June 2020 - A Life Through Books

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Virtual Book Tour: Tier Zero by D.B. Sayers #blogtour #giveaway #scifi #romance #interview #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours @DirkSayers
7:48 AM 2 Comments



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

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

For me, it’s what I call the muddy middle. I’m a plantser, which means I map out my story, or “plan” them, before I start. But usually nine or ten chapters into the story, I get this “brilliant” hair fire of an idea I think will make the story better. So I wander off somewhere, often writing myself into a corner. It’s not all bad, in that my instincts are usually pretty good when it comes to composition. But naturally that idea I had needs to be incorporated into the rest of the story so that it’s relevant, rather than just stuck on. It usually enriches the story, but it has to be stitched it together with the rest of the plot so it “fits.” Sometimes, it turns out to be more involved than I originally expected.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

Mostly New Age, jazz. I listen to some classical music and older rock as in 60s thru 80s and Soul. I guess that makes me a bit eclectic?

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have both. I facilitate an author’s critique group locally here in Orange County (CA) and have several beta readers who read my work after I’m finished refining it. But I’m always looking for more, so any interested readers can visit dirksayers.com, Author Unredacted and get in on the action through my “Contact Me,” page. I find the critical eyes of my critique partners keep me honest and that the candid views of my beta readers give me a clearer picture of how my work is landing. I couldn’t be as effective as I am without critique partners and beta readers, to say nothing of the several editors I work with. They keep honest with their sanity checks. I can’t imagine trying to publish without their invaluable assistance.

What book are you reading now?

Apart from professional, you mean? I usually have several going at once. I recently finished Wish and Mercy, by AJ Gala, a promising fantasy/speculative fiction writer, and This Corner of the Universe, by Britt Ringel. I’m also re-reading an older historical novel entitled Rizpah, by Charles E. Israel for his superb use of internal dialog and characterization. And in non-fiction, The Predator State, by James K. Galbraith.


How did you start your writing career?

I started by writing short stories and poetry in high school. It was literally a case of ideas and visions ricocheting around in my noggin that just kind of spilled out of my head onto the paper. It continued into college where I took a creative writing series as part of my English minor. My first career as a Marine officer turned into a 22-year creative writing interregnum in which literally all the writing I did was technical or professional. My writing career as a novelist started in corporate America as a training manager. My first novel, West of Tomorrow, was written there. It’s a tale of corporate intrigue, betrayal, misplaced love and the phoenix living in all of us. Since then, I’ve written four more books and am working on two more.


Tier Zero, Vol. I of The Knolan Cycle is the pilot novel in a science fiction series of first contact between Earth and the Knolan Concordant. Most tales of first contact between Earth and hypothetical aliens assume that when it happens, we will necessarily know about it. And that alien motives will probably be aggressive and malevolent, because that’s how we are. In Tier Zero, first contact occurred 30 plus years ago and life on Earth goes on as though it never happened. That’s about to change, of course and as we will see, Knolan motives for that contact are nuanced and a bit obscure. Tier Zero is told from multiple points of view, both Knolan and human.

The sequel to Tier Zero, Eryinath-5 has just been completed and is in the hands of my science fiction editor. It continues the story through the eyes of both the Knolans and the humans who have become aware of them, as well as the Knolan’s implacable enemy, the Valdrōsians. Eryinath-5 is currently scheduled for publication sometime in 2021.


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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Saturday, June 27, 2020

Book Blitz: Fallerman's Grove Omerta by Daniel Gibson #promo #mystery #suspense #thriller #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: Page Publishing
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Fallerman’s Grove Road was the idyllic escape Lewis Fogarty envisioned when he moved here with his wife, Donna. It was his opportunity to leave behind a somewhat troubled past. Everything he wanted was here, including a lot of privacy from distant yet friendly neighbors.
All was perfect until a cancer was brought into the peaceful community in the form of Kara, Old Man Fallerman’s young bride. With her came discord, distrust, and turmoil among the residents. She even drove a wedge between Old Man Fallerman and his son, Ronnie.
Trouble, like a cancer, can only be allowed to get so far before it totally destroys its host, but if removed in time, the host can be saved. Kara was removed, but was Fallerman’s Grove Road saved?
 
#FallermansGroveOmerta   #suspense #mystery #bookbuzz
 


 About the Author
Daniel Gibson has written numerous short stories, but this is his initial offering in novel form. He was born near Pittsburgh, PA, but is living in rural upstate South Carolina with his wife Donna.

