Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens by Dana Hammer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dana Hammer will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift certificate to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What is your ideal summer vacation?

Hot springs! I’m obsessed with hot springs and soaking in them. I want to go to any and all of them, but I especially want to go to Chena Hot Springs in Alaska, or Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland. Summer would be a great time to visit those places, because I’m a giant baby about the cold, but I do love some beautiful scenery. I would go alone, because traveling alone is the only way I like to travel. I would soak in the healing waters, all by myself, eating when I’m hungry, sleeping when I’m tired, and compromising on nothing. I would wear lots of floaty kaftans and muumuus and big floppy hats.

What superpower would you like to have?

Healing powers! I think it would be super cool to be able to heal people of their ailments, both mental and physical. The only problem would be, once people found out about my ability, they might try to kidnap me, or use my powers for nefarious purposes. I would have to keep my ability secret, and only use it on occasion. But that would bring a lot of guilt with it, because how would I decide who to heal and who not to heal?

Ok, so maybe I don’t actually want healing powers. How about flying? Flying would be cool.

What reality show would you like to be on?

I don’t know if it counts as a reality show, but I’d love to be on Wheel of Fortune. I’m pretty good at it, when I’m shouting at the TV from my couch, and I would very much like to win money for being good at word puzzles. I love word puzzles.

Who are four literary characters you’d like to have over for dinner?

First would be Arturo Binewski, from Geek Love, no question. The bald, flippered, cult leader is the best written character I have ever encountered, and it makes me sad all day that I’ll probably never write a character as compelling. But having dinner with him would be a good start.

The second guest I would invite is Hannibal Lecter. So insightful, and full of knowledge! So cultured! He could tell me all about Dante and stuff. He would not be in charge of menu planning.

Next would be Lisbeth Salander, from the Girl With a Dragon Tattoo series. She’s the ultimate hero, and I wouldn’t be at all bothered by her taciturnity or her lack of humor, because I know she’s a total badass, and I would be pleased just to get to know her. Maybe she could fix my ipad, which has issues.

Finally, I would invite Shit Turd, the world’s most charming crow. I’m aware that it’s probably odd to invite a crow to dinner, but if you’ve read Hollow Kingdom, you understand that this is a special crow, a marvelous crow, and one that you definitely want to have in your home. I would feed him a gigantic bag of Cheetos.

You are given a million dollars, but can’t save any of it. What would you spend it on?

I would set aside two hundred fifty thousand dollars for taxes. I would pay to upgrade my house, including fresh paint, new furniture, and repairing the stone wall in the backyard that is soon going to ruin everyone’s lives if we don’t fix it. Then I would buy a new car. Then I would buy myself a vacation to Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland. I would donate the rest to the ACLU. They need it right now.

It’s the end of the school year. For most kids, it’s time to relax and get ready for summer. For Fanny, there’s work. She has a brand-new baby brother, and she’s been hired by Zeus to look after his “injured” son. And she still has her and her friends’ cheesemaking business! Fanny is overwhelmed.

But then she meets three sirens who want Fanny to join them on Feather Island for a summer of singing, instrument playing, and fun at the beach. The program is totally free and could start an amazing musical career-the thing that Fanny has always wanted the most.

Athena and Gemma are dead set against it. Athena says that the sirens are bad news; that their whole purpose in life is to lure men to their deaths with their beautiful singing. Gemma says that Feather Island is part of a network of unmappable islands, the type of place where criminals and sketchy organizations hoard their wealth and do their crimes.

Surely, the sirens don’t do that anymore, right? All that stuff was a long time ago. If the sirens want to keep their island paradise a secret, well, that’s not so weird, is it? Fanny has talked to them, and she just knows that they aren’t as evil as everyone says. They are perfectly nice ladies.

Right?

Follow Fanny Fitzpatrick as she navigates big sisterhood, friends who disapprove of her life choices, burning ambitions, and a bunch of sirens luring her away to their private island.

