RABT Book Tours and PR Blog

Monday, January 5, 2015

Tour Kick Off - Tranquility by @lauriegardiner

Women's Fiction

Date Published: December 2014

Tranquility belies its name. Behind the nursing home's serene exterior hides a sinister secret.

Soon after transferring to Tranquility's dementia unit, support worker Sarah Scott suspects a co-worker of abuse. Doing the right thing could mean losing her job, and unemployment is not an option for the young, single mom.

Meanwhile, Sarah questions whether her newest resident, Edie, belongs in the locked unit. The feisty, Scottish woman certainly doesn't act as though she has dementia. Sarah is determined to have Edie released, but her plans are thwarted when Edie risks her own freedom to help find the proof needed to stop the abuse.

#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career? Definitely! It’s a goal I’m working toward.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process? Getting started.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family? I had a few beta readers who gave me some great advice and critiques.

#4 – What is next for your writing? I’m working on my second novel and finishing up the last couple courses in a Creative Writing program.

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading? I love reading and read a variety of genres depending on my mood. Right now, I’m reading Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens.

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet: Soon after transferring to Tranquility’s dementia unit, Sarah discovers a sinister secret. Will doing the right thing mean losing her job?

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3? iPod

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries? I like both, depends what it’s with.

#4 – Comedy or Drama? Again both, depends on my mood.

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks? Nicolas Sparks

#6 – Fantasy or Reality? Fantasy

#7 – Call or Text? Call

#8 – Public School or Home School? Public

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate

#10 – eBook or Paperback? Paperback, though I read both.

Laurie grew up on a farm in a small Northern Ontario community in Canada. She left home at seventeen to experience life in the city and now lives in Cambridge, Ontario with her husband of twenty-seven years.

Raising three kids, teaching fitness and operating a home daycare left little time for writing, but she did have some poetry published in various anthologies over the years. In 1997, her short story “Til Death Do Us Part” placed first in the Cambridge Writers Collective anthology.

At the age of forty, Laurie went back to school and began a new career as a personal support worker. Though she ended up working in homecare, it was a placement in the dementia unit of a long-term care facility that inspired her to write her first novel, Tranquility.

Laurie is currently enrolled in the Creative Writing Program through the local community college and is working on her second novel.

Facebook

Twitter: @lauriegardiner

Blog

January 5 - Texas Book Nook

January 6 - A Life Through Books

January 7 - My Reading Addiction

January 8 - Book Junkie Mom

January 9 - The Indie Express

January 10 - Steamy Side

January 11 - Coffee Bean Zone

January 12 - Wall to Wall Books

January 14 - Coffee Hobby

January 15 - Reeces Pieces

January 16 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up

Release Day: Scorch by KC Stewart #excerpt #giveaway

Urban Fantasy

Date Published: January 5, 2015

photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

Hailey Holloway has a serious knack with running from her problems. At the first sign of trouble she can be found lacing up her Nikes and hitting the road. Dacea has been patient with her, but a man can only handle so much. He told her before that he would not chase after her again and is he nothing, if not a man of his word. Katherine is more than happy to pick at the wound that festers between them. If she picks enough, she just might make one or both of them bleed.

War is on the horizon. Together, they need to convince the leaders of Blue and Silver to join their crusade against the Council, but can they put their differences aside and stop fighting long enough to help those in the line of fire?

EXCERPT

“Hope. That is your answer?”

He tilted his head slightly at her tone. “It is.”

“Why should I hope for something that is doomed?” she asked plainly. “What would going back solve? We’d be happy for what? Five minutes before some new drama puts us at odds. I’m tired of fighting all the time. Loving Dak is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s like loving a frickin’ mountain. He’s stubborn and unyielding to the point that I just want to beat my fists against him but that would do nothing but make me bleed. I can’t take being built up again just to have him tell me how I’m supposed to live, feel or love.”

She gave a short humorless laugh and shook her head. “Hope is one of the worst promises I could give myself. Because if I allow myself to hope for him to come around, and it doesn’t happen…I will be broken. Dak is hard headed, inflexible and has arrogance coming out his ass. He is my Mate, and God help me, but I love him for all his faults, even if he can’t love me for mine.” While Silas listened he reached over and brushed his thumbs over each of her cheeks clearing away the tears. She batted his hands away and with a clear voice she continued, “If I walk away now, I can keep what little is left of me together. I can hold on to the cracked pieces that haven’t completely shattered and go on living. It might not be the best life, but it will be under my own terms.”

He should have been happy at her declaration. Silas could have his sister without Dacea’s interference. They could leave tonight and travel, go wherever she wanted for as long as she wanted. They could connect. But he could either have the Hailey that was full of pop culture trivia and was always good for a smile with her infectious laugh. Or he could have the reserved.

Hailey who watches the clouds pass by from the window of her room, never granting more than a brief comment to the mundane. He could have one or the other, but she couldn’t be both.

