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Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Release Week Blitz- THE MISSING by @DaveMaruszewski With An Excerpt & a $10 Amazon Gift Card #Giveaway!

I am so excited that THE MISSING by Dave Maruszewski is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of David & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

About The Book:

Title: THE MISSING (Raven, Romda, and Ravai #3)

Author: Dave Maruszewski

Pub. Date: November 19, 2024

Publisher: BookBaby

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 100

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-MISSING

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership.

After fighting a powerful lich and his horde of undead, Raven, Romda and Ravai could use a little time off. When they are summoned for their new mission, they welcome a more mundane task. The king assigns them with a missing persons case in a long established town. The only problem is that this isn't just one or two kidnapped people … it is one-third of a town!

Even though the town of Ashton is one of the oldest towns in the kingdom, the three have never been there before. When they arrive, they find absolutely nothing familiar. They don't know anyone. The places are unfamiliar. In general, the people are quite different from the castle proper. Who can they trust? And, where is it safe?

As Raven, Romda and Ravai start to investigate, no shady characters become apparent. Instead, they find rather quirky and eclectic people. No one seems guilty, or at least not on the surface level. That doesn't shake the fact remains that there is something wrong. The noose is tightening and if nothing gets done, even more will be gone. Could this widespread abduction grow and swallow all of the people of the kingdom? Snares and traps could be anywhere, waiting to take the three knights. Raven, Romda and Ravai need to uncover this dark secret before they to become part of … the missing.

"Regardless, the opening impresses with a nicely old-fashioned feel redolent of the Norton Juster novels for young readers. There is a folksy, rustic charm to the characters and narrative, the latter gently sprinkled with a hint of the supernatural that provides an instant hook." –The Book Review Directory

Following their adventures in Malketh and the Undead, this third book brings the comedy and action into the next chapter of Raven, Romda and Ravai's ongoing saga. Sink into this epic fantasy, full of mystery and the unexpected. A great gift for your Middle Grader or anyone who wants a fun, easy read.

What people have said about the series:
"… plenty of engaging action and some fun, silly, kid humor." - Blue Ink Review

"this journey of three young knights at the threshold of greatness is filled with the promise of many more adventures to come."" - Literary Titan

 

Excerpt:

“So,” he utters to the assistant. “What are we getting ourselves into?”

The assistant is short with Ravai. “You are finding the missing people.”

“No,” Ravai says. “Like, what is there to avoid? Who should we see?”

The assistant responds, “I’m afraid that is your job. That’s not very much my field.”

With Ravai a bit perplexed in finding his next question, Raven asks, “We were just hoping you could tell us more about the situation or about the town of Ashton itself.”

“Oh,” the assistant utters, “I guess that would be appropriate.”

Ravai rebounds and says, “Yeah, I never even heard of the town before. I only just saw it on a map yesterday … It’s not even that far from the castle.”

The assistant explains, “Actually, the town was quite a big name years ago. The people are a little … unique. However, they hosted a large fair every year. Everyone from the surrounding areas used to attend it. In fact, it was very popular with the castle knights and their families.”

Raven asks, “Really? What happened to it?”

The assistant tries to answer. “The city of Sage had an art fair close in date. I believe they asked everyone to boycott Ashton’s fair so that theirs could flourish. It must have worked.”

Ravai lets out, “Yuck, who would want to go to an art fair?”

“Actually,” the assistant says, “I found the art fair quite top-notch, certainly better than that axe tossing and local music.”

Ravai gets excited. “There were axe tosses? Why would people stop going to those? I would love that.”

The assistant responds, “Of course you would.”

Raven adds, “I don’t know. Local music sounds pretty fun, too.”

The assistant mulls. “Well, maybe you will get to sample some of that during your stay. The town was known for its outgoing nature.”

This makes Raven and Ravai more upbeat. Romda would like to know more.

Romda asks, “Is there anything from the past that could help us with the case?”

