February 2020 - A Life Through Books

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Release Blitz: The Rescuer by Kari Veenstra #releasday #bookbirthday #youngadult #yascifi #rabtbooktours @INtensePub @RABTBookTours @KariVeenstra_
12:33 PM0 Comments


The Krador Kronicles
YA Science Fiction
Published Date: February  27, 2020
Publisher: INtense Publications LLC

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Prok Zandin has two chances to qualify for advanced cadet training and he just lost one.

Stuck at the bottom of the class system on the underwater planet Krador, fifteen-year-old Prok needs this training to become a Sea Warrior, a position with automatic social advancement into Krador’s upper class plus a hefty paycheck to fund his disabled sister’s medical procedure.

Prok is determined to win his final qualification fight until his best friend Makky disappears. With time running out for both his future and his friend, Prok embarks on a dangerous deep-sea rescue and discovers Makky’s life isn’t the only thing at stake. It’s up to Prok to prevent disaster, but action will cost and the price may be everything.





 About the Author

KARI VEENSTRA grew up climbing trees in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea until the day she stuffed all her belongings in a suitcase and traveled to America for college. In the process of studying to become a crack defense attorney, Kari discovered writing was her true passion. This led to a journalism internship and a career in copywriting until Kari switched to writing fiction so she could spend more time with her family. Kari now lives in the deserts of El Paso, Texas, with her husband and two children, and is always on the lookout for a good tree to climb. To connect with Kari online, visit www.kariveenstra.com.

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Facebook: @kariveenstra.author
Twitter: @KariVeenstra_

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Virtual Book Tour: A Man Devoured by His Body, Food & Work by Stuart McRobert #booktour #interview #nonfiction #selfhelp #bodyimage #eatingdisorders #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
3:30 AM1 Comments

Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Eating Disorders & Body Image
Date Published: January 15, 2020
Publisher: CS Publishing Ltd.

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For 40-plus years the author battled with attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that are commonly labeled as symptoms of three psychological disorders: muscle dysmorphia, orthorexia, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). The consequences were grave. This book explains Stuart’s struggles and self-inquiry, and then describes the five elements of his psychological healing. Each element helped him, but their synergism profoundly improved his mental health, his relationships, his physical health, and his overall life. 

 This book isn't targeted only at male bodybuilders and other exercise enthusiasts. The great difficulties Stuart dealt with are experienced by millions of men and women who struggle with their body-image and/or eating, and/or who are tormented by perfectionism or workaholism. His success story may inspire any of those people to start their own self-inquiries that lead to their own success stories.






Interview


What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Getting the first-draft work done. For me, re-writing and editing take way longer than the first-draft work, but it’s the first-draft work that’s the hardest to do. I don’t write the first draft in its entirety and then shift to re-writing and editing. I mix first-draft work with re-writing, and I edit as I go along. So, I do all three aspects of writing during each session of work. But I almost always start each stint of work with editing or re-writing something from an earlier session.



What songs are most played on your iPod?

I don’t have an iPod or similar device. I listened to music a lot when I was young, but not now. I’ve tried having music playing in the background while I write, but I always found it hampered the quality of my work and my speed. So, for many years now, I’ve always written in silence.



Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Critique partners. Rigorous critique of my work by experts in my genres has been essential for improving my ability to provide information that can help my readers.


What book are you reading now?

I usually read non-fiction and have several books on the go at any one time. But when I read fiction, I set aside other books and focus on just the novel.

I’m currently reading Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy, which is more non-fiction than fiction. I’m also reading Nautilus: The Lost Empire of Arthur Jones and a couple of titles on how to market a book.


How did you start your writing career?

Since I was 15 years old, I’ve been passionate about physical training—especially bodybuilding. And ever since I was a boy I’ve loved books, especially how-to and self-help books. One of the subjects I’ve studied extensively is physical training. I turned my combined passions for physical training and books into my career as a writer, author and publisher.

Initially, I was motivated to write by my desire to challenge mainstream physical-training instruction, to help others avoid the mistakes I made with my own training. Since 1981, I’ve made a name for myself as a voice of sanity in a training world infested with drugs, lies, appalling training instruction, mental health problems, abuse of physical health, and tons of commercial rip-offs. I had my first magazine article published in 1981, when I was 22 years old. My article writing output gradually increased until 1989 when I started my own magazine, whereupon my output increased greatly—for other magazines and my own. Then in 1990 and 1991 I wrote my first major book—BRAWN—which was published in late 1991. Thereafter I wrote a great many magazine articles and several books. And I’m still writing now. My latest book—A MAN DEVOURED BY HIS BODY, FOOD & WORK—was published this year.


