Book Title: Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess by Beverly Golden Cuevas
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 392 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Publisher: Urlink Print & Media, LLC
Release date: August 2023
Content Rating: PG. Suitable for adult audiences.
Being raised in Parkersburg,WVA, Janie didn’t have big aspirations for her life. Tired of her dead-end job at the phone company her best friend suggested she interview to become a Stewardess. Fearful she would be rejected because of her height; she was shocked when she was accepted. A whole new world opened up to her. Seeing places she had only read about, spending time with politicians, movie stars and professional athletes. One special athlete, a professional basketball player named Wendell Ladner stole her heart with his southern charm. An extraordinary ‘connection’ with Elvis Presley allowed her the unique experience to spend ‘one on one’ time with him and remain in touch until his passing. You’ll share with her the challenges of marrying someone so different from her upbringing and coping with attempts to try and fit in. Behind Her Smile reveals a devastating event that deeply affected Beverly and made her reexamine her life and what she truly wanted out of it.
Beverly Golden Cuevas was born Beverly Jane Golden in Ironton, Ohio in 1945. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Parkersburg, West Virginia with her family. Her father had a job opportunity in Columbus, Ohio in 1955 so away they went. Beverly started working at the age of 14 to contribute to her family finances. She graduated Columbus North High School in 1963. She moved on to work at the Ohio Bell Telephone Company after graduation. In 1965, on the dare of her best friend she went to an interview to be a Stewardess for American Airlines. American hired her and she started her flying career in New York, then commuting from Tulsa, Oklahoma to her Dallas base. She flew both domestic and international. During her career, she never received a bad passenger letter. In 1977, she was 1 of 12 Flight Attendants selected out of 16,000 to participate in a highly coveted special assignment to work at the prestigious American Airlines Golf Classic. Her flying career ended on December 1, 2001 after 35 years. Beverly now lives in Dallas, Texas. She has been married to her wonderful husband Randy for 43 years. She has two sons, Joshua and Kaleb. She is a loving wife and mother, never missing a baseball game or school talent show, in spite of her flying schedule! Mimi is blessed to pass on her knowledge and love of life to her grandchildren Eden, Elijah, Ellie, Logan and Holly.
connect with the author: goodreads
True Crime – Among The Bros by Max Marshall #maxmarshall #fharperbooks
MY REVIEW
I wanted to read Among The Bros by Max Marshall, mostly, because I love to see the elite face the consequences of their actions. I’m not sure that was accomplished here.
Max Marshall did his research, documented at the end of the book. He did give me many details, but the writing didn’t get me involved. I felt it was like reading a text book. It’s hard to relate to characters who feel they are entitled, that no matter what they do it’s no big deal. Just boys having fun.
I felt Max Marshall glossed over rape and murder, concentrating on the drugs and the never ending parties at the College of Charleston.
I find it interesting that so many Fortune 500 executives, Supreme Court Justices, and presidents have been fraternity members. What does that say about them, especially after reading a book like Among The Bros. AND that is why I love to read a book like Among The Bros. Is all the secrecy surrounding fraternities because the members do not want the members actions exposed? How far is too far?
The book left a bad taste in my mouth….and I expected that, so Max did deliver.
GOODREADS BLURB
A brilliant young investigative journalist traces a murder and a multi-million-dollar drug ring, leading to an unprecedented look at elite American fraternity life. When Max Marshall arrived on the campus of the College of Charleston in 2018, he hoped to investigate a small-time fraternity Xanax trafficking ring. Instead, he found a homicide, several student deaths, and millions of dollars circulating around the Deep South. He also opened up an elite world hidden to outsiders. Behind the pop culture cliches of “Greek life” lies one of the major breeding grounds of American 80 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 85 percent of Supreme Court justices, and all but four presidents since 1825 have been fraternity members. With unprecedented immersion, this book takes readers inside that bubble. Under the live oaks and Spanish moss of Travel + Leisure ’s “Most Beautiful Campus in America,” Marshall traces several “C of C” boys’ journeys from fraternity pledges to interstate drug traffickers. The result is a true-life story of hubris, status, money, drugs, and murder—one that lifts a curtain on an ecstatic and disturbing way of life. With expert pacing and a cool eye, he follows a never-ending party that continues after funerals and mass arrests. An addictive and haunting portrait of tomorrow’s American establishment, Among the Bros is nonfiction storytelling at its finest.