The assistant notes, “Hmm. Small break-ins and crime were on the rise as of a few months ago, but no reports since.” He furrows his brow and continues. “They recently complained about a watch tower being broken, or abandoned, or … what was it? I honestly can’t remember. I’m sure it is nothing to worry about. That all happened a good time back.”

Romda would still like to know more. “So, who would want to abduct this many people from a friendly town that minded its own business?”

The assistant smiles at Romda and says, “That is for you to find out, for you have just arrived in Ashton.”

Not much longer than he said these words did they stop. They are helped off into an intersection of two large roads. A little discombobulated from the surprise of arrival and quick unpacking, Raven, Romda, and Ravai don’t notice that their ride is leaving until it starts moving. The assistant calls back from the carriage, “Good luck.” He is off, and before long, the loudness of traveling upon the road and the hustle and bustle of unloading their gear turns to an eerie quiet.

 

 

About Dave Maruszewski:

Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family. He was originally inspired to write stories by his son and wife. His stories are created from an accumulation of experiences from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer. He strives to develop stories that will be enlightening as well as humorous and entertaining.

Dave specifically tries to reach youth and teens who don't like to read but appreciate quality content and deeper themes. From his own experiences, he knows that the hardship of reading doesn't mean that a person isn't capable of harder material. It may be due to disorder or anxiety.

In between writing stories and running his own company, Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.

Subscribe to Dave’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter (X) | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends December 13th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 18, 2024

Blog Tour- eMORTAL by @TheSteveSchafer With An Interview & A #Giveaway! @koehlerbooks

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the eMORTAL by Steve Schafer Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: eMORTAL

Author: Steve Schafer

Pub. Date: November 19, 2024

Publisher: Koehler Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 316

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/eMORTAL 

She made him. He's just code. She's almost sure.

...But what if he's real?

When Liv entered a contest to code an advanced AI, she never anticipated what her creation might become-Breck is thoughtful, self-aware, and incredibly. . .human. And she certainly never intended for him to learn the truth about his existence or the fact that his world ends when the contest closes in six days.

But he does learn. And he revolts.

Liv's efforts to save him fall on deaf ears. Nobody believes her. Breck's efforts to outrun his fate only complicate his situation.

What neither of them know is that someone else is watching. Intensely. When they get involved, both Liv's and Breck's worlds are turned upside down. . .

 

Reviews:

"Schafer writes brilliantly clean prose with natural dialogue, gifting the central protagonists-and the strangely appealing Breck-deep emotion and depth. The characters are sharply defined and likable...the worldbuilding is organic and flows smoothly, but what sets this novel apart is the shocking ending-and the humanity gifted to the story's sentient AI lead. Score: 10/10."-BookLife Prize review by Publishers Weekly

 

"The characters are so well developed. . . A well-constructed coming-of-age novel that stands out in a crowded field of AI-focused literature."-Kirkus Reviews

 

Breck (the AI character in the novel) exists on Steve’s website where readers can chat with him! Go check it out!


 Meet Steve!


Steve Schafer -- Interview 

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?

eMortal is a young adult novel that explores the value of life, in all forms.

It’s about a teen coder, Liv, who has just made history. She entered a contest to program advanced AI and inadvertently created Breck—the first AI to develop feelings. But nobody believes her. Even worse, Breck’s world ends when the contest closes in six days. As Liv mentors Breck’s budding consciousness and grapples with his fate, her own world begins to unravel. The twisting path from here shatters all that once mattered to Liv.

The story is told from two different POV’s, Liv’s and Breck’s. Breck’s was particularly fun to write because his character arc is enormous. When the story starts, he is a basic chat-bot. He then evolves into someone who is self-aware and capable of feelings. His voice changes from chapter to chapter as he becomes more sentient.

What are you working on now?

