One of the Most Expensive, Iconic and Kinetic Maps of Australia in the World by Jose Tugaff Amoloria and Lourdes Villena Amoloria

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Dream without fear. When dreams are nourished with faith and actions, dreams bloom into realities.

Jose, a self-taught artist, had no formal training in art, no scholastic qualifications and had very challenging life experiences as an international sailor, chef, watchmaker and stone mason. How can one be multi-skilled and pass international standards without proper educational training?

This book will make you rethink how adversity, grief and loss can cause so much pain, and yet these life challenges can facilitate creativity, and be transformed into gifts and blessings for a meaningful and productive existence.

Get inspired by faith and determination that changed the course of life, and be entertained by the unconventional ways Jose educated and equipped himself with skills to achieve dreams and goals. The one-of-a-kind masterpieces in this book and Jose's life are testimonials that creativity can really transform lives. Miracles do happen, and anyone can manifest miracles if they sincerely believe in themselves and in the intervention of the unseen power of the Supreme Creator.

Read an Excerpt

Creativity means many things to many people, but the most common understanding is that creativity happens when someone creates something unique, new, artistic, beautiful and often valuable, an enhancer to our lives. No doubt, creativity is one great way to win in life’s arena of challenges.

The reality is people have different kinds of creativity, and children can be very creative as they do not know the limitations of their imagination. There are adults, too, who are determined to create what has never been done before, hence perhaps Einstein’s famous quote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will be to know and understand.”

Jose’s creativity started to manifest when his father encouraged him to make his own toys out of some spare watch parts and other odd pieces he had kept. His school projects were also a great outlet for his growing creativity. Nonetheless, this creative influence almost got lost when he had to deal with his mom’s passing and pursue his own life travelling around the world as a sailor.

About the Authors:

Jose Tugaff Amoloria is a man of multi-talents and skills. He is a professional watchmaker who had mastered most phases of watches: mechanical, automatic, quartz technology and modern watches. He created one-of-a-kind kinetic masterpieces made of collectible time pieces and watch parts, enhanced with microlights. He became a chef, and was personally taught a French masterchef's family secret of French liquored ice cream.

Jose mastered stone masonry in record time. His experience in watch repair helped him to gain a feather touch to accomplish his masonry works. He is also an avid martial art practitioner of arnis, a Filipino martial art, and he is also a second-dan black belt in Karate, with a champion's trophy to prove it. With so many other skills and abilities, Jose thanks God for the gifts and talents given to him.

Email: jjamoloria@gmail.com

Lourdes Villena Amoloria is an Amazon international best-selling author for her book Kiss From an Angel: How to Turn Your Grief Into a Gift From Heaven, published in Sydney, Australia, 2014.

Lourdes holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications from La Salle, Bacolod City, Philippines, with a post graduate in counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology in Sydney, Australia.

Lourdes is on a mission to help others find the gift behind their grief, help with mental health issues, and live more productive lives with faith, self-responsibility and love in action.

Email: lourdesvillenaamoloria@gmail.com

WEBSITE: https://lourdesvillenaamoloria.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mylifemypricelessmasterpiece
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lourdes-villena-amoloria-b92025a2/?originalSubdomain=au
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Our Lives in Between by Billie Kowalewski

 This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What group did you hang out with in high school?
The metal heads. I had a lot of fun in high school.

What are you passionate about these days?
Besides writing? I am starting to get into gardening, and I have a ton of landscape ideas.

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. It was fun.

Ebook or print? And why?
Both. Printed books are great. They always work and never need charging or batteries. Ebooks are convenient. You can load them onto your phone and sneak in a little reading anywhere. Like at school or at work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that.

What is your favorite scene in this book?
I love when Harmony and Kaleb are arguing. Those scenes were fun to write. My favorite part is one of their past lives when they are on the ship.

It had been five years since the accident that derailed Veronica’s life, which left her suffering from a strange flu-like illness ever since. Thanks to a barrier set in her mind at birth, she can’t remember her name is Harmony and that this is not her real life. She has no memory of the many lives she had lived before this one and how several of those lives had been cut short. How she must uncover the reason why those lives had ended so early, and how this moment may hold the key, or she risks losing herself and Earth forever.

As Harmony, she wants to uncover the reason why her lives keep ending so soon. As Veronica, she wonders how much longer she has to live like this? What could possibly be left for her? Little did she know, she was about to get her answers...

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The next few lives on Earth were more of the same thing. Kaleb and I would concentrate on finding each other before we would leave here. Then, after some years would pass on Earth, we would. Not once did we miss. Every first greeting was basically the same. The second we would get close enough to each other down there, that’s when the acrobatics would start. We would slam right into each other, bump our heads together, tripping and flipping over one another every single time. Always somehow causing one of us—mainly me—if not both of us, to die.

No matter how far apart they placed us on Earth, Kaleb and I would find each other. It was my guess that using my theory made us like magnets—accident magnets, as Gwen so kindly put it. We were hurdling toward each other like comets at light speed, coming at each other so fast that we were literally crashing into each other. We gave a new meaning to the phrase “bumping into each other” because we actually were.

