or my playlist. I am able to think better in silence. If I’m in the mood for music, though, I enjoy a variety of artists like NeedtoBreathe, P!nk, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Lauren Daigle, and Maroon 5!

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Yes and Yes! It is so important to me to get feedback from several people (some I know and some I do not) before moving forward in the writing process.

What book are you reading now?

I am currently reading Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson with my 5th grader. I homeschool my two boys, so I read a lot of middle school fiction and nonfiction! I love it!

How did you start your writing career?

I officially started my writing career in 2018 after dreaming of writing a children’s book for many years! Thanks to my publisher, Lucid Books, who partnered with me to make my dream a reality. My entire experience with them has been positive and I recommend them to anyone looking for a partnership publisher.

Tell us about your next release.

I am currently writing book 2! It will be about Swan and Baby Duck (who are the first characters in Those Who Seek God). I wanted to represent families who came to be through adoption or foster care, and that’s how the idea for Swan and Duck came to be. In book 2, I will be sharing their entire backstory.

About the Author

Niki Milburn is a proud homeschooling mama, with a degree in elementary education. She loves Jesus, coffee, adventure, hiking with her family, and picture books! Niki grew up in Greencastle, Indiana but currently lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her high school sweetheart Nate, their two boys—Miles and Maguire, an English Bulldog, and a rescue pup. You can connect with Niki on Instagram (@nikimilburnatl).

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Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Blog Tour Giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: Always and Never by Lisa Shumate @shumatelisa #interview #giveaway #selfhelp #nonfiction #inspirational @RABTBookTours

4:00 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

Self Help, Personal Growth, Happiness, Motivational and Inspirational

Date Published: April 11, 2019

Publisher: Lucid Books

Today, more than 45 million men and women are in their twenties and trying to figure out this very important phase of their lives. Striking out on their own with many firsts and unknowns, they face a decade filled with self-discovery and self-doubt.

In the challenging book Always and Never: 20 Truths for a Happy Heart, Lisa Shumate shares an incredible resource for twentysomethings, walking them through 20 truths that they should always and never incorporate into their lives.

Whether you are twenthysomething or older, these concepts are simple yet timeless, and they have the power to transform the way you think and act, setting a high standard for you and the quality of your relationships.

Shumate asserts that putting Always and Never mantras into practice every day will build a strong foundation for the rest of your life, one that helps you realize your most cherished goals and dreams. This book will guide, inform, and inspire you for the bright future to come!

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The hardest part is the first sentence, getting going and into the rhythm of the chapter. Once I rewrite the first few lines a couple of times and break the barriers of familiar words and phrases, something usually sparks and then I’m off and running. I love that feeling of punching through the proverbial writer’s block and getting some clear, crisp thoughts on paper.

What songs are most played on your iPod?

I enjoy creating Spotify playlists for different moods: relaxing, walking, or doing chores around the house. Most played are songs by my daughter Stasney Mav (Caroline Shumate), Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Sade, and Santana. The single most played song of 2019 is “Love So Amazing” by Cindy Cruse Ratcliffe. It’s both affirming and uplifting. And I sing along every time—my carpool karaoke.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

A couple of my family members read early drafts and gave good feedback. The editors at Lucid gave me insightful direction and made the work stronger and more cohesive. The editing and production team at Lucid are my critique partners/beta readers.

What book are you reading now?

I just started Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong about the World—And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling. My go-to genre is nonfiction, and my favorite book in the last 6 months was Big Magic: Creative Living beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book gave me the emotional fuel and courage to take my book idea and early drafts to the next level, and I hope to find a way to let her know that.

How did you start your writing career?

My writing career began as a producer/reporter when I was barely 20 years old at WWL-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana. The whole process of researching, writing, and sharing the work is rewarding to me—challenging and sometimes frustrating, but ultimately very rewarding.

From writing promotional copy for shows, to news stories, documentaries, speeches, and a couple stabs at fictional writing, I now feel a calling to the inspirational/mentoring space. Young people moving into adulthood today are looking for support, encouragement, and reassurance that they can make mistakes and recover. And I share their love for emojis. J

Tell us about your next release.

I’ll be continuing with the Always and Never™ theme and envision a series. Always and Never: 20 Truths for a Happy Heart will be followed by Always and Never for the Confident Heart, Always and Never for the Healing Heart, and Always and Never for the Helping Heart. These are working titles and concepts.

There may be a companion journal for each book and I imagine the book format may be a little different each time. I’ve started the rough outline for Confident Heart and am hoping to release again next year for the Class of 2020. I already feel behind—ah, the joy of writing!