Tell us about your next release.

I have another book in the works—a return to my usual subject of physical training, although from a different perspective to that of my other books in that genre. But I’ve suspended work on book writing while I focus on marketing my latest title. But I plan to return to book writing at the start of next year and finish the manuscript towards the end of 2021 ready for publication in early 2022.





About the Author

Stuart has had around 1,000 articles published in print magazines. He wrote a monthly column for the UK’s leading bodybuilding magazine for 22 consecutive years. He also authored several acclaimed books including BEYOND BRAWN and BUILD MUSCLE LOSE FAT LOOK GREAT, and published his own magazine for 15 years. But his success as a writer was born out of his efforts to survive the profound struggles he had because of his psychological challenges, which resulted in suffocating distress.



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Monday, February 24, 2020

Virtual Book Tour: Deadly Roses by Scott Stevens #blogtour #bookreview #giveaway #thriller #rabtbooktours @ScottStevens125 @RABTBookTours
9:13 AM0 Comments


Thriller
Date Published: 2/14/20
Publisher: Sunbury Press


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Love isn't always champagne and roses and it's certainly not the case in this love triangle thriller with a twist. A dominating, abusive boyfriend is being ousted for a romantic hero, but there are deadly consequences. Step into the gang life and witness the savagery as they stop at nothing to seek revenge. You've heard the old saying: "Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl."  Now you can add: "Girl's gang-leader boyfriend doesn’t like the new addition."



Book Review

Deadly Roses was a great thriller to get lost in for a little while. 

It has plenty of interesting points; the world of gangs, abuse, action and wonderful New York Setting. 

Despite being fast paced, the characters in the book have a lot of substance to them. So does the story line. There is a lot going on throughout this book to keep you entertained.

I enjoyed the plot twists right up to the end. 

About the Author

Scott grew up in New York and is an avid sports fan. He was a sportscaster and then a sportswriter for many years. He loves writing thrillers to entertain readers across the globe. Scott also loves attending events to meet new fans whenever possible.



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Friday, February 21, 2020

Book Blitz: Deadline by Jessica James #promo #romanticsuspense #rabtbooktours #giveaway #excerpt @RABTBookTours
12:30 AM0 Comments

Book 1 Phantom Force Tactical Series
Romantic Suspense
Date Published: April 2016

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"Engaging read. Hard to put down." -- Billy Allmon, U.S. Navy SEAL (Ret)


He’s a relentless homicide detective. She’s an uncompromising journalist.

Neither desires to work together—but they’ll never uncover the truth alone.



Landing a front page headline isn’t why reporter Caitlin Sparks is investigating a string of suspicious deaths connected to the U.S. State Department. She has a personal stake in finding the killer.

Detective Blake Madison has a connection to the murders too, and will risk anything to uncover the truth. But a journalist is the last person he’d rely on to help him solve a crime—especially one whose trail of evidence leads back to him.

Joining forces becomes essential as the body count continues to grow. Someone powerful doesn't want the truth to come out—and will stop at nothing to make sure no one talks.

On the run with nowhere to turn, the couple devises a plan to expose the killer. The risk is great and the chance of success small, but the ultimate outcome is something neither one of them envisioned.


IndieBRAG Medallion Winner



Excerpt


Blake stroked her hair. “It’s okay, baby. Just a nightmare.”

“It seemed so real.” Caitlin felt his arms tighten around her, felt the power in them, and appreciated the comforting peace they provided. She had never felt so exposed, and yet so safe and secure. She turned her head and strained to see into the darkness again. “It felt like he was really here.”

“Dreams have a way of doing that.” He rocked her for a few more minutes in his soothing embrace, and then whispered in her ear. “Better?”

Caitlin took a few more deep breaths, and then tried to draw away, embarrassed. “Yes. I’m all right.” Again, she peered over her shoulder into the darkness to see if the figure would reappear. “Sorry if I woke you.”

Blake did not release his grasp. “Don’t worry. You didn’t wake me.”

Caitlin knew it was useless to struggle so she rested her head against his chest again and tried to relax. Her mind drifted back to a time when she had been intimidated by this man. Now his mere presence was reassuring. His touch, his voice, brought security and a sense of peace.

“That’s better.” He cleared his throat, but it still sounded hoarse when he talked. “I wish you would put the past behind you.”

Caitlin’s breath caught in her throat. That’s what Vince had just told her. She pulled away and regarded Blake with a troubled look. Had Vince been trying to tell her something from the other side that was merely being echoed by Blake? Was it time to move on with her life? Was she ready for that?

She lay her head down again before answering. “I’m not sure I want to yet.”