It’s a unique feeling, being on this end of this odd little situation. I had been shoved out a second-story window, and then was lucky enough to snap my neck and be trampled by a horse I had spooked once when I hit the ground. In the next life, I was rolled onto a very highly active beehive and then stung to death (no, I am not kidding). Then, imagine the surprise I felt in the life after that one, when a certain someone was running with a wallet he had stolen, and then shoved us both off a train platform into the path of an oncoming train. I still don’t know if that person ever got their wallet back.

I am sure all of this must seem rather disturbing from where you are sitting. I know I would certainly feel that way if I were reading this from where you are. It’s quite an interesting perspective for me, being here, right now, knowing all that I do, versus being on Earth and having the limited knowledge that we were allowed. It really turns things around and sheds a different light on it—don’t you think?

With the knowledge of home blocked from our memory, life and death can seem so absolute from the human perspective. Death seems final, bringing with it fear of the unknown, and such anguish to the ones that are left behind.

You know what they say: hindsight is always 20/20. Imagine what Earth would be like if this knowledge weren’t blocked from our memory. It would certainly change the way we view our lives while we are there. Naturally, if some were armed with this knowledge, they would be much more adventurous, never taking their life seriously enough to truly learn anything. Life on Earth would take on less meaning. Then again, perhaps knowing our lives do go on would help some to live their life with less fear and appreciate their time there. Maybe they would strive to be better because they know. Isn’t having a little knowledge better than no knowledge at all? Something is better than nothing, isn’t it? To be able to utilize this knowledge might help propel us forward and help us gain a sense of purpose. If only there were a way to leak some of this knowledge somehow…

About the Author:

Billie Kowalewski grew up in a small town along the Connecticut shoreline. She’s always had a wild imagination and spent her childhood dreaming up stories. This would often lead her to the library or whatever bookstore where she would be combing the shelves for books that closely resembled what was in her head at the time. A lot of the time she would come close and would be satisfied with what she found. However, there was always this one story she could never find. It was in 2010 that she decided to write it herself. In whatever spare time she has left, she enjoys listening to pretty much anything that rocks, like 80's hair bands, metal, etc. She also has a gift for finding the strangest movies and shows ever (according to her children) and loves spending time with her family.

iTunes: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1212458275
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/our-lives-in-between
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143953733?ean=9781535604505
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=WMrREAAAQBAJ
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG3PFJKD

My Socials: https://www.billiekowalewski.com
https://www.instagram.com/kowalewskibillie
https://www.youtube.com/@billiekowalewski9288
https://www.facebook.com/authorbilliek
https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedbookofficialpage
https://www.twitter.com/enlightened31
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/billie-kowalewski
https://www.goodreads.com/harmony31
https://www.tiktok.com/@billiekowalewski3

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I Think It Might Rain by Rick Marchand

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rick Marchand will award a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Meet Bartholomew, a curious, kind and sweet third grader. One day, Bartholomew wakes up and is convinced he sees a black cloud forming in the clear blue sky. "I think it might rain," he proclaims. But what happens when his family, friends, and classmates don't believe him? Will he be able to stand up to the bullies who call him names? Will he hold firm in his beliefs?

Read an Excerpt

IMAGINE the look of surprise on his mom’s face, EYES WIDE OPEN, her MOUTH and JAW nearly touching the floor. “Where do you think you’re going, young man, dressed like that?” she asked.

“To school of course,” Bart replied, quickly adding, “I think it might rain.”

“Mommy, can I wear my rain suit too?” his little sister Olivia asked.

“Not today. The sun is shining, and the weatherman said there is no rain in sight,” replied Mommy firmly.

“He’s wrong!” shouted Bartholomew in a stern and confident voice. “I think it might rain.”

“If you want to be the only silly one on the bus dressed in rain gear, go right ahead,” Mom replied, her eyes raised and a loving smile gracing her face.

Grabbing his lunch with one hand and little Olivia’s hand with the other, Bart strolled confidently down to the end of the driveway to wait for the bus.

About the Author: Richard Marchand and Nicole Herbut are a father/daughter, grandfather/mother, author/illustrator team creating picture books for young boys and girls. Their stories centre on a young boy named Bartholomew and his family and friends. They are designed to convey a simple yet meaningful message that can help young children learn from and grow with. Rick's stories were developed with his own daughters who at a very young age wanted him to "read a story from his mouth" and not a book. Buy the book at Amazon, Indigo Chapters, Barnes and Noble, Booktopia, or Walmart. Join Bartholomew's journey of belief and courage! Enter to win a e-copy of 'I Think It Might Rain'—a heartwarming tale of kindness overcoming doubt.