About the Author

Lisa Trapani Shumate is Associate Vice President of the University of Houston System and General Manager of Houston Public Media, and also serves as Executive Director of the Houston Public Media Foundation. She holds national leadership roles with PBS and the Public Television Major Market Group Board.

Lisa has more than 20 years of media management experience, is the recipient of numerous awards, and participated in an International Business Residency in China. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.

Lisa is expanding her media footprint to publishing with the goal of sharing wisdom and encouragement with young men and women entering adulthood.

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Excerpt Fiction

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Lonely Hearts Bar by Konni Granma #fiction #newadult #excerpt #giveaway @RABTBookTours

12:00 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

Literary Fiction, New Adult

Date Published: August 14, 2007

Publisher: Editus Publishing

With high hopes of conquering Hollywood, the novel’s main character goes to Los Angeles to study directing and screenwriting. On the way, she ends up at a roadside bar that uncannily links the destinies of the main characters, who had given up everything to follow their dreams. What’s in store for the young rebels in Los Angeles? Does your dream have another side, one that’s just as enigmatic and invisible as the far side of the Moon?

Excerpt

“To be honest, I have no idea what cinema is and why it’s so magnetic... Also, I don’t know what it’s like to be called a ‘great’ director. I only just jumped out of the plane and am waiting for my parachute to open. In the meantime, I’m just looking at an illusion of how my life should be. Maybe I’ll see the light as soon as I hear the clapperboard and ‘Action!’ But it’ll all be meaningless if people aren’t inspired... My name is Connie. I came from New York on a long journey in my old car. Maybe, on the other side of the world, a little girl is going to bed who, just like I used to, dreams of becoming a filmmaker. And every time, closing her eyes, she holds a camera in her hands and mentally goes over her movie’s screenplay… why am I a director? I think I’ll be able to answer that when I become one. Now I’m just one more student who is just dreaming of becoming a filmmaker and is still falling asleep, just like that little girl. The main thing is to not lose faith...”

About the Author

From the age of 11 Konni has been writing books. When she came of age she moved from a small abandoned town to Moscow where she exchanged the dream of “becoming a director” for the profession “doctor.” Now at the ripe old age of 21 years old, Konni is enjoying the acclaim of The Lonely Hearts Bar and working on her next novel.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Excerpt Fantasy

Release Blitz + A #giveaway for the #fantasy #humor #novel Soul Remains by @SamHooker @RABTBookTours

12:30 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

Fantasy (Humorous)

Date Published: 23 April 2019

Publisher: Black Spot Books

It’s Dark in the Old Country.

Where do goblins come from? Why do they only turn up in the Old Country, and why do they like swearing so much? In the second book of Terribly Serious Darkness, Sloot Peril—a “hero” who’s staunchly averse to heroics—goes searching for answers. Much to his chagrin, he finds them.

Everything changed after the Fall of Salzstadt, but try telling that to the people of the city, whose capacity for denial is unmatched. They have yet to acknowledge that Vlad the Invader cut a bloody swath through their city, that the dead are walking the streets, or that the Domnitor—long may he reign—has fled to wherever despots go on very long vacations while goblin infestations take care of themselves.

The worst of villains holds all of the power, unspeakable dark forces are on the rise, and everyone wants to kidnap the Domnitor—long may he reign—for their own nefarious ends. If all of that weren’t bad enough, Sloot’s got the fate of his own soul to worry about.

Can his girlfriend help him save the Old Country from annihilation? Is Myrtle really his girlfriend? If all goes well for Sloot—which it never does—he might just sort it all out before the Dark swallows them all up.

Excerpt

Life After Afterlife

There is a common misconception among the living that death is the end of it. Go vigorously onto the business end of a sword, wear the colors of a west-end boulderchuck team into an east-end pub, or simply hang around long enough for your organs to start switching off, and that’s the end of the line.

On the contrary, there is such a thing as death for the dead. No one is really sure how long it takes, but eventually, each and every ghost withers away and ceases to be.

“So that’s it then,” said Sloot after an indeterminate amount of time. “I’ll be a ghost until I’m nothing.”

“Well, not nothing,” said Hans. “Not necessarily.”

“Something else, then?”

“Well, there’s considerable debate on the topic. Especially among the philosophers.”

As if things weren’t already bad enough, thought Sloot. He knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time before—

“Did someone say philosophy?” Arthur appeared in the doorway, his moustaches standing on end.

Oh, no, thought Sloot. “Please, nobody say any—”

“Hans was just telling us that no one knows whether ghosts are really gone after we fade away.”