- Genre: Biography, Memoir, Mystery, NonFiction, Sociology, True Crime
- 289 pages, Hardcover
- First published November 7, 2023 by Harper
ABOUT MAX MARSHALL
Behind the pop culture cliches of “Greek life” lies one of the major breeding grounds of American power: 80 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 85 percent of Supreme Court justices, and all but four presidents since 1825 have been fraternity members. It is a world that most people thinktheyknow about. But what really happens behind closed doors, especially on some of America’s toniest college campuses,islargely hidden to outsiders. AMONG THE BROS: A Fraternity Crime Story (Harper Books; on sale November 7), the first book byjournalist Max Marshall,exposes this elite world,examining both its allureand dark underside.
Marshall, who has written for places like GQ, Sports Illustratedand The New York Times, arrived on the campus of the College of Charleston in 2018 as a 25-year-old fraternity alumnus hoping to write about Xanax. He intendedto investigatea small-time trafficking ringthat resulted in the arrest of 9 young individuals, most whowere students or formerstudents at the college withties to the Greek system. The group’s ringleaderwas Mikey Schmidt, a 21-year-oldmember of the Kappa Alpha fraternitywho had just been sentenced to 10 years without parole.But as Marshall started reporting,it became clear that the scope of the crimes wasfar bigger than what was made public:homicide, several student deaths,a nationwide trafficking network,and the seizure of 21 million dollars’ worthof black-marketXanax.
Telling this full story the first time, AMONG THE BROStakes readers underthe live oaks and Spanish moss ofTravel + Leisure’s “Most Beautiful Campus in America,” tracing several“C of C” boys’ journeys from fraternity pledges to interstate drug traffickers. Marshallinterviewed more than 120 people connected to the case, including Schmidtand his attorneys, fraternity and college representatives, family members of the murder victim, and many others. The result is a true-life story of hubris, status, money, drugs, and violence.
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Library Book – Killers Of The Flower Moon by David Grann @DavidGrann
Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads
MY REVIEW
I was appalled when I saw the promotion for the film Killer Of The Flower Moon. I immediately went to my library app and put a hold on the book. I got access to it a lot faster than I thought and immediately began reading.
In May, taller plants creep over tinier blooms, stealing their light and water. The small flowers become buried under the ground and that is why the Osage refer to May as the time of the flower killing moon.
It was in May of 1921 when Mollie Burkhart began to suspect evil was afoot. She was right. The conspiracy was so widespread, the Osage never stood a chance.
It always amazes me when I come across such a brutal injustice in our history…that I knew nothing about. Shouldn’t this be part of the history we are taught in school? I mean, the conspiracy was so wide and tragic, it helped lead to the creation of the FBI. Of course, that creates a monster of its own. We all know the saying:
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In the 1920s, the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma had the richest people per capita in the world. Greedy, power hungry individuals flock to the area like flies on s***. Racism is rampant and the Osage people were looked at as less than human.
I cannot begin to imagine their despair and sense of hopelessness, that no one would come to their aid. Not just to keep the white people from stealing their riches, but to keep them from being MURDERED. The people of the town turn a blind eye to the tragedy taking place right before them. We can see history repeat itself, over and over again, so I don’t know why I am so surprised. After all, if discrimination, racism, and inequality can exist as overtly as it does in the 21st century, it seems it would be even easier to perpetrate such violence in the 1920s.
I will be adding more of his work to my reading list. In fact, I just put a hold on The Wager.
The depth of David Grann’s research is displayed at the end of the book, where he has included all the materials, paper and human, he drew information from.
GOODREADS BLURB
Goodreads Choice Award
A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. One Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, watched as her family was murdered. Her older sister was shot. Her mother was then slowly poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances.