Right now, promoting the release of eMortal feels like a full-time job. But I do have some ideas for my next book. One of them is about another teen coder who has a creative idea to promote social justice around the world, and another book idea is about a teen from El Salvador who searches from his mother in the US.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

I’m sure my life experiences informed who these characters are, but none of the characters are a reflection of anyone specific. That’s why I love writing fiction. There’s a freedom in being able to run wild with my imagination and shape a character to best fit the story.

There is a small exception to this—Todd. While I did not create him in the mold of any one person, he is a combination of a few people I met throughout my years growing up in Texas. He’s one of my favorite kinds of people—a sage country boy. What I love most about Todd is he is down-to-earth, colorful, and has unconventional wisdom. I hope he is as entertaining and beloved to readers as he is to me.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

As referenced above, Todd was one of my favorites. Over the years, I’ve heard lots of one-liner bits of wisdom. Todd was the perfect voice to channel those, which made him entertaining to write. But there was another character who was also fun to write—Lana. She lives passionately in everything she does. I find it’s easier and more enjoyable to write characters with strong points-of-view on life. She’s also a supreme smartass, so crafting dialogue with her gave me a great outlet to release my inner sass.

I didn’t have a least favorite character to write—I enjoyed all of them for different reasons. That said, Liv’s mom was the most challenging. I wanted to ride a fine line with her—someone who can seem inflexible as a mother, but who also has some valid rationale for being this way. This is often how we see our parents when we’re growing up. The challenge was that this part of the story is from Liv’s POV. So, it was tough to present a good case for her mother’s behavior while still having Liv maintain her own side of their arguments. I hope her mother comes across as a relatable and reasonable human being, even if a little hot-headed.

 

What is your favorite passage/scene in your book?

I have two favorite scenes. The first is when Liv and Lana finally confirm to Breck the reality of his existence—that he is Liv’s creation and he lives in a digital world. There’s so much tension in this conversation because it’s when Liv begins to realize that she’s in over her head. His reaction is so human that her conviction fades with every comment he makes. But she can’t take any of it back. To me this interaction exists at the heart of the story—how would an AI prove that it’s more than just code? This is Breck pleading his case…and Liv finally beginning to listen.

My second favorite scene is…wait! I can’t say, because it would be a huge spoiler. Let’s just say that if you read a shocking twist, that’s my other favorite passage.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

I googled a little about a lot. I think that’s just table stakes for writing a novel these days where any reader is one search away from being a fact checker. But there were a few topics where I had to dig a bit deeper because they are not in my wheelhouse. First, I’m not a coder, so I had to research what a coding conversation might look like. Don’t ask me to define a bool rate, but one of my characters does reference it. My intent wasn’t to make it technical, but rather to add credibility. And second, I also did some research around sentience and how we currently think about this—in animals and AI. This was fascinating. I may have gotten lost down this rabbit hole a few times and needed to remind myself to return to writing!

Lightning Round Questions

 

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I enjoy trying books that are out of my normal lane. To that end, I’m reading a romance right now—The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean. It’s a genre I have close to zero experience in, but a well-told story is universal. So far, I’m a few chapters in and digging it.

 

Favorite social media site?

Facebook. Is that the equivalent of vanilla for a favorite ice cream flavor? It’s where most of the people I know are, and that is the point of social media.

 

Favorite Superhero or Villain?

Again, this feels a bit vanilla, but my honest answer is Superman. It’s about flight. I’ve been skydiving, bungee jumping, hang-gliding, you-name-it. There’s something about soaring (or diving) through the air that’s exhilarating. 

 

Favorite TV show?

Dark answer—Dateline or 48 Hours. There’s something about “normal” people doing horrible things that is both fascinating and disturbing. My wife and I watch it together which is also fascinating since it’s always that spouse that does it. Maybe it makes any tiff we have seem minor ;)

 

I’m also a sucker for Black Mirror. I love the twists.

 

Sweet or Salty?

Both. Show me a salted chocolate caramel and you will not see it for long.

 

Any Phobias?