Arthur’s eyes were wild, like a lion who hadn’t eaten in a week. Geralt must have resembled a porterhouse.

“Portnoy the Sacrilegious once chained himself to the doors of the cathedral to prove the impossibility of life after death! He was wrong, obviously, but his arguments are sound if applied to life after death after death.”

“Well said, Arthur,” Sloot blurted. “I think that’s all that anyone can—”

“Malarky,” said Hans. “You’re saying there’s nothing beyond the Hereafter, based on a theory that there is no Hereafter?”

“I’ve still got a few more questions—” Sloot began.

“It’s not that simple!” Arthur was pacing around the room and gesticulating wildly. Myrtle had always refused to indulge him in that while he had her possessed. “It makes sense in light of his Treatise on Bedtime Disobedience—which he wrote when he was eight—but only if you understand the finer points of Mauler’s Unticking Clock. I can solve this in … seventeen moves!”

“I’m sure you can,” said Sloot, “but I really need to ask Hans about—”

“I studied Mauler in college,” said Geralt. “The Unticking Clock is a metaphor for the struggle between hunger and apathy. I hardly think it applies—”

“That’s where you’re wrong!”

Sloot wandered off. He could never stomach philosophy for this very reason. Even if you didn’t know anything about Nutter’s Hungry Clock or whatever, you could join in the conversation with your angriest voice. Philosophy, as far as Sloot could tell, was the art of determining who could have the loudest opinion while not doing anything useful.

About the Author

Sam Hooker writes darkly humorous fantasy. He is an entirely serious person, regardless of what you may have heard. Originally from Texas, he now resides in southern California with his wife, son, and dog.

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Giveaway

3 signed copies of Peril in the Old Country, the first book in the series.

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non-fiction PROMO

Book Blitz: From Mind to Body: You Can Do It by Reza Zarmehr #selfhelp and #nonfiction @RABTBookTours

12:00 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

Self-help ( particularly in Health & Fitness)

Date Published: Feb/2019

You have goals, and you have plans to reach them. You may have a step-by-step process in place for how you’re going to get there, maybe even complete with milestones and a timeline. But have you considered the most important thing?

Have you conditioned your mind for success?

Mind conditioning goes beyond having a positive mindset. It means “working out” your mind and elevating it to better habits of thinking, which in turn affects everything you do, leading you closer and closer to what’s most important to you. There are many factors that lead to a healthy and high-quality lifestyle; one of the most important of those factors is how you program your mind, and in turn, your body.

So how do you work out your mind? From Mind to Body will show you everything you need to know to start conditioning yourself for success!

About the Author

Reza Zarmehr is a 25-year weightlifting veteran and former world-class bodybuilder. He knows exactly what it means to “work with what you don’t have.” With determination at a young age, he trained with discipline and grew up to build his career in his home country of Iran, which he continued to expand when he came to Canada. Despite the personal and professional challenges that come with moving to a new country with very little financial support, he grew his business to become a life coach, fitness trainer, and osteopath.

He had the goal to become an industry leader in the health and wellness industry, but he wasn’t sure how to get there. The secret, he learned years later, was not to ask himself what he could do with what he had; instead, he learned to ask himself how he could work around the things that he was missing. He asked how he could take what he didn’t have and turn it into what he would have, and what he would need. Asking questions in this way forced him to look at the world differently—to focus on using the shadows to find the light. He began to forge practical solutions in attaining his goals and chart reliable pathways toward success.

Reza is always looking for new ways to help people reach their goals and thrive in all areas of their lives. He is happy to bring you his second book, From Mind to Body to help you do just that!

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Monday, April 22, 2019

Blog Tour Crime

Virtual Book Tour: Mamma's Moon: The Hoodoo of Peckerwood Finch by Jerome Mark Antil #crime #romance #interview #giveaway @RABTBookTours

3:00 AM BY EverLeigh 1 Comments

Crime/Romance

Date Published: May 7, 2019

Publisher: Little York Books

This suspenseful sequel to “One More Last Dance” follows Peck Finch’s search for his mother after leaving home at the age of nine, and the struggles of his friend Gabe, who is simultaneously facing a second-degree murder charge. Set within the rich and storied culture of Louisiana, this tale of self-discovery explores important questions about the meaning of love, friendship, family and more.

“Mamma’s Moon” has received early praise for its layered storytelling with BlueInk Reviews calling Antil’s newest work “a lovely story about the strong bonds of friendship that often supplant family ties.”

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Thinking of an ending - as I always start my books with an ending.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

Don't own one. I listen to jazz on youtube.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have 15 - they read my work daily and give feedback.

What book are you reading now?