Read an Excerpt

But I don’t have a chance to practice or not practice, because I remember that I have a Zoom date with Gemma and Athena. I head down to the computer and log in to the meeting.

Gemma and Athena are already in there, talking about something. They look serious and sour, but Gemma is wearing the most adorable newsboy hat with embroidered flowers on it, and I squeal when I see it.

“Gemma, that hat though!”

They stop talking and look at me, not smiling. I realize something weird is going on, and so I stop smiling.

“Fanny, we need to talk,” says Athena.

That’s not good.

“Um. Gemma? How’s England?” Gemma shakes her head at me.

I look back to Athena, who has crossed her arms, which makes her look like a strict disciplinarian who’s about to give me a terrible lecture. And I realize that’s exactly what’s about to happen.

“Herman told me everything,” Athena says.

“Um.”

“You let those things in your house! After I specifically told you how dangerous they are!”

“I didn’t let them in,” I say, which I realize is a wimpy thing to say, but I can’t think of anything better. “My dad did.”

“What did they want? Why were they there, at your house?”

“Well—”

“Do you have any idea how many people sirens have killed over the course of these millennia?”

“But that was a long time ago!” I say, sounding desperate and silly, even to my own ears.

“Fanny,” Gemma says, quietly, looking around to make sure no one is listening to her. “I’m not supposed to say this. But there are these islands. A few of them. And they have special deals with the UN, NATO, the African Union, and a few others that I’m not allowed to even say the names of. They have diplomatic immunity. They operate under their own laws, and they answer to no one. They’re unmappable, untraceable. I’ve been talking to Athena, and I think these islands are owned by the sirens.”

“You sound like conspiracy theorists,” I say, rolling my eyes. “How do you even know about these top-secret islands if they’re so top secret?”

“My parents,” Gemma says, like it’s obvious. I guess it should be obvious. I still have no idea what her parents do for a living, but they seem to jet around the planet a lot, with machete-bearing security guards, so I guess it must be important. Still.

“Well, Feather Island is a school. A school for musicians,” I say, trying to reassure them. “There’s a brochure and everything.”

I wish I had the brochure so I could show it to them, how lovely and harmless the place is, but my parents have put it somewhere and I don’t know where it is.

“How do you know about Feather Island?” Athena demands, looking even more furious.

Whoops. I guess I’ve gotta tell them now.

“That’s what the sirens wanted. To tell me about their music camp.”

“NO!” Athena shouts, banging her fist on the table in front of her. Splinters of wood fly everywhere and I’m kind of scared now. This is intense, even for Athena. “You can NOT go to this island. I don’t care what they told you. It’s bad news.”

About the Author:

Dana Hammer is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. She has won over forty awards and honors for her writing, few of which generated income, all of which were deeply appreciated. She is not a cannibal, but she is the author of A Cannibals Guide to Fasting. Dana is also the author of middle grade fantasy My Best Friend Athena which was inspired by a desire to write something her 9 year old daughter could read.




Website: https://www.danahammer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danahammerwriterofthings

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fanny-Fitzpatrick-Sirens-Dana-Hammer/dp/1962308243/ref=sr_1_1

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A Fable of Wood and String by L.T. Getty

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.T. Getty will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

I didn’t start out writing juvenile fiction so much as wanted to write books I wanted to read. I did start writing young, writing and finishing my first novel at the age of fourteen, but I didn’t consider it Young Adult or anything other than a fantasy novel.

My sisters started having kids and I wanted to give them stories that aligned with our values. I wrote The Mermaid and the Unicorns for my oldest niece when she was barely into chapter books, but didn’t publish it until she was a young teenager. She wanted to know more about a scene, so I wrote A Fable of Wood and String but aimed it at a teenage audience.