Silas may not have spent much time with her yet, but he knew who his sister was.

“Hailey,” he put his hands on her shoulders and tilted his head to the side trying to catch her gaze. “There is always reason to hope.”

About the Author

K.C. Stewart lives in central Pennsylvania with her three cats. She is currently attending college online for Library Science while working full time as a photographer. In her spare time, which isn't easy to find, she reads an obnoxious amount and writes in between everything else. K.C. has a very real addiction to gummy bears and talking to her cats when no one is around.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Buy Links

Amazon Author Page

Giveaway

2 $5 amazon gift cards, 3 Scorch ebooks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

photo readingaddictionbutton_zps58fd99d6.png

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Tour Kick Off - Heartnapped by @daydreamingj

Contemporary / Interracial Romance

Date Published: July 9, 2014

Jayla Simmons never imagined herself working in a place like Vice, but what's a girl to do when she has a child to support all on her own? Her disdain for the place isn't limited to her occupation. Her boss, Carter Rossi, has had a strange fixation on her since she started dancing at Vice, and though she's reluctant to admit it, she's drawn to him as well. Carter Rossi is tired of the cat and mouse game he's been playing with Jayla's since the day she walked into his club. The son of Don Antonio Rossi has been denied few things in life, and Jayla Simmons will be no exception. He'll have her by any means necessary.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

- I definitely see writing as my career. I'm a firm believer that people are happiest in their line of work when they make a career out of doing what they love, and so, I'm just taking my own advice. Honestly though, I would write even if I viewed it as “just a hobby.” It's just so much fun for me to lose myself in these crazy ideas inside my head. I remember spending hours banging away at my keyboard before I ever made a dime from my writing, so I feel extremely blessed to be able to call this my career now.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

- The hardest part of my writing process is letting a story be. What I mean by that is that it's sometimes hard for me to allow a story to develop freely without having to beat down the urge to stifle my creativity based on what I'm worried others might think about a plot twist, a character, a controversial topic addressed, a particular word used, or whatever. I constantly have to remind myself that telling a story honestly is far more important than telling a story that everyone will approve of.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

- I feel like my fellow authors indirectly help me to improve my writing, because every time I read a really great story, it challenges me to up my game, to delve a little bit deeper and push the limits of my storytelling ability.

#4 – What is next for your writing?

- I want to go in so many different directions with my writing. Readers can expect everything from Historical to Fantasy from me in the near future. I don't plan on shackling myself to a single genre, but certain things will always hold true in every story I tell. There will always be some kind of romantic element present (typical girl, what can I say?), My characters will always be of varying backgrounds (that's the way the world is after all) , and my stories will always be highly character driven. As for my next project, I'll be putting out the next three books in the Rossi Mafia Series during the early part of this year. Readers can keep up with my new releases by signing up for my mailing list on my website www.jessicalaneworld.com.

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

- I definitely have a reading addiction. I just started reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed, and I'm loving it!

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet: Headstrong Jayla is about to learn that there are a few things in life that can't be outrun; love and fate are among them.

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3? - Mp3 all the way!

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?- Vanilla. I'm one of about 20 people on the face of the planet who can't stand the taste of chocolate.

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?- Both! Potatoes are that food for me. You know that one food you could eat everyday for the rest of your life and be completely satisfied. I like them fried, baked, mashed, etc.

#4 – Comedy or Drama?- That's a tough one, but I think I'll go with Drama since it tends to keep me on the edge of my seat.

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?- Nicholas Sparks. I read The Notebook twelve times.

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?- Definitely fantasy. It's so much more fun to create your own reality.

#7 – Call or Text?- Text. It's easier to multitask that way.

#8 – Public School or Home School?- Public School. There are so many amazing people watching opportunities there, and my people watching usually leads to story ideas.

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate- Coffee is one of my many addictions.

#10 – eBook or Paperback?- eBook. Same story but at a better price, and anyone that knows me will tell you that I'm frugal Fran.

I grew up in a tiny town with lots of room for my imagination to grow, and never outgrew my love for playing make believe. I developed my love for storytelling when I was very young, and used it as a way to escape and explain the world around me. That storytelling ability has grown and evolved a lot since then and taken me many different places. I'm having fun following where it leads me. I've been writing since I was a child; seriously, my mom has the crayon illustrated short stories to prove it. My writing has been mostly private since the end of my UIL creative writing days circa 1998. The writing bug bit me again when I was a freshman in high school, and I finally had the guts to publish my first e-book, Purple Hearts, in July of 2013! Now, I'm hooked, and determined to make a career out of this little passion of mine. My writing style is very direct with a little bit of humor. Alpha males are my guilty pleasure, but don't expect my female main characters to be passive damsels in distress. Every girl needs a little spark to her to keep the guys on their toes, right? I write mostly interracial/paranormal romance, but I've been toying with contemporary and historical romance plots as well. In short, I'm a dreamer by nature and an artist by trade. I endeavor to take my readers on a different journey with every new story I write.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