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I Think It Might Rain

by Rick Marchand

Giveaway ends May 20, 2024.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph by Ari Rosenschein

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ari Rosenschein will be awarding a signed paperback copy of Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph (US only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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

There is so much room in the YA genre for creativity in terms of structure, multiple POVs, and settings. But at heart, the raw power of YA fiction is a major pull for me. I live for adrenaline and emotional upheavals, and this type of writing has that in ample supply. As a writer, you get to push your characters to their limits.

I also adore how the teenage mind works, how it lives in thrall to impulse and crazy notions. In many ways, I feel I’ve never grown out of that way of being. When writing YA fiction, I get to relive elements of my teenage years and experience them differently. Now, with distance, I can see things from multiple perspectives. The parents aren’t all bad, and the bad kids are often the ones with the answers.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

I was obsessed with realistic fiction by writers like Judy Blume and Norma Klein. These authors could see inside my heart and wrote about teenage characters with such empathy and grace. Both were truly ahead of their time. I also loved the gritty work of S.E. Hinton and Lois Duncan’s eerie novels. I can still picture Duncan’s spooky novels on the spinning racks at my local library. Their covers seemed to attract me like a magnet, adding to their creepy allure.

Favorite class in high school. Why?

Theater was, without a doubt, my favorite class in high school. I had some extraordinary English teachers and read powerful books, but acting lit my fire. I remember doing a production of an odd play called The Ground Zero Club in which I played Sal, who the play database calls an “over-the-hill punk rocker.” The whole story takes place on the Empire State Building observation deck fifteen minutes before nuclear annihilation. How ’80s is that?

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

Without question, I would love the ability to turn back time and visit periods in the past. Not only could I see what my current home looked like in 1926, but I could go and check out all the vintage OP I wore to school. In all seriousness, I’m fascinated by the past and think it would be unimaginably cool to experience a few nights of the Roaring Twenties or the Summer of Love, then hustle back to the present for some Instagram scrolling and an Impossible Burger.

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

In a letter to my teen self, I’d be sure to lead by bolstering my confidence. I’d tell Young Ari to relax and realize that you will accomplish your dreams. Then I’d remind him to keep practicing his guitar and start singing earlier, to never worry about what others think of him, to treat school like a sacred privilege, to save money, to listen to his parents ’cus they are cool as hell, and to trust in his own vision.

It’s the late ’90s—the final days before smartphones and the internet changed the teenage landscape forever. Zack and his mother have moved from Tempe to Berkeley for a fresh start, leaving behind Zack’s father after a painful divorce. A natural athlete, Zack makes the water polo team which equals social acceptance at his new school. Yet he’s more drawn to Matthias, a rebellious skater on the fringes, who introduces him to punk rock, record stores, and the legendary Telegraph Avenue.

As their friendship intensifies, Matthias’s behavior reminds Zack of his absent dad, driving a wedge between him and his mother. Complicating matters is Zaylee, a senior who boosts Zack’s confidence but makes him question his new buddy, Matthias. Faced with all these changes, Zack learns that when life gets messy, he might have to become his own best friend.

Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph is about how a friendship can challenge who we are, how we fit in, and where we’re going.

Read an Excerpt

We spend the rest of the afternoon messing around on Telegraph. I even take a brief spin on Matthias’s skateboard as a joke. I’ve got decent balance from wrestling, so I make it a whole city block. I kick the deck when I disembark, imitating how I’ve watched Matthias do it.

“Not bad, Dr. Z. Not bad at all.”

Like I said, I pick up athletic stuff fast.

And it turns out Anthony the gutter punk isn’t the only character Matthias knows. Every few feet, we run into a grommet, a punk, and even normal kids from school, all falling over themselves to praise Matthias for his skating.

He’s a star, and with my build, I feel like a personal bodyguard, someone cool and important.

It’s going great until I see a street clock. “I’m supposed to meet my mom back on campus at three.”

“Or what, you turn into a pumpkin?”

“No, it’s just—”

“I’m joking, Dr. Z.” Matthias pulls me in for a hug and I stiffen. I guess I’m not used to that kind of contact outside of sports.

“Do your thing,” he says. “But make sure to listen to both those CDs tonight. That’s your homework.”

“You know I will. See you at lunch on Monday.”

On my jog back, I pass the same funky boutiques and eateries, the bag with my poster and contraband whacking my side in rhythm with my breath. I’m no longer worried about the CD heist or the awkward hug. That unfamiliar contentment from this morning is back. I feel alive.

About the Author:

Ari Rosenschein is a Seattle-based author who grew up in the Bay Area. Books and records were a source of childhood solace, leading Ari to a teaching career and decades of writing, recording, and performing music. Along the way, he earned a Grammy shortlist spot, landed film and TV placements, and co-wrote the 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year.

In his writing, Ari combines these twin passions. Coasting, his debut short story collection, was praised by Newfound Journal as “introducing us to new West Coast archetypes who follow the tradition of California Dreaming into the 21st century.” Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph (Fire & Ice YA) is his first young adult novel.

Website: https://arirosenschein.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arirosenschein
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arirosenschein/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arirosenschein

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYQKNBKQ

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