Honestly I was worried it was a little on the long side, but then I realized that I would have been fine with this as a teen.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I am a tea drinker but I like my iced coffees, not gonna lie. My go to is an iced Hazelnut Latte but, every once in a while I switch it up. Yes, I will drink a regular hot but I’m Canadian and if it’s not flipping cold out (like, colder than -25 Celcius) , I’m at least considering it iced. It depends on what I’m doing, too; we used to go for slurpees after ice skating.

What candy do you give out at Halloween?

Last year I ran out of candy! I was giving out cans of pop – and not like rootbeer or orange crush, neither but what I had left over from Thanksgiving (in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October). I tend to hand out chocolate I like, like Reese’ Peanut butter cups but I make sure I have Mars or something nut free in case there’s allergens. I learned the hard way to not buy my candy last minute a few years ago I had to go to multiple stores to get Halloween candy the day of.

Coal or candy in your Christmas stocking? Why?

My sister has given my candy coal several times. Traditionally though, in my family growing up I would get a mandarin (small orange) from my parents. And a toothbrush. Not a good combination together.

What book is on your nightstand currently?

I have several on my to be read pile – soon to be read are The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman and Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas Atwater & Olivia Atwater. Haven’t read any of the authors before, I’m told The Blacktongue Thief is more Grimdark and Echoes of the Imperium is a steampunk adventure. They have one thing in common though: Goblins ahoy!

Ideal summer vacation.

I like being outdoors, so ideally somewhere with a nice beach or a mountain where I could go hiking.

Manitoba weather is pretty rough during the winter, but during the summer it can get hot. I tend to head out towards the Whiteshell and do a lot of kayaking, but I’m up for lots of adventures: bike riding, roller blading, or just going on a hike. I love to swim and do water sports, so heat is a plus for me.

Favorite pizza toppings.

I’m one of those people who like Hawaiian pizza. Half my family loves it, the other half tolerate it for us. I will try different pizzas when I’m going out depending on the group.

Playlist for your current book.

I made a Soundtrack! I own the rights to none of these, but the mandolin and music play an important role I the story, so I studied various jigs and reels as well listened to other music. This is not a conclusive list, but here’s some on Youtube:

Flook – Reel for Rubrik/Towards the Sun
I used this one on Instagram when I did the cover reveal. I love the energy and it feels like it could be used in several chapters.

The Arcadian Wild – Yurgen’s Theme
This was developed for The Windfeather Saga animated series. So far the music for this series has been phenomenal, you can watch the first season on Angel Studios without a guild membership. Part of the O’Connell Legacy is studying and understanding the animals in the wild beyond the ones they hunted, this feels like a song Lily or Seth could be playing. The other big song, “My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” is also stunning.

Bodh’aktan – Reels
Feels like a Seth focused-chapter.

Pigeon on the Gate - Tam Lin
This is a traditional song based on the Scottish Tale of Tam Lin. First link is the more famous rendition, second is a retelling of Tam Lin. There’s multiple versions and retellings, it’s a great story about a young woman rescuing her beloved from the fae, so check it out. Pigeon Gate isn’t the only artist who’s done this song, and there are beautiful renditions of one instrument playing it as well.

Faun - Tamlin and the Fairy Queen
Another (slightly snarky) explanation of Tam Lin

Would it hurt you to just do as you're told?

The O'Connell siblings live in the shadow of their parent's past, held back by obligation to keep the people of Stagmil safe when their father has to lead the non-hunters of their village to drive off a wyvern.

Lily doesn't trust the stranger who calls herself Madeline when she staggers into the pastoral lands. The puppeteer seems to take an interest in Lily's talent with the family mandoline, and she teaches Lily new music. Lily's had songs stuck in her head before, but nothing like this.

Twins Seth and Tiffany however can't wait for their father to return so they can get on with the shearing. Seth should at least be helping hunt the wyvern, and Tiffany wants to take her best friend Molly and head to the nearest city and see the world.