In this last remnant of the Wild West—where oilmen like J. P. Getty made their fortunes and where desperadoes such as Al Spencer, “the Phantom Terror,” roamed – virtually anyone who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll surpassed more than twenty-four Osage, the newly created F.B.I. took up the case, in what became one of the organization’s first major homicide investigations. But the bureau was then notoriously corrupt and initially bungled the case. Eventually the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including one of the only Native American agents in the bureau. They infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest modern techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history.
In Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann revisits a shocking series of crimes in which dozens of people were murdered in cold blood. The book is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, as each step in the investigation reveals a series of sinister secrets and reversals. But more than that, it is a searing indictment of the callousness and prejudice toward Native Americans that allowed the murderers to operate with impunity for so long. Killers of the Flower Moon is utterly riveting, but also emotionally devastating.
- Genre: American History, Biography, Conspiracy, Historical Nonfiction, History, Mystery, Native American, Nonfiction, True Crime
- This edition:
- Format: 354 pages, Kindle Edition
- Published: April 18, 2017 by Doubleday
ABOUT DAVID GRANN (from Amazon)
DAVID GRANN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books “The Wager,” “The Lost City of Z,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award. He is also the author of “The White Darkness” and the collection “The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession.” His book “Killers of the Flower Moon” was recently adapted into a film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro. Several of his other stories, including “The Lost City of Z” and “Old Man and the Gun,” have also been adapted into major motion pictures. His investigative reporting and storytelling have garnered several honors, including a George Polk Award and an Edgar Allan Poe Award.
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Giveaway – Delaware from Railways to Freeways by Dave Tabler @ireadbooktours
Book Title: Delaware from Railways to Freeways / First State, Second Phase by Dave Tabler
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 110 pages
Genre: American History, Colonial
Publisher: Dave Tabler
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2023
Content Rating: G. None needed. Works for all audiences.
“Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a fascinating history text covering important sites and artifacts from the first state. The book includes a wealth of historical and social insights into the production techniques and ultimate significance behind the early Delaware artifacts and events it covers. It makes note of the geographical importance of certain buildings and landscapes as well. Detailed images appear on each page of the book alongside brief, evocative descriptions of their meaning and significance. The result is an involving pictorial history of the evolution of Delaware, complemented by distinguishing coverage of the development of the state’s transportation infrastructure.” — Foreword Reviews
“Tabler’s second entry in a trilogy covering the history of Delaware rides the rails into the First State’s storied past, covering the tumultuous yet prosperous 19th century and the dawn of the 20th, that era of iron, steam, Civil War, suffragettes, technical marvels, and surprises both fun—like the history of scrapple, or the suspender-and-pants rig known as a “breeches buoy” used to rescue mariners—to the morbid, like public whipping posts or the jolting tale of a child’s corpse being sent through the mail. The stories of trends, people, and material goods that Tabler highlights, in short and inviting bursts of text, are interesting and well buttressed by the copious illustrations.” — Booklife
“The contents are entertaining and varied, offering glimpses of little-known aspects of American history, from Colonial-era enmity between Whigs and Tories to inventions such as the Manby mortar, a cannon-like device used in rescuing people from sinking ships, to a bartending goose.” –– Kirkus Reviews
“Delaware from Railways to Freeways is the second book in a series that began with Delaware Before the Railroads and whose planned conclusion is Delaware from Freeways to e-Ways. In his preface, author Dave Tabler touts the advent of the railroad, saying that it “ushered in a prosperous era for the First State” due to Delaware’s “strategic location” on the Delaware Bay. The book is mostly photographs, all of which are vibrant and compelling and include objects that would not be present in most histories of the state, such as John Jones’s adjustable peach sorter: an 1874 invention that revolutionized peach sorting. Or the crawlspace in the home of Quaker couple Daniel and Mary Corbit, in which they hid a fugitive slave in 1845. Tabler’s captions are bite-sized yet satisfying, offering readers a plethora of history without making them feel overworked. …More a coffee-table book than a proper history, Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a worthy read for any devotee of Delaware’s past.“ — Indie Reader
“Delaware from Railways to Freeways offers readers a captivating journey through Delaware’s lesser-known history. It is an excellent choice for those who relish reading about unusual facts and harbor a passion for history, even if it occasionally leans toward trivia. This book provides a valuable contribution to understanding Delaware’s rich heritage.“ — Literary Titan
Delaware from Railways to Freeways covers eye-opening information about the region and its residents from 1800 to 1907. Laying out a captivating journey through pictures and offering up little-known anecdotes, entertainingly educational stories, and a comprehensive deep dive, Tabler gives insightful commentary on inventions, contributors to society, and transformative technology. History lovers of all ages will immensely enjoy this trove of 19th-century lore.