Blake’s chest rose against her cheek as he sucked in a deep, slow breath, but he didn’t speak and his grasp was unrelenting. She savored the sensation of being held by him with her head against his heart, keenly aware of the solidness of his arms and the warmth of his skin. His embrace was powerful and tender, strong and gentle.

She allowed herself to bask briefly in the peaceful, shared moment, but then feared she was being selfish. He’s probably uncomfortable and wants to go back to bed. “I’m okay,” she murmured into his chest, trying to reassure him. “You can let me go now, Blake.” She opened her eyes when he finally answered.

“I’m not sure I want to yet.”








About the Author


Jessica James’ award-winning novels are inspired by her love of the land, her belief in everlasting love, and her curiosity about the past. Her novels run the gamut from military suspense and thrillers to historical fiction, Christian fiction, and small-town Southern women's fiction.

She enjoys transporting readers to another world with complex characters and stories that stir deep emotion. Her novels appeal to both men and women and are featured in library collections all over the United States including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy. She resides in a 200-year-old house in Gettysburg, Pa.

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Book Blitz: A Truth About... by @_cecilecorrea #promo #nonfiction #poetry #selfhelp #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
12:00 AM0 Comments
Non Fiction / Self-Help / Motivational / Personal Development
Date Published: 19th of January 2020 (ebook) – Paperback

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“A Truth About…” is a composition of 52 poems for nurturing your ever -growing soul. Exploring topic from mind, body and intuition to love, parenting and life goals, the book embraces the broad and wondrous spectrum of the human experience. Covering 52 keys areas of our life, this book provides one insight per week. A year of inspiring poetry.





          


Cécile Correa


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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Release Blitz: The Lost Train by @sethcrossman #releaseday #newrelease #promo #actionadventure #thriller #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
12:00 AM0 Comments

Action Adventure Thriller
Date Published: 2/20/20
Publisher: Golden Acorn Press

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A former MP, Will Stattin, is called to Europe to investigate the theft of several paintings. He learns that the paintings are part of a series of nine pieces of art, all with a clue that ultimately leads to a train that disappeared from Konigsberg, Germany in late 1944 full of gold, art, and priceless artifacts. He quickly learns that he is not the only one after the paintings. Now it is a race across Europe to find the paintings and the lost train with the help of the beautiful and savvy museum agent, Giovanna Rossi, before the hunt turns even more deadly than it already has.

About the Author

Seth Crossman is a minister, speaker, and writer who lives in Upstate New York. His own adventures have taken him across the globe and stirred his desire to write fast-paced, provocative thrillers that keep readers turning the page. He has three boys that he wants to inspire with a sense of adventure and courage to overcome whatever obstacles get in their way.


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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Virtual Book Tour: Counting on Trust by M. Ferguson Powers #blogtour #interview #giveaway #mystery #suspense #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
12:00 AM1 Comments

Mystery  / Suspense
Publication date: Print and ebook, May 2017. Audiobook, November 2019

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In this suspense-charged, touching novel, Counting on Trust, information is stolen from a U.S. genetic engineering company (Omniprotein) by an employee promised payment by a Chinese general who wants to profit from selling the company’s technologies in the military region of China he commands.

To force quick payment the thief attacks fellow employees and threatens to continue until his money arrives. Will his next targets be: young lovers, computer geek Gabriel and gorgeous biologist Selena, who are discovering loving sex while trying to overcome post-traumatic effects of Selena’s girlhood rape.
Company president, Eleanor, who’s determined to keep some privacy and intimacy although her job’s high profile and her husband, Charley, has just had prostate cancer surgery.
Venture capitalist, John, who plans to duplicate Omniprotein’s facility in China and reunite with his ex-wife, fashion designer Ziyi, who returned to Shanghai after their only child died.
The personal stories of these couples explore how privacy, intimacy and trust are changing in our social-media age. They paint a compelling portrait of our time.


Interview

What social media do you use to contact with your fans?.

I have a website (www.mfergusonpowers.com) where people can contact me and also my Facebook page for Counting on Trust (https://www.facebook.com/countingontrust/ ). The videos on my Counting on Trust Facebook page provide a ot of background into the themes and characters in the story.

What did you do before you became a published author?

I had a career in academia. I received a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in experimental psychology from George Mason University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following graduation, I taught microbiology, headed a university office of research, served as executive director of two university-business partnership centers, and co-authored two books on university administration. My background and experience played a big role in all my books, but especially Counting on Trust.

How long have you been writing for?

I’ve been writing for about 15 years.  My first book was Each Unique and Fascinating nad my second book was OrcaSpeak which is actually the sequel to Counting on Trust. Both of these stories take place in the Pacific Northwest and involve themes of love intermixed with eco-activism.