The twins and several other villagers are lured by song into the woods and transformed into marionettes: Seth breaking free before he can be strung, and Lily tainted in a way she doesn't understand. They have the skills to track the woman down, but to restore Seth to his body, and rescue Tiffany and the others?

Tracking the woman takes them far from the familiar woodlands they know, across the sea to an enchanted castle, where in an effort to rescue their sister they'll learn something much more sinister than turning folk into puppets is going on. They'll get help, of course, but not from who they expected.

After all, last Seth checked, foxes are only supposed to have the one tail.

Read an Excerpt

“Got any more kitsunes or other surprises?” Caleb asked, squatting down without spilling his buckets. “I’d like to hear the story you were trying to tell me in the castle a little later. Right now it seems like you need help. I’ll take my sword back.”

Lily unbelted it, but Boscoe out of nowhere nabbed it from Lily, ran towards the lake, and pitched it in. Then he sat down, never breaking the squire’s gaze, and scratched behind his ears.

“Why did you do that?” Caleb demanded. “That was my father’s!” He tried to take his boots off, the lacing slowed him down.

“You’re cold, let me do it,” Lily said, sliding off her overdress. She shot Boscoe a sour look, who simply beamed at her. Caleb on the other hand turned around and shielded his eyes.

“Could you not?” he asked.

“I know you can see me, stop pretending like you can’t or I’m indecent.” Her chemise and trousers were dark, chosen for adventuring thank you very much; she’d learned what to wear to repel after a wayward ewe long ago. She hung her overdress on a low branch and waded into the cold water.

“Do you have any idea how long it took me to get these on?” Caleb asked the kitsune, who went, Yip yip! “Fine. To your left,” he offered. Part of her spitefully wanted to disobey him, but figured his father’s sword was important. “How’s the water?”

“Refreshing,” she called back, but paused when she got to about her navel. She didn’t think it was that deep. “Tell me this lake doesn’t have an overabundance of leeches.”

“I’ll help you pick them off,” Caleb offered.

“You’re very kind,” she told him. The water was murky and dark, she couldn’t see his sword so she felt around with her feet and finding it, resigned herself to the dive. Thankfully, she got the sword on her first attempt, and she brought it backup tip first.

Caleb had waded out anyway, but really had only gotten to his knees. He also looked at her with wide eyes, kind of like an idiot for a half-second. “What?” she asked, wading towards him, offering him the sword. “Go on, take it—make sure I didn’t find someone else’s sword.”

Caleb hesitated, but upon grasping the handle unsheathed it, then cast a glare back at the kitsune, who put a paw to his nose and stuck out his tongue. “You’re not a kitsune or a mermaid, are you?” he asked eventually.

Lily couldn’t stifle a guffaw. “You see a tail or scales?” she asked, brushing her hair behind her ears.

“Sounds like something a lake monster would say,” he said with just a hint of teasing.

She flicked water at him, but the way the way the water and sunlight reflected off the blade, she noticed engraving. “It’s got an inscription?”

He held it so she could read it. “Old language. Means ‘Do not unsheathe me without reason, do not wield me without valour.’ Hey, you got a little leech, right—” Caleb gestured to his own neck.

“Waaah!” Lily panicked and fell backwards, and upon getting up, seeing him chuckling and realizing it was a ruse, reached for the sword. “Give me that! Boscoe didn’t get it in far enough.” He had longer strides so she had to settle for splashing him.

About the Author: L.T. Getty is a Manitoba Paramedic. She received her degree in English in 2006 from the University of Winnipeg, and has gone on to write several novels. Her latest title, Titan’s Ascent, is a sword and sorcery forthcoming from Champagne Books for 2025.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479207.L_T_Getty
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/getty_lt
Blog: http://www.ltgetty.ca
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leiagetty

Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/Fable-Wood-String-Getty-ebook/dp/B0DDDQZ2LF
Amazon (Canada): https://www.amazon.ca/Fable-Wood-String-L-Getty/dp/1777698073
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/it/it/ebook/a-fable-of-wood-and-string
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-fable-of-wood-and-string-l-t-getty/1145983492

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Where is Love? by Annie Caboose

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Annie Caboose will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

While walking in the garden one day, Annie, a curious little ant from Hillsville, meets a single poppy flower called Love. They become instant friends, sharing stories, laughing and talking for hours on end. Then one autumn day Annie goes to visit Love, but Love is not there. Remembering the rhyme that Love told her, she sets off on an adventure to find Love.