Ten year old Dave Tabler decided he was going to read the ‘R’ volume from the family’s World Book Encyclopedia set over summer vacation. He never made it from beginning to end. He did, however, become interested in Norman Rockwell, rare-earth elements, and Run for the Roses.
Tabler’s father encouraged him to try his hand at taking pictures with the family camera. With visions of Rockwell dancing in his head, Tabler press-ganged his younger brother into wearing a straw hat and sitting next to a stream barefoot with a homemade fishing pole in his hand. The resulting image was terrible.
Dave Tabler went on to earn degrees in art history and photojournalism despite being told he needed a ‘Plan B.’
Fresh out of college, Tabler contributed the photography for The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics, which taught him how to work with museum curators, collectors, and white cotton gloves. He met a man in the Shenandoah Valley who played the musical saw, a Knoxville fellow who specialized in collecting barbed wire, and Tom Dickey, brother of the man who wrote ‘Deliverance.’
In 2006 Tabler circled back to these earlier encounters with Appalachian culture as an idea for a blog. AppalachianHistory.net today reaches 375,000 readers a year.
Dave Tabler moved to Delaware in 2010 and became smitten with its rich past. He no longer copies Norman Rockwell, but his experience working with curators and collectors came in handy when he got the urge to photograph a love letter to Delaware’s early heritage. This may be the start of something.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads
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Giveaway – Men Of The 65th by Talia Aikens Nunez @GoddessFish
Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nunez
GENRE: YA nonfiction
BLURB
Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.
Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.
But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?
In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.
EXCERPT
[T]he US public was shocked to discover that during the war, 162 soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment had been court-martialed and ninety-one of those soldiers found guilty of disobeying orders and desertion.
The US military kept the courts-martial quiet. But the soldiers of the 65th sent letters to their families describing what was happening, which led to public outcry and confusion from the press. How could one of the most distinguished regiments of the Korean War, whose soldiers had only months before been praised by General Douglas MacArthur for their “brilliant record of heroism,” become involved in the largest mass court-martial of the Korean War?
Did the Borinqueneers lose their bravery and heroism in such a short time? Or were they victims of discrimination in a prejudiced and segregated system? Were they betrayed by the country they risked their lives for?
This is the story of one of the bravest and most decorated regiments in the history of the US military. It is a forgotten story in a forgotten war. But it is a story of patriotism, loyalty, and bravery in the face of danger and discrimination, and it is one that deserves to be told. -page 10
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.
Amazon buy link: https://amzn.to/3YJCGK2
a Rafflecopter giveawayFollow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.
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Delicious Delights Review for Bewitching Brews and Devilish Desserts by Roxanne Rhoads @RoxanneRhoads
Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads
MY REVIEW
I love the amazing cover for Bewitching Brews and Devilish Desserts edited by Roxanne Rhoads. I have read a lot of books, especially cozies and some vampirish novels that have recipes for food and drink. I wanted to start the Halloween season off with some suggestions for your horrolicious season.
You may even find a new or familiar author to follow, a book to read, or a favorite cocktail and dessert. They witchly delights are sure to add a little something extra to your repertoire.
Some of the authors you will find in the book that shared their devilish delights: Roxanne Rhoads,Sharon Bayiss, Ami Blackwelder, Cassandra Lawson, Susannah Sandlin, Cherrie Mack, Maggie Mundy, Suzanne Johnson, Katalina Leon, and Kay Dee Royal.