I'm writing - I don't allow myself to read while I write - pick up habits, voices...don't want that.

How did you start your writing career?

I wrote an 87 page booklet in an hour - Handbook for Weekend Dads - it was a best seller for Amazon in category for 4 years.

Tell us about your next release.

Mamma's Moon - coming on May 7 - is a sequel to One More Last Dance - about a retired army captain in a hospice who was given two months to live three months before the book started...and this sequel Mamma's Moon - he's charged with murder.

About the Author

JEROME MARK ANTIL writes in several genres. He has been called a “greatest generation’s Mark Twain,” a “write what you know Ernest Hemingway,” and “a sensitive Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.” It’s been said his work reads like a Norman Rockwell painting. Among his writing accomplishments, several titles in his The Pompey Hollow Book Club historical fiction series about growing up in the shadows of WWII have been honored. An ‘Authors and Writers’ Book of the Year Award and ‘Writer of the Year’ at Syracuse University for The Pompey Hollow Book Club novel; Hemingway, Three Angels, and Me, won SILVER in the UK as second-best novel.

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Saturday, April 20, 2019

Book Blitz: An Even Exchange

12:00 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction

Publisher: iUniverse

When independent student, Beri Baines, is selected to study abroad, she has no idea her independent nature will be challenged by the very charming and conservative Brit, Colin Chapman. Their strong attraction for one another continues to create conflict in their lives as the story leads them along and unforeseen events intervene and transform their future.

Their lives come full circle not realizing the implications of the choices they make.

The unique format of how this story is told, in two separate voices, is captivating. Each page is a stand-alone chapter alternating between characters.

The novel is loved by book clubs for the discussion it creates for readers.

About the Author

photo An Even Exchange Author Christine F. Tomalin_zpsoo3kvvmk.jpg

Chris Fedorka Tomalin is a published author. She spent thirty-five years as an educator. She holds a master's degree from the College of New Jersey and a mediators certificate from Rutgers. Chris is a mediator for the Kent and Sussex County Courts with people's Place in Delaware where she resides with her husband Tim and Roxie, her Cairn terrier.

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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Book Blitz: Bed, Breakfast, and Beyond

12:00 AM BY EverLeigh 0 Comments

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Memoir, Travel

Publisher: BookBaby

In September of 1998, Ted and JoAnn Dawson purchased a horse farm in rural Maryland to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a bed & breakfast. Little did they know what lay ahead!

Restoring a filthy, dilapidated, nearly condemned Victorian house to a charming and welcoming country inn while raising two rowdy young boys was only the first of their challenges. Dealing with shady former owners, a string of ghostly events, and a wide variety of colorful guests opened their eyes to a whole new world.

With the fortitude and life lessons born of years growing up on a dairy farm, the rare good fortune of choosing the perfect partner in life, and a boatload of humor thrown in to preserve their sanity, they have managed to keep Fairwinds Farm Bed & Breakfast running strong for over twenty years.

About the Author

photo Bed Breakfast amp Beyond Author JoAnn S. Dawson_zpsxnwxxmgc.jpg

JoAnn S. Dawson grew up on a dairy farm in Newark, Delaware and has been a full-time horse stable owner since 1983. She currently owns and operates Fairwinds Farm & Stables in North East, Maryland with husband Ted, offering riding lessons, summer camp, trail rides, horse-drawn carriages, pony rides, hayrides, local honey, birthday parties, weddings, and a bed & breakfast. (www.fairwindsstables.com.)

Fairwinds Farm has been honored as a national finalist in the 2015 Time to Ride Challenge, an inductee of the 2015 Cecil County Business Hall of Fame, 2011 Cecil County Tourism Business of the Year and 2009 Outstanding Farm Operation, and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and on Good Morning America.

JoAnn works as an animal wrangler for film and TV, and as a Screen Actors Guild member has held principal acting roles in The Sixth Sense, 12 Monkeys, and Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved. She is the author of the award-winning Lucky Foot Stable series for ages 8-12 and appears at schools and book signings with her pony, Butterscotch. She is a 4-h leader, former columnist for Cecil Soil Magazine, an appointee to the MD Equine Advisory Committee, a LEAD Maryland fellow, a board member for Cecil County Economic Development Commission and Cecil County Tourism, and is known nationally for her hilarious and enlightening presentation Bed, Breakfast & Beyond: Twenty years of Kooky Guests, Gentle Ghosts, and Horses in Between - based on her book of the same name.

JoAnn is the mother of two grown sons, Zach and Nick, and teaches both Equine Science and Acting for Stage and Screen at Cecil College in North East, Maryland.

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