Love is with you every day.
Love is never far away.
Go search, go find and then you’ll see
All the places Love can be.

But don’t forget to look within
For often, that’s where Love begins.

May Annie’s story inspire anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved being, to look and perhaps still find them within their lives and within themselves.

Read an Excerpt

About the Author:

Annie, a.k.a. the Caboose, is the youngest of nine children. Her loving mother read her lots of children’s stories, including some she wrote herself. Inspired by her mom, Annie wrote her first book, Where is Love? She resides on a lake in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, fascinated by the many birds that live there too.

Website: https://anniecaboose.com
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4MLCYGf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniecaboose/

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Mindcraft by Darryl Vidal

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darryl Vidal will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

On the eve of the Global MindCraft Universe Challenge, Justin Turner, a teenage master of the titular virtual reality game, and his friends (known online as the Digital Mavericks) discover a sinister underbelly within the MindCraft Universe that may use artificial intelligence and virtual manipulation to end the world as we know it.

Read an Excerpt

The foray into EduNex’s Curriculum base unfolded like a treasure trove of knowledge, offering a profound depth of data and information across every conceivable discipline and subject. In the core of his academic pilgrimage lay a technological marvel that wove the fabric of education and technology into an academic spider’s web—EduNex. The school's Learning Management System stood as the bedrock of educational efficacy. A ubiquitous platform that boosts every student’s aptitude in every aspect of their learning experience.

EduNex wasn't just an LMS; it was an educational ecosystem that had become the standard across all schools in the state. Its influence extended far beyond the confines of a traditional learning management system. When Justin navigated its intuitive VR interface, he often found himself immersed in a world where every nuance of the learning process was invisibly aided. It wasn’t a cheating platform—more of a virtual world book encyclopedia—without the book.

The scope of EduNex was staggering. It served as the central repository for student information¬—a digital canvas where class syllabi, schedules, grades, and academic reports coexisted. But it went further, seamlessly integrating the intricacies of remote and hybrid learning. Voice and video conferencing brought the classroom to life, transcending physical boundaries and fostering an environment where learning knew no limits and no borders.

Everything on EduNex is collaborative. Whether with peer students, teachers, subject-matter-experts, researchers, or anyone else with an Internet connection—every module within the EduNex suite offered the ability to collaborate.

About the Author:

Darryl Vidal is an accomplished entrepreneur, author and education technology consultant with over 30 years of experience working with the largest school districts in Southern California. He is a futurist and fan of Artificial Intelligence, and an avid reader of the sciences, philosophy, and techno-thrillers.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information Management and a Master’s Degree (MA Ed) in Education (Instructional Technology) from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also published eight critically acclaimed books on Educational Technology, Ed Tech Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation, and has developed the formal strategic planning and project management methodology known as MapIT.

Darryl has been a student and teacher of the art of Kenpo Karate for over 50 years. He has been teaching Karate in Murrieta for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past 30+ years. He also founded and heads the Murrieta Stick Fighting Club (Filipino Martial Arts). This has led to him earning the highest honor given in martial arts when he was promoted to Grandmaster - Ju Dan, 10th Degree Black Belt in 2012.

He is widely known for his appearance in 1984’s The Karate Kid, playing himself in the tournament semi-finals, as well as acting as a stunt-double for Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi). He is also credited with inventing the iconic Crane Kick.

MindCraft: The Educational Singularity is Darryl’s second novel in over twenty years and his first science fiction endeavor.