I highly recommend grabbing a copy for your collection.
GOODREADS BLURB
Stir up a little magic from our cauldron full of cocktails and desserts.
The authors of Bewitching Book Tours conjured a collection of delicious potions inspired by their books and characters.
Grab your wand (or spoon) and cast one of these spellbinding recipes today.
- Witches
- 50 pages, Kindle Edition
- First published October 28, 2014 by Roxanne Rhoads
ABOUT ROXANNE RHOADS
Roxanne Rhoads is an author, book publicist, mixed media crafter, and lover of all things spooky.
Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours, a virtual book tour and social media marketing company, she operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books, and she runs the blog, A Bewitching Guide to All Things Halloween, which is dedicated to everything Halloween related. Roxanne’s sells handcrafted jewelry, art and home decor through Bewitching Creations.
When not reading or writing, Roxanne loves to craft, plan Halloween adventures, and search for unique vintage finds.
- All Things Halloween https://allthingshalloweenguide.blogs…
- Author Website http://www.roxannerhoads.com
- Book Blog www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
- Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.com
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Giveaway & Review – How To Self Publish by Hank Quense @ireadbooktours @hanque99
Book Details:
Book Title: Creating Stories by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 106 pages
Genre: Self Help,
Publisher: Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: April 1, 2017
Content Rating: G
Do you have a story in you?
Do you know how to write it or how to tell it? Creating Stories has the answers. Hank Quense, the author of more than twenty books, tells you how to do it. He believes that stories come from the melding of three elements: getting ideas, story design and story-telling. Ideas have to come from the author. Creating Stories covers the last two. The book concentrates on developing characters including such rarely discussed requirements such as a dominant reader emotion and the character’s biography. Plots are also covered in depth and a number of graphics are included to illustrate complex points. Another topic discusses subplots and how to utilize them and how to nest them within the main plot. A separate chapter discusses the relationship between the plot and the emotional arcs. Other topics covered are: character arcs, scene design, point-of-view, writing voice.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads
After Creating Your Story:
Book Title: Self-Publish a Book in 10 Steps: And Market It by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 88 pages
Genre: Self Help
Publisher: Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: Dec 1, 2021
Content Rating: G
MY REVIEW
Self Publish A Book In 10 Steps by Hank Quense is a nonfiction guide to publishing and marketing your novel. I found the book easy to understand and laid out in a way that makes it easy to follow a step by step process of all the things necessary to make publishing and marketing your book a success.
Hank Quense includes charts, websites, groups, and other bits of information, where help can be found. He includes cost estimates for each step, and warnings about the pitfalls and perils of self publishing. We all know there are many out there wanting to scam you for your money, so do your due diligence.
I found Self Publish A Book IN 10 Steps by Hank Quense to be chock full of vital information and all the things necessary to market and publish your book, but that doesn’t mean you can take a pass on doing your own research. It is a daunting task, but worth the effort to make your book a success.
Self-publishing a book is difficult.
This book simplifies it by breaking down a self-publishing and marketing project into 10 steps. This step-by-step process will get your book published and initiate the pre-launch marketing.
Hank Quense has written and self-published over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of the Author Blueprint Series of books. The Series concentrates on providing valuable guidance on fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing. Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps is Book 6 in the series.
The book details such vital tasks as developing a compelling book description, building an author platform and getting book reviews to list a few.
Learn the ten-step process that will self-publish and market your book!
Hank Quense has self-published his books for over 12 years. His non-fiction books cover fiction writing (Creating Stories), self-publishing (How to Self-publish and Market a Book, Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps), marketing (Book Marketing Fundamentals) and author business (Business Basics for Authors).
He also lectures on these subjects in schools, libraries and on webinars.
Hank recently started https://hankquense.podia.com/ The site provides solutions to pain points (problems) for fiction writers, self-publishing authors and authors who are trying to market their books.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ X ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads
Giveaway & Review for Creating Stories by Hank Quense @ireadbooktours @hanque99
Book Details:
Book Title: Creating Stories by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 106 pages
Genre: Self Help,
Publisher: Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: April 1, 2017
Content Rating: G
MY REVIEW
Creating Stories by Hank Quense caught my eye because I have been writing for a long time. Not a novel, or anything like that, but journals. My mind pens a story and I jot down ideas. Isn’t it the follow through that is the difficult part? Where do I even begin?