What's the inspiration behind your book?

As its title implies, the book is all about trust. My intention in writing the book was to use the personal stories of the characters to explore how privacy, intimacy and trust are changing in our technology driven society.  I believe it draws a good picture of how easily trust can be broken and how difficult it can be to restore that trust.

My biggest inspiration has been Jane Austen. I appreciated the way she deconstructed relationships and the social norms around romance and marriage in her day. Counting on Trust follows three couples of different ages and background, each struggling with issues of trust.

What advice would you give any newbie author or anyone that wants to pick up writing?

Two things I would mention. One, is write about something you know and / or have experience with. You can give your work greater depth. Two, create characters that allow you and your readers to explore the full range of human emotions. At least while you’re writing, they should almost come to life for you.

Do you have any pets?

I thought you would never ask! I have two shelties that I absolutely adore.






About the Author


Themes of novels by M. Ferguson Powers reflect the author’s varied interests, including preservation of the natural world and its creatures;

·         Challenges of building and maintaining loving relationships in a culture with decreasing respect for personal boundaries and privacy

·         Influences of globalization on world events and how the U. S. and other nations relate to one another

·         Public policy issues such as controlling the military-industrial-political complex and requiring the health care industry to be more respectful of its clients

·         The need for cooperation across governments, cultures, and societies to address global challenges such as climate change

·         Developments in business and university administration and management

Powers has taught microbiology, headed a university office of research, served as executive director of two university-business partnership programs, and co-authored two books on university administration. She has a bachelor of science degree in bacteriology from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in experimental psychology from George Mason University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

She lives on an island near Seattle with her husband David R. Powers and their two shelties. Her first novel, Each Unique and Fascinating, about a bullied young girl whose father has gone to war, was published in 2012.  OrcaSpeak, a novel of relationships and suspense, was published in 2013, and its prequel, Counting on Trust, was published in 2017.



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Audible coming soon



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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Release Blitz: The Legacy Series: Book One by @brandywhine #promo #releaseday #drama #giveaway #newrelease #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Drama
Date Published: February 18, 2020

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Brandyn (Brandy) Harris, a lonely, abused, and terminally ill twelve-year-old boy builds his private virtual world outside the knowledge of his strict and abusive parents. Denied the ability to interact with other kids in his everyday life, Brandy finds refuge within the confines of the Internet in his early stages, where it appealed primarily to the outcasts, and a close group of virtual teen friends.

The Legacy offers a unique, unparalleled glimpse into the mind of abused children while this abuse is taking place amid the hysteria surrounding the Satanic Ritual Abuse Panic of the early 1990s. An outstanding page-turner, it gives you an unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience, through first-hand, day-to-day accounts as they occur, a real-world of childhood desperation and painful secrets, a world-known by millions of children, but never openly shared with adults.

You'll feel Brandy's feelings, cry his tears and laugh with him on the good days as you'll journey through the candid and honest secrets of an abusive childhood, as Brandy's correspondences are written by kids, for kids. Thus, you'll learn the truths kids only tell their friends, outside the inherent inhibitions derived from adult interference.

This book is the first volume in an epic book series based on real events and the writings and correspondences of a terminally ill young boy who is also enduring a life of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.


About the Author

Brandyn Cross is a multi-media artist, as an accomplished writer, recording artist, songwriter, filmmaker, and actor. 

Brandyn is the writer/producer of the major live event Jackie Evancho & Friends: We are Hope, which was also filmed for television broadcast as multiple concert specials. 

As a singer/songwriter Brandyn scored the international top 10 hits Dear Mr. Jesus and If Money Talks (It Ain’t on Speakin’ Terms With Me), and the top10 music video I Will Always Love You. He won BEST SONG at the prestigious Utah Film Festival & Awards for his composition and recording of Love Again, as featured in the television series Proper Manors.

As an actor and filmmaker, Brandyn has worked on numerous projects such as Unicorn City and The Wayshower, as well as Alienate and Being Charlie with Rob Reiner. He is presently in post-production on his feature directorial debut with the dark Emo drama, The Legacy.

Among his body of written work is the Feature Film The Legacy, currently in post-production and the recently completed Gary Coleman biography, As if I Never Existed, with Gary’s widow Shannon Price. Brandyn has optioned and produced multiple feature screenplays and has written over 100 episodes for various TV series and specials. Brandyn is presently releasing the first volumes in an epic book series, The Legacy.