Main Book Page: https://whimsillusion.com/bookshelf/buy-mindcraft-the-educational-singularity
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/MindCraft-Educational-Singularity-Darryl-Vidal-ebook/dp/B0DHHLHLTC
Hard Cover: https://whimsillusion.com/mindcraft-the-educational-singularity-hard-cover/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vidal.k.karate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockbreakerboy

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Curveballs by Gail Taylor

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Taylor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Here you are on the brink of a journey all about self-discovery and chasing dreams. With personal stories and tools that shaped the author's path, she focuses on embracing authenticity. You'll explore how living with purpose and passion is achievable. This personal-growth book combines cutting-edge technology and music interaction, reflecting the author's belief that music can transform and positively impact individuals and communities.

Read an Excerpt

If we could look through the ideas swimming around in virtually any person’s head, we would likely find a few limiting beliefs. We can all relate to harbouring these self-defeating thoughts; however, you could build awareness around where limiting beliefs show up for you, and remove them from your mind like gardeners remove weeds from their cherished crops.

Before we talk more about defeating the beliefs that hold you back in life, we will define “limiting beliefs.” First, the adjective “limiting” is not one you would want to use frequently if you are striving to become your best self. We can focus on perceiving our possibilities and abilities as having few limits. The second word, “beliefs,” is also important to consider. We are not talking about facts when we discuss limiting beliefs. They are not necessarily logic or fact-based thoughts, such as two plus two equals four. Beliefs, limited or not, are simply ideas you have based on your past experiences. Unfortunately, they can manifest as a thought or state of mind that you think is the absolute truth and that is what can stop you from doing certain things. They can also be formed by well-meaning people trying to protect you from hurt or embarrassment.

Limiting beliefs are something you might have adopted at an early age, accepting them as facts. You didn’t do well on a math test so decided you couldn’t work with numbers . . . ever. Nerves got the best of you during a class presentation, so you avoided public speaking for the next three decades. A Grade 3 music teacher told you you couldn’t sing, so you never sang again. This is NOT cool, but I actually met a young woman in vocal classes that experienced this, and she had a beautiful voice.

Obviously, beliefs can wield enormous power over your life. The people who have mastered the power of belief are the ones who have learned that self-fulfilling prophecies often manifest in their lives. This explains the optimistic nature of the predictions they make. I fit squarely into the optimist box, and I am constantly and affectionately informed by my husband, Harold, that I wear rose-coloured glasses. Heck, I sleep in them!

I came across this saying early in my journey: “If you think you can, you’re right, and if you think you can’t, you’re right.” How can both possibilities be true? Both possibilities consider the incredible influence your beliefs have over the outcomes. Limiting beliefs can have the power to shut down your dreams before you even start to chase them. The upside is that, once you learn to recognize these adverse beliefs, you can challenge them, which results in their losing their ability to interfere with your growth.

I have found over the years that people have limiting beliefs of various types. They tend to contain phrases like, “I cannot,” “I will never,” “There is no point in trying,” and “I tried that before and it didn’t work, so no use trying again.” They often grow stronger when they are allowed to take up permanent residence in your head. Repeated enough, they become part of you. I have one I’ll share. “I grew up in a family that had no desire for material goods, so I must be damaged for wanting a sports car or a luxury coat.” You can become so attached to these limiting beliefs that you feel threatened when something or someone challenges them.

Imagine your optimistic friend is encouraging you to go back to school (for my friends, the optimist would be me). “You would be great at operations management,” the friend says. “Think of everything you could do with that degree.”

About the Author: Gail Taylor, a Canadian songwriter, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author, is celebrated for inspiring others to take charge of their lives. With forty years of studying personal growth and peak performance, she proves that designing your own life is possible, regardless of your beginnings. Her expertise has made her a sought-after guest on numerous podcasts.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curveballs-Unlocking-Potential-Personal-Inspirational/dp/1779622015/ref=sr_1_1

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Our Global Crisis by Brian D. McLean

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Modern society has reached a critical juncture in its existence. Like past civilizations ours has reached a point where its future is far from certain, with its decline, or even collapse, being distinct possibilities.