Creating Stories by Hank Qunense is chock full of everything I need to know to write that novel I feel is buried deep, deep, deep inside. LOL The biggest problem was the amount of information.
That means, taking a step by step process. Beginning at the beginning. Hank Quense gives references, graphs, maps, and his process for writing in a 150 page book. It was not a quick read, because I find myself pausing, thinking. He gave examples of his work to clarify. A bit self serving, using his books for examples, but that’s okay. I would do it too.
I read an ebook, but if I ever do decide to write that novel that is buried deep, deep, deep inside me, I will be purchasing a physical copy. I love having things at my fingertips, laid out before me so I can easily move from one thing to another, whether it’s a book, a graph, or a Castlesque workboard. I can see myself laying things out like a murder board in a crime movie or TV show. I can see myself with a swivel chair, numerous boards surrounding me, and my computer at the forefront.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Creating Stories by Hank Quense if you are writing. A book like Hank’s is hard for me to rate, as a novice. I didn’t understand some of it. I think it was a bit over my head. So, rating this for an author that is experienced and needs to refine their craft, I think this would be a 5 Star read. For someone like me, I would rate it a 4 Star read. I would think I would grow into it if I wanted to become a full time author.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Creating Stories by Hank Quense.
.
Do you have a story in you?
Do you know how to write it or how to tell it? Creating Stories has the answers. Hank Quense, the author of more than twenty books, tells you how to do it. He believes that stories come from the melding of three elements: getting ideas, story design and story-telling. Ideas have to come from the author. Creating Stories covers the last two. The book concentrates on developing characters including such rarely discussed requirements such as a dominant reader emotion and the character’s biography. Plots are also covered in depth and a number of graphics are included to illustrate complex points. Another topic discusses subplots and how to utilize them and how to nest them within the main plot. A separate chapter discusses the relationship between the plot and the emotional arcs. Other topics covered are: character arcs, scene design, point-of-view, writing voice.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads
After Creating Your Story:
Book Title: Self-Publish a Book in 10 Steps: And Market It by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 88 pages
Genre: Self Help
Publisher: Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: Dec 1, 2021
Content Rating: G
Self-publishing a book is difficult.
This book simplifies it by breaking down a self-publishing and marketing project into 10 steps. This step-by-step process will get your book published and initiate the pre-launch marketing.
Hank Quense has written and self-published over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of the Author Blueprint Series of books. The Series concentrates on providing valuable guidance on fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing. Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps is Book 6 in the series.
The book details such vital tasks as developing a compelling book description, building an author platform and getting book reviews to list a few.
Learn the ten-step process that will self-publish and market your book!
Hank Quense has self-published his books for over 12 years. His non-fiction books cover fiction writing (Creating Stories), self-publishing (How to Self-publish and Market a Book, Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps), marketing (Book Marketing Fundamentals) and author business (Business Basics for Authors).
He also lectures on these subjects in schools, libraries and on webinars.
Hank recently started https://hankquense.podia.com/ The site provides solutions to pain points (problems) for fiction writers, self-publishing authors and authors who are trying to market their books.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ X ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads
- You can see my Giveaways HERE.
- You can see my Reviews HERE.
- If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
- Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
- Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Blog Tour – Becoming Flawsome by Kristina Mand Lakhiani @pumpupyourbook
Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawesome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth…
Title: Becoming Flawesome
Author: Kristina Mand-Lakhiani
Publisher: Hay House Publishing
Pages: 280
Genre: Nonfiction
Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, being it…
And it is in the name of perfection that we demonise our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough.
We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows.
In Kristina’s upcoming book Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome, she reflects on her own story, her battle against perfectionism, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawsome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth.
Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world.