Brandyn started exploring his creative gifts following a serious industrial accident that turned him into a wheelchair-bound amputee in addition to already being "high functioning" autistic. Determined to show the world that even severe obstacles can be overcome, Brandyn began developing his innate creative abilities, studying and honing his craft, until ultimately turning this ambition into a professional reality. Today, he continues this mission in earnest. 

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Virtual Book Tour: Why Your Marketing Is Killing Your Business by Minal Sampat #booktour #business #marketing #giveaway #interview #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
12:55 PM1 Comments

Business / Marketing
Date Published: January 3, 2020

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Do you funnel time, resources, and a significant portion of your budget into every marketing platform you can think of, only to see few results? If so, you’re not alone. This common problem is not only frustrating but the complete opposite of business growth. Marketing that doesn’t convert eats away at revenue, leaving your business stagnant. Let it go on for too long, and you’ll quickly find that marketing has killed your business.

Fortunately, there is a way to turn this problem around and get production back on a growth track. Customers who want what your business offers are out there. To find them, you need the right tools and an understanding of how to leverage them. In Why Your Marketing is Killing Your Business and What to Do About It, expert marketing strategist Minal Sampat shares exactly that, illustrating with real-life examples from over ten years of experience working with businesses in multiple industries.

In this easy-to-read, conversational guide, Minal untangles some of the mysteries of the market, including social media platforms, and shares how a few of her clients have achieved real results such as:
  • reducing their marketing budget by $20,000
  • nearly doubling their customer base
  • gaining thousands of online followers and reviews
  • increasing production by 20% even while experiencing a drop in new customers
  • making social media presence the top source of business referrals
  • Why Your Marketing is Killing Your Business and What to Do About It also includes strategies based on nationwide workshops Minal leads with businesses of all sizes and locations. Just like workshop attendees, business owners can complete these activities and walk away with detailed, custom marketing plans ready for execution.
Your business is more than just your livelihood: it is your passion, your inspiration, and your contribution to the community around you. Your customers recognize this, but only if you are visible and authentic. If you’re ready to start connecting with your ideal customers to launch your business growth pattern, Why Your Marketing is Killing Your Business and What to Do About It has everything you need to begin the journey.




Interview


What was your main drive to write this book?
It is ironic for a marketing strategist to title their book Why your marketing is killing your business. But if you think about it, there is so much marketing out there today that it has become white noise in the background of consumersday-to-day experience. We try our best to stand out, focusing on promotions and distributing through this noise, but in the end, were really just a part of it. Thats killing our businesses.
One of the foundations of business growth is knowing our audience, and many of us forget to take the time to do that. When we dont know who our ideal audiences are, we just do everything to be a part of something. We become another shiny object in a sea of shiny objects. And if everything is shiny, nothing is shiny.
We really should be asking ourselves, Are my customers going to react to this?” “Will they engage with this marketing?” “Is this necessary?At some point we stopped asking these basic questions, and decided to do every cool or trendy thing we see, but doing everything isnt the answer. Marketing for a consultant is very different than marketing to get hired as a speaker. That means its not about doing everything; its about doing marketing right.

What do you hope readers will learn by reading this book?
We’re living in an interesting time. Technology is growing by leaps every day, and while that provides many marketing opportunities, its also a lot to keep up with. How do we keep up with it? How do we grow with it? How do we continue to be successful and not feel overwhelmed by all these advances?
I wanted to provide a foundation: confidence that no matter how much technology evolves, your business is still going to be ok. Ive gotten feedback from a few readers already who say that the book instilled a sense of calm and control over their marketing, and that made me feel very happy. One person said she read the whole thing on a flight, unable to put it down. She landed, had her team implement one of the strategies in the book, and within a week they saw results. Thats really affirming.
Did you do much research when planning this book?
Yes, I did. Also, the book consists of real life examples and every chapter dives deep into real world techniques and strategies.

Did you have any main people who helped you in the process of this book or influenced you to write it?
I was influenced to write this book because I saw familiar trends while working with my clients. I had an incredible team from having a book coach, developmental writer, proof reader and a self publish book launch expert.

How long did this book take you to write from initial thought to hitting publish?
It took 9 months from initial though to hitting publish. I had a very good team who helped us stay on track.

Do you have plans to write more about this topic or new topics?

Absolutely! I love this topic, and marketing is an evolving industry. I am sure there will be much more content to share! 

About the Author


Minal Sampat is a speaker, marketing strategist, and health care professional who launched her first marketing company by breaking a Guinness World Record. She has over a decade of experience helping business owners find success through connection and engagement strategies. A proud member of the National Speaker Association and a world traveler, she lives in Washington State with her husband and an extensive shoe collection. Why Your Marketing is Killing Your Business is her first book. To learn more or get in touch, visit minalsampat.com.

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