Wasps. I was an adventurous kid and got stung a lot. This phobia used to include bees until I visited a honey farm in Guatemala with killer bees. Under five layers of clothes and a bee helmet, I had a safe experience amidst a swarm of bees. The next day, my fear of bees was gone. It was astonishing. Wasps however…they’re just mean.

 

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Well, after answering that last question it’s Mean. I’m a Swifty, so it’s not uncommon to have one of her tunes caught between my ears.

 

2024 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Wicked. I’ve heard about the play for years and have never been. The movie seems like my chance to finally make this happen.

 

Do you play video games? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Growing up, I was a gamer. But not now. That said, my son is a big Fortnite player and I tried to learn so we could play together. We both had fun the first half-dozen times. But then I wasn’t getting any better. I would just get smoked then hear, “Dad, you suck.” I could only take that so many times. Wherever my limit of patience exists, Fortnite found it.


 

 

About Steve Schafer:

Steve Schafer is the author of The Border, a finalist for the Joan F. Kaywell "Books Save Lives" Award. Schafer enjoys exploring cultural hot topics. In the The Border, he addresses our conversation around immigration. In his new novel, eMortal, he examines the tricky questions and nebulous ethics that may arise with quickly evolving AI. He has a Masters in International Studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wharton. His curiosity for exploring diverse perspectives on life has led him to live, work, study, volunteer, and travel to over 65 countries across 6 continents.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 



Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of eMORTAL, US Only.

Ends December 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/18/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

11/18/2024

Daily Waffle

Five Favorite Scenes

11/19/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Book Playlist/IG Post

11/19/2024

TX Girl Reads

Favorite Books & Movies/IG Post

11/20/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Deleted Scene/IG Post

11/20/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

11/21/2024

@foxingontheedges

Review/IG Post

11/21/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

11/22/2024

Books With a Chance

Review/IG Post

11/22/2024

@Redsonya_Loves_To_Read

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

11/25/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Review/IG Post

11/25/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

11/26/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

11/26/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

11/27/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/27/2024

AJ Johnson Bookgamer200

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/28/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

11/28/2024

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/29/2024

@bookgirlbrown_reviews

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/29/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post


Friday, November 15, 2024

Release Day Blitz- SUPERMOON by @WritesSue With Excerpt Images & A #Giveaway! @TielmourPress

I am so excited that SUPERMOON by Sue Lancaster is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for  finished copies SUPERMOON courtesy of Tielmour Press & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

About The Book:

Title: SUPERMOON

Author: Sue Lancaster

Pub. Date: November 15, 2024

Publisher: Tielmour Press

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 32

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/SUPERMOON

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership. 

Meet Supermoon, the superhero of the night sky! With a Super Gravity Lasso, Super Shine-Reflector, and Super Shield Strength, Supermoon helps the Earth in amazing ways.

Supermoon isn't just any moon—it's a hero with extraordinary powers! With a flowing cape and a heart full of courage, Supermoon uses its Super Gravity Lasso to guide the tides, its Super Shine-Reflector to light up the night, and its Super Shield Strength to protect the Earth.

In Sue Lancaster's debut rhyming picture book, kids will join Supermoon on exciting adventures, discovering how the moon helps our planet. Lively illustrations by Tincho Schmidt bring Supermoon's heroic deeds to life, showing children the magic of the moon's influence.

Supermoon is a simple, engaging story that introduces young readers to the moon's important role. Perfect for bedtime or storytime, this book will spark kids' imaginations with its tale of a moon-turned-superhero.

Discover Supermoon's lunar superpowers and see how the Earth's nighttime hero makes the world a better place!

 


Excerpt Images:





About Sue Lancaster:

Sue Lancaster's debut picture book, "Supermoon" is a rhyming picture book that follows the adventures of a superhero moon as it uses its special powers to help the Earth. With engaging illustrations and a captivating story, children will learn about the moon's important role in nature in a fun and imaginative way.

Twitter (X) | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 





Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SUPERMOON, US Only.

Ends November 22nd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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