The Incas, the Mayans, the Romans, the Rapanui, and many others, had seemingly successful societies, yet collapsed when faced with challenges that threatened their continued existence.

Are we to suffer the same fate? What could possibly cause our downfall?

Climate change and environmental issues? Perhaps. It is now almost a certainty that these events are destined to inflict catastrophic damage to our global society. Our coastal cities and island nations, as well as our global economy and agricultural output, will be irreparably damaged. Many of Earth's species, as well as the lives of many millions of people, will be displaced or lost forever.

Such a fate may still be averted, but that opportunity has largely passed. Even if we are able to correct the climatic and environmental issues threatening our society, we must still recognize and address the ultimate source of our problems. For if we fail, a far worse fate potentially awaits us.

Our Global Crisis is an eye opening look at the common weakness shared by societies and civilizations both past and present. But analysis of the problem alone will not solve the global crisis we now face. Thus, the final chapter is dedicated to the simple, yet critical solutions, necessary for our very survival.

Read an Excerpt

Humanity faces an uncertain future. For although we are the product of a great multitude of evolutionary “improvements,” we are nevertheless imperfect. Through the millennia, our shortcomings have contributed to the setbacks and failures of many peoples, cultures, even past civilizations, and they continue to do so. Even today, the future stability and continuance of our global socioeconomic society is not guaranteed. Climate change, environmental degradation, ongoing political and religious tension and violence, and other damaging and contentious issues not only have the potential to destabilize our global society, but if left uncorrected, may precipitate its eventual collapse. The most troubling aspect of this growing possibility is that each of us would ultimately be responsible for its occurrence.

Despite the advanced level of development attained by our species relative to others on Earth, inherent weaknesses in our nature still persist, and it is those weaknesses that each of us must overcome if we are to survive and evolve beyond our current limitations. If we can come to accept who we are and appreciate our weaknesses as well as our strengths, then we may be able to rise above our imperfections. In doing so, the possibility exists that our species may once again find its rightful place within nature and restore balance to the biosphere.

The purpose of Our Global Crisis is to guide us in this direction, to help us better understand who we are as a species, and to allow each of us to come to terms with our inner wants and desires, our strengths, and our weaknesses.

About the Author: Brian McLean, ART, is a former Medical Laboratory Technologist and Information Systems Specialist. Drawn by his passion for the outdoors, he shifted from a successful career to spend nearly two decades working for a family run orchard business. A passionate conservationist and environmentalist, Brian is also a keen observer of human nature and humanity's interaction with the biosphere. Based on those observations, he has been meticulously compiling and crafting Our Global Crisis over the last 22 years. Currently, he is working to restore riparian and temperate forest ecosystems affected by clearcut forestry practices, and when he needs to decompress, he spends time under the stars delving into his other passion, astrophotography.

Website: https://briandmclean.com
Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/0993607225
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Superficial by Diane Billas

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

I first started off writing adult fiction, but as I was querying my now shelved book, I was reading a ton of YA books, and it got me thinking, what if I tried my hand at writing my own YA book? I personally love reading YA because I never read them in high school, so I think I am making up for lost time. When I was growing up, I couldn’t see myself on the page of any books I read; now there are so many great YA books that I can’t help but want to read them.

I always say that I write the books I wished I could have read in high school, which means I write books with queer characters. I feel like if I had more queer books available to me growing up, I might have understood myself a little bit more and not felt so alone. I hope my books help others feel seen.

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside?