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Friday, June 26, 2020

Release Blitz: Hairballs and Homicide by Ruth J. Hartman #promo #releaseday #cozymystery #mystery #rabtbooktours @ruthjhartman @RABTBookTours
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A Kitty Beret Cafe Mystery, Book 1
Cozy Mystery
Release Date: June 26, 2020

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When Ellie Warren opens the Kitty Beret Café, her life revolves around finding forever homes for rescued cats and serving lattes. That is, until a woman’s body is discovered behind her shop—the same woman who’d thrown a hissy fit with Ellie in front of lots of witnesses. With Ellie’s cat, Templeton, supplying clues and the help of handsome Detective Simon Dare, she’s on the prowl for the murderer. Will Ellie discover the identity of the culprit before the murderer sinks their claws into her?
 

 
 About the Author

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales that make you smile. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's.
Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying.
Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her in spite of her penchant for insisting all of her books have at least one cat in them.

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Thursday, June 25, 2020

Virtual Book Tour: Questions of Perspective by Daniel Maunz #blogtour #giveaway #interview #contemporary #fiction #rabtbooktours @MaunzDaniel @RABTBookTours
2:00 AM1 Comments


Contemporary fiction with a speculative element
Date Published: May 14, 2020
Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

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No one knew it at the time, but April 19, 2011, was the most important day in the history of the world.

After his only friend and colleague, John Manta, disappears without a word, Dave Randall further entrenches himself in the humdrum life of an unenthusiastic lawyer. But once he begins to understand what happened, he embarks on a journey to uncover the deeper meanings and implications of John's fate.

Accompanied by Peaches the cat, Dave uproots his life and reinvents himself in the midst of his search. Along the way, he is haunted by his piecemeal understanding of John's fate and what it means for his existence. Little does Dave know, his journey of self-discovery will have ramifications that extend far beyond the borders of his own little life.





Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

In general, just finding the time to write in a distraction-free environment is the hardest part. I have a two-and-a-half year old, son who is an absolute joy, but …. he does love to wake up before 6:00 each morning. At the end of the day, which is when I typically do my writing, I’m just so spent that it’s often hard to find the energy to sit down and write for an hour or two. So with this new book I’m working on, I’m slowly but surely making progress. Just not as quickly as I would like!

With regards to “Questions of Perspective,” the most difficult part was writing a story that squarely addressed the notion of “God” without being a “religious” book. I aimed to write something that could be equally accessible to both atheists and devout Christians. It was a very fine line to walk, but the book has already received positive feedback from people all over the religious spectrum, so I think I managed to put together a story that should not be alienating to anyone (at least in that regard).


What songs are most played on your Ipod?

I love compelling lyrics, so I’m often drawn to songs that make me think. Basically anything by The Weakerthans or John K. Samson (“Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure” is an amazing song, for one). I also listen to a lot of The Hold Steady (I’ve listened to “Stuck Between Stations” until my ears bled). And whenever I’m undecided on what to listen to, I’ll just play the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat.


Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Not really. I will run chapters by my wife and get her feedback, but otherwise I tend to trust my instincts as far as what the story needs. My copyeditor made a few suggestions that probably went beyond mere copyediting, which I generally took to heart, but since “Questions of Perspective” is largely autobiographical in nature, I thought I was ultimately the best judge of the story.

The next book I’m working on features a more diverse cast of characters than my debut novel. Most of the main characters are female, and one of the other male characters is gay. When it is finished, I will likely try to find some willing souls to review the story and provide feedback on whether I’ve represented those diverse viewpoints in a realistic and respectful manner. I’m trying to do my homework on telling stories from those kinds of different perspectives, but it’s always helpful to have someone who is actually coming from those positions weigh in.


What book are you reading now?

I am about halfway through the audio book of “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, which I started listening to on a long drive this past week. It is a memoir addressing the author’s experience of growing up as a gay black man in New Jersey, and dealing with all of the struggles associated with such. It’s phenomenal so far; it’s a rare book that leaves you feeling profoundly wiser after spending only a few hours of listening to it.

I’m also in the process of reading “Tell Me A Story: My Life with Pat Conroy,” which was written by his wife Cassandra King Conroy. I’m a huge Pat Conroy fan. After devouring all of his books over the past twenty-five years, I thought I had a good sense of what the man was like. It’s been very interesting to see him through the eyes of someone else (and Cassandra King Conroy is a terrific writer in her own right).


How did you start your writing career?

The first ten years of my legal career were spent as a litigator, where I would tend to work over ten hours a day (plus weekends), leaving me little or no time (or energy) to write outside of work. Occasionally I would muster up the energy to put together a short story to gift my wife, but I did not ever consider trying to write something to sell to the masses.

In 2015, I made a career shift that left me with some time for creative pursuits. I started writing a novel, which was ultimately titled “Questions of Perspective,” around that time. It addressed some of the struggles I had personally dealt with prior to that change of careers, so writing it was a bit therapeutic in that regard.


Tell us about your next release.

My first book, “Questions of Perspective,” is the story of an introvert trying to find the meaning of life. It is a somewhat lonely story in that regard, at least at first, so there are some topics that it was not quite positioned to tackle. One of those, which my next book will address, is the concept of “family”, and what that word actually means. As I mentioned, it will have a diverse cast of characters, anchored by a lead female protagonist. It’s been a lot of fun creating these characters and playing them against one another so far.