In this book, Kristina breaks the mould as she takes the reader on a journey through:
The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it
Self-care vs self-love, and why you need both
What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz
The ‘Hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it
How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick
Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself
Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche
Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers
Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx
Mind Valley Books: https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome
Book Excerpt
The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic LifeIntroduction
Let’s Begin
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a good book has to start with a proper introduction.
And by “proper” I mean that it has to prime the reader for the journey, raise excitement and set expectations, explain the process, and make reading the book an experience both profitable and smooth. After all, we are about to spend some time together on this journey.
Therefore, I was not surprised when on the first meeting with my publisher I was asked if I would consider writing a proper introduction to my book. You see—the original manuscript started with a story of me pondering my future book while standing in the shower, warm water running down my back, and my finger absentmindedly drawing random patterns on the fogged-up glass.
I started this book during the long years of successive COVID confinements, and I was planning to self-publish it because I wanted the freedom to make decisions about the book—how to write, what to write, what stories to include, what kind of experience to offer to my reader. So, naturally, it wasn’t following any universally acknowledged truths or conventions.
Yet, by the time I had to present my book-baby to the world, I felt that I wanted to give it the best possible future, and I had to face the big decision between my heart and my brain: Will it be self-published (heart), or will I work with a traditional publisher (brain)? Going the traditional way meant facing more choices between my quirky and obstinate self-expression and conventional ways of doing things.
This book is about finding your way back to yourself, about understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.
This book has been through the hands of several editors ever since I put the last stop on its original manuscript. This journey has been both emotional and transformative for me. I had to face my biggest dragon by far—my obstinate need for pure self-expression—over and over again.
When do you follow convention, and when do you stick to your own principles and values?
There is no simple answer to this question, except: you have to learn to balance.
If you follow all the rules that your peers expect you to follow, you bet all there is on a slim chance of the grand prize, but you do it at the price of your own unique self-expression. At times, I felt like I had to “sell my soul to the devil” for a chance at success.
But if you obstinately stick to your own unique quirks and principles, you might end up being unheard and misunderstood so universally that there is no point in writing a book. For it is the readers who make a writer. Without the readers, a book is just a private diary.
Reader, will you judge me if I tell you that this book is a delicate balance between convention and my own uniqueness? Of course, I want you to succeed. But I cannot give you the proper introduction to my book because every book is a journey. This book has been my journey, and
now it is yours. I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . .
and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are, but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.
Now I am hoping that you will take this journey with me to your unique destination—to finding the path back to you. I will be your companion on this journey, but it is yours to take.
So why wouldn’t I tell you what’s ahead? Imagine if Gandalf told Bilbo Baggins that on his journey, he would encounter trolls, go through a perilous enchanted forest, and face a dragon in a far-away mountain. Wouldn’t that be a bit of a spoiler?
I want you to take this journey back to you without any spoilers, with an open heart, and trust that the destination is going to be worth your effort. Because becoming flawesome is the best gift you can give to yourself.
So, if you are ready, let’s begin!
Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more.
She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework – “Hacking happiness” – a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.
Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests – “7 Days To Happiness“, “Live By Your Own Rules.” and “The Art of Being Flawesome”. Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.
In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book – “Becoming Flawesome” #BecomingFlawesome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.
Website: https://kristinamand.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/
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Giveaway – Business & Personal Secrets For Getting Unstuck by Frank Zaccari @partnersincr1me
Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck
by Frank Zaccari
June 19 – July 14, 2023 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
At times we all get stuck. Maybe you feel stuck in a dead-end job; your job was a victim of COVID; you live in an area you do not enjoy; your personal relationship is floundering; the life that you want is moving further and further from reality, you can’t “catch a break,” or maybe you never got the right opportunity. Does any of this sound familiar? Be honest! We have all been there. “Things we didn’t expect!” “We weren’t prepared for this.”