You’ll see Marvel posters and postcards of places that she wants to travel. She’s from a tiny town in Ohio and wants to see the world. You’ll also see a flyer for UCLA, where she’s going to college to become an archivist.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

I was an avid reader but read adult books, mainly murder mysteries. I loved trying to figure out how the books all wrapped up and was really proud of myself when I figured out who was the killer.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I love almost all sweet treats but if I have to pick one, I’ll say ice cream. Whenever I received a particularly hard rejection when I was querying, I’d treat myself to some ice cream and when I finished revisions on SUPERFICIAL, I went to this fancy ice cream place and got myself their cookie monster ice cream with lots of extra Oreos added in.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

I had many dream jobs besides being an author, but the one that stuck around the longest was I wanted to be a librarian. I loved books so much that it was enticing to work around them every single day. Even though I didn’t become a librarian, I still love libraries, so much so I became a member of my local library’s board.


What would you write in a letter to your teen self?

It’s okay to not know who you are yet. It will take some time to figure it out and to give yourself the time and space to do so. I’d also explain to my teenage self what bisexual/pansexual means because I never even heard of the term bisexual until college. I feel like if I knew the term sooner, I might have recognized that’s how I identify. Same thing goes with demisexual. I only recently learned of the term and a light bulb moment went off for me. It made sense why many of my dates never worked out.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

This is something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since I love superheroes so much. I would have to go with flying. I hate driving so it would be great to be able to just fly wherever I go, although I would have to get over my fear of heights first…

What book is on your nightstand currently?

I’m reading the book Love Immortal by Kit Vincent. It has gay vampires, and it’s set at a college in Vermont. It’s the perfect fall read!

Ideal summer vacation.

Going to the beach or lake would be my ideal summer vacation. Somewhere I can swim and lie in the sun and read tons of books! I also get inspired by the water, so I’d be sure to bring a notebook to jot down any ideas and to write some lines if I feel like it. I try to not do too much writing on vacation, since it is vacation, but it’s hard not to when an idea sneaks into my brain.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why?

Jake Johnson, also known as The Amazing Boy. He has many superpowers, including super strength, is fire resistant, and can see through buildings, so they could come in handy, especially the super strength! He could help get materials that we need to build some sort of life raft to escape our island.

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea's friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Read an Excerpt

I’ve been trained for situations like this when I’m stuck with a civilian during a mission. I’m supposed to keep playing The Amazing Boy, clear her memory, and continue along like nothing’s happened, but this time everything is different. The Agent is nowhere to be found to give me a mission report and he’s usually the one who takes care of the memories. I need all the help I can get right now, but I don’t know how much this girl can actually support me. She’s already tripped over a clearly marked extension cord.

That’s when we hear it. The kind of boom where your ears continue to ring minutes after it sounds. Even the floor keeps vibrating.

“This must’ve been the diversion. Come on, people might need saving,” I say, grabbing Lea’s hand. And now I really need to go be The Amazing Boy.

She’s in some sort of trance but once I grab her hand, she wakes up from wherever her brain was living.

“What’s happening, Jake? Are we in a movie right now?” If she thinks that, I’m not going to say otherwise, because she’s not wrong, she just doesn’t realize that it’s different from how other movies are made.

“This is going to sound crazy, but we need to go to wherever that boom occurred and see if there is anything we can do. I can’t explain everything to you but please trust me. I know things seem out of sorts right now and I’m being a completely different person, but I ask you this, if your life was in danger, would you trust The Amazing Boy?” I ask, looking Lea square in the face.

Her baby blue eyes stare right back at me, full of terror.

“Like if The Amazing Boy was real? Absolutely.”

“Okay, just keep holding onto that thought and follow me.”

About the Author:

Diane Billas currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn or piano, or dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit.

Does Love Always Win? is her debut novel, which released June 2023 from Creative James Media. This book was drawn from Diane’s personal experiences as a queer individual who has struggled throughout life being comfortable identifying and expressing herself. Diane wrote the book she wished was available to her when she was in high school.

Website: https://dianebillas.com
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Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Superficial-Diane-Billas-ebook/dp/B0D92WFJ8Q/ref=sr_1_1

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