About the Author

When he is not writing, Daniel Maunz works as in-house counsel for a major insurance company. He currently lives in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, with his wife Lynne, their son Patrick, and their two cats: Admiral Meowy McWhiskers and Captain Cutie (or "Admiral" and "Captain" for short). Questions of Perspective is his first novel.


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Cover Reveal: Young, Broke & Educated by Alexander Baima #promo #coverreveal #finance #economics #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours @PublishingAcorn
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Finance/Economics
Date Published: September 22
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
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Alexander Baima graduated college with $80,000 in student debt at the age of 23 from one of the top 25 business schools in America. After college he went to work as a financial planner and serviced fortune 500 clients. He created the financial plans that brokers took credit for, and while they grossed millions a year, he made minimum wage.
At 29, his parents had a house with an $80,000 mortgage and a child – and they lived on one income. At 29, Alexander still had over $50,000 in student debt. How could previous generations have so much more than most millennials who still struggle with little hope for the future?
Young, Broke and Educated investigates the decline of purchasing power among young people, especially over the last generation. It explores in basic, easy to understand terms, how economic systems have evolved to hinder the financial success of millennials and the incentives that government, big business and banks have to prevent progressive change.
Alexander Baima, a master in the field of eCommerce and early adopter of blockchain technology, walks you through, step-by-step, what the issues are and what needs to change to ensure that millennials and future generations have access to the same type of success that previous generations took for granted.

 About the Author

Alexander Baima received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego. By profession, he has excelled as both an analyst and project manager. He currently holds a CAPM, MOS and SSGB certification in the field of project management. Alex is a talented entrepreneur who specializes in 19th and 20th century porcelain as well as modern innovative computing.
Alex is a firm supporter of Cryptocurrency and believes that this technology will revolutionize the way all countries function within a matter of a few years. He is currently invested in Bitcoin, Ethereum and EOS with the expectations that decentralized applications and smart contracts will be a major contributor to our future.
He has published over 150 articles between LinkedIn and a new social media platform called Steemit. As a millennial, his desire is to help solve many of the great challenges that are plaguing today’s society and engage in intellectual exchanges to help create a better world.

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

Virtual Book Tour: Once in a Blood Moon by Dorothea Hubble Bonneau #promo #giveaway #southern #historical #interview #rabtbooktours @DorotheaBonneau @RABTBookTours @PublishingAcorn
2:00 AM1 Comments



Southern Historical
Date Published: June 11, 2020
Publisher: Acorn Publishing

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Heaven Hill Plantation, upriver from Georgetown, South Carolina, 1807: Sixteen-year-old Alexandra Degambia is the daughter of a wealthy African American planter and a social-climbing mother who can pass for white. Balancing on the tightrope between girlhood and the complicated adult world of Low-Country society is a treacherous undertaking.


Early Reviews

Alexandra is a tenacious heroine who’s easy to root for, and the author elegantly articulates her precarious position between white and black society. Overall, this novel explores issues of equality and personal freedom in thought-provoking ways.

Sharp writing, an original plot, and a strong female protagonist make for an engrossing read.
-Kirkus Review

This tale of desperation, injustice and courage is a much needed addition to our grasp of our nation's history. A 5-star reading experience. Highly recommend!"
Laura Taylor – 6-Time Romantic Times Award Winner




Interview

1.     What is the hardest part of writing your books?
I prefer to emphasize a character’s positive traits. The hardest part of writing my books is discovering and acknowledging the shadow-side that often motivates my characters’ choices.
2.     What songs are most often played on your ipod?
John Lennon’s Imagine is my favorite song. My musical taste is eclectic. In addition to The Beatles, I enjoy the West Side Story sound track, Ravi Shankar’s sitar music, Bach, and the works of Chavalier de Saint-George (sometimes referred to as the Black Mozart).
3.     Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I belong to two fantastic critique groups: Blue Moon Writers, in Davis, California and a group of women authors, also located in Davis.
4.     How did you start your writing career?
My writing career started when I was nine years old and fell in love for the first time—with Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Upon finishing the book, I vowed to become a writer. My first effort was a stage play adaptation of Little Women, painstakingly pecked out on a typewriter. The play was produced on the patio in my back yard by neighborhood thespians just before I turned ten.

5.     Tell us about your next release.
My next release,Dfthegenius, is a memoir about my illuminating journey with my son, Dave, who had Down syndrome.







About the Author

Dorothea Hubble Bonneau is an award-winning novelist, produced playwright and optioned screenwriter. Inspired by a quest for justice, her work is informed by her love of family, nature, and the literary arts.

Dorothea is a member of Author’s Guild, Women in Film, Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Aspen Summer Words Alumni, and Historical Writers of America.

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