Getting stuck is inevitable – staying stuck is a choice
Praise for Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck:
“Your go-to book for the details on getting unstuck”
~ Joanne Victoria, Life Coach and author of Vision With a Capital V – Create the Business of Your Dreams
Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck “is an excellent read that is full of practical advice for business professionals and entrepreneurs”
~ Debra Holz
“You will not walk away from this book without relevant and practical tips and techniques you can use immediately to get your life unstuck. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book”
~ Amazon Reviewer
” It’s the right book at the absolute right time. Frank has a way of breaking things down while lifting you up and getting you unstuck. A pivotal read for me right now.”
~ LE Gray
Did You Know This Secret for Getting Unstuck?
Book Details:
Genre: Business & Money, Personal Transformation
Published by: WeBe Books
Publication Date: May 2022
Number of Pages: 177
ISBN: 978-1955668231
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Who needs this book?
We all get stuck, frustrated, depressed, anxious, frustrated, and disappointed. This book is for everyone who has ever felt stuck. If we are honest, that includes everyone over the age of thirteen. We are like the car stuck in the mud or a snow bank at times. We keep pushing on the gas, but the wheels just keep spinning. The rut we are in gets deeper until we feel we are running in quicksand. It seems the harder we try, the more stuck we become, and like quicksand, we sink until we simply give up.
Very often, being stuck in an internal issue. It is something we create and allow to occur. Wow! That’s a harsh statement. You should be saying, “You are crazy, Frank. Why in God’s name would I ever create and allow a situation where I am stuck and unhappy to exist.” Well, news flash, folks, it happens every day.
Maybe you feel stuck in a dead-end job; your job was a victim of COVID; you live in an area that you do not enjoy; your personal relationship is floundering; that life that you want is moving further and further from reality; you can’t catch a break, or maybe you never got the right opportunity. Does any of this sound familiar? Be honest! We have all been there. Now the question is, are you going to stay there?
Let’s look at another quote from Mel Robbins:
When you are stuck, the primary task is deciding if you’re going to change at all. The challenge is finding the ability to create a slight change in your life and build on it in the face of an overwhelming amount of resistance. – Mel Robbins – The Five-Second Rule
The magic words are “IF you’re going to change.” Getting unstuck, moving forward, and achieving a positive and productive life is in your hands. Greatness is not primarily a matter of circumstance; greatness is a matter of conscious choice and discipline. Staying stuck is a choice. Justifying that you never had the right opportunity is not a reason or an excuse. It is a choice. Where are you stuck in life, and what choices will you make? Are you going to fall apart? OR are you going to pick up the pieces and start moving forward?
***
Excerpt from Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck by Frank Zaccari. Copyright 2023 by Frank Zaccari. Reproduced with permission from Frank Zaccari. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Co-Founder of Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program; keynote speaker; Business Adviser; TV Show Host, 5x Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author
As co-founder of Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program 22 months ago, we have created and executed marketing/promotion plans that achieved 11 consecutive #1 bestselling new releases in multiple categories.
A native of western New York, Frank Zaccari served as a military medic in the U.S. Air Force before spending over 20 years in the high-tech industry. His experience included senior positions with Fortune 50 organizations “re-launching” small and mid-size companies.
Frank is a 5X bestselling and award-winner author who has written and published nine books based on life altering events. The last four books Business Secrets for Walking on Water, Business & Personal Secrets for Avoiding Relationship Landmines, Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck, and Business Secrets from the Battlefield to the Boardroom, were awarded Amazon #1 Best-Selling new release status in multiple categories. They are part of a four-book series. He was just awarded 1st place by The Authors’ Zone for nonfiction business (Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck) – 1st place for Nonfiction Business for 2022.
He led a workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs at Arizona State University; is a mentor with the Veterans Treatment Court; a mentor and judge with the University of California Entrepreneurship Academy and is an accomplished speaker. Frank hosts a Roku TV and youtube show which, has 235,000 listeners in 42 countries.
Education
Catch Up With Our Author, Frank Zaccari:
FrankZaccari.com
Goodreads
YouTube – @frankzaccari
LinkedIn
Facebook
Tour Host Participants:
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!
Don’t Miss This Opportunity to GET UNSTUCK!
This is a giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Frank Zaccari. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Find Your Next Great Read at Providence Book Promotions!
- You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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- If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
- Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
- Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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