January 5 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

January 6 - Indie Authors You Want to Read - Excerpt

January 7 - Obsessed By Books - Review

January 8 - Smile Somebody Loves You - Excerpt

January 9 - The British Bookworm - Excerpt

January 10 - Eskimo Princess - Excerpt

January 11 - Chosen By You Book Club - Excerpt

January 12 - A Life Through Books - Review

January 13 - Musings From an Addicted Reader - Review

January 14 - Twin Opinions - Review

January 15 - Book Junkie Mom - Excerpt

January 16 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Tour Kick Off: The Girl In the Black Pajamas by @CHRISBIRDY1

Murder / Mystery / Suspense

Date Published: July 2014

R&B Investigations is under attack. Their employee is shot in the back as he enters the building, and a hacker is trying to compromise their secure network. While the Boston police investigate the shooting, Bogie McGruder needs to find the culprit who is trying to put them out of business. Bogie and his partner Rose Jones can’t disclose their internet problems to the cops since Bogie is a hacker himself. Bogie McGruder returns to Boston with his four- year-old daughter Isabella. He joins up with Rose Jones’ uncle Walter who is fresh for Lompoc Prison. Bogie and Walter strengthen their firewalls while they try to determine who is behind the invasion. As the R&B team hones in on the culprit, they uncover several murders and discover a plot to wipe out the financial institutions in Boston. While Bogie is in Boston, his extended family in Palm Beach becomes enmeshed in a sex scandal that threatens to ruin lives and careers in the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Feeling like a wishbone about to snap, Bogie tries to handle problems in both cities while Isabella continues her quest for someone to teach her the Five-Point-Palm-Exploding-Heart technique as seen in Kill Bill Volume 2. This tale of murder, revenge and greed takes the reader on a whirlwind trip from Boston to Palm Beach and back.

The Girl in Black Pajamas is available in both print and ebook format.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Chris Birdy is an award-winning author of the Mystery/Suspense Pajama Series. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, she did a four year stint in the Middle East. When she returned to the States, Chris settled down in the Boston area and became a true Bostonian by collecting college degrees while raising a family.

For more than twenty years, Chris has been a member of the legal community performing investigative work for Boston law firms.

Chris lives outside of Boston and in Palm Beach, Florida with her husband.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

January 4 - Logikal Blog - Guest Post

January 5 -Mythical Books - Guest Post

January 6 - Deal Sharing Aunt - Interview

January 7 - A Life Through Books - Review

January 8 - Momma Bears Book Blog - Excerpt

January 9 - Texas Book Nook - Review

January 10 - Book Junkie Mom - Excerpt

January 11 - Simpliread - Review

January 12 - The Pulp Den - Review

January 13 - Indie Authors You Want to Read - Excerpt

January 14 - Books are Love - Review

January 15 - SBM Book Obsession - Excerpt

January 16 - Queen of All She Reads - Excerpt

January 16 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up

PROMO Blitz: Night Buddies and The Pinapple Cheesecake Scare by @Night_Buddies

Juvenile Fiction

Date Published: June 1, 2012

Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is an after lights-out adventure story that will delight young readers and middle graders who relish roller coaster fantasy and fun, filled with unforgettable characters and an astonishing and inventive collection of magical whatchamacallits.

Night Buddies is all about the nighttime adventures of a young boy named John, who is not ready to go to sleep, and his friend, a bright red crocodile named Crosley who turns up under John’s bed.

They sneak out of John’s house using Crosley’s “I-ain’t-here-doodad” which makes them invisible to John’s parents. They then embark on an adventure chasing down enemies and cleaning up one mess after another as they solve the earthshaking mystery: who stole all the pineapple cheesecakes from the only factory in the world that makes them!

The investigation starts out fine, but things get a little crazy when Crosley, who is allergic to water, gets wet. Hilarious things happen when Crosley’s allergy to water kicks in, and when they get to the pineapple cheesecake factory and meet Big Foot Mae, the investigation gets more complicated and zany than either of them bargained for.

Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is the first title in the Night Buddies series, a 7-times award-winning chapter book series for kids. The second book, Night Buddies, Impostors, and One Far-Out Flying Machine was published in February 2013 and the third book, Night Buddies Go Sky High is due out in March 2015. The Night Buddies series is available in both print and ebook format.

About the Author

Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years. He and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro.

About the Illustrator:

Jessica Love grew up in California, with two artist parents. She studied printmaking and drawing at UC Santa Cruz, then went on to study acting at The Juilliard School in NYC. Her favorite way to work is collaborative, which is why illustration is such a treat.

Some of her inspirations are Maurice Sendak, Edmund Dulac, Lisbeth Zwerger and of course, the incomparable Hilary Knight. Jessica currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, toggling back and forth between her work as an actor and her work as an artist.

Author Links

Buy Links