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Thursday, May 30, 2024

One of the Most Expensive, Iconic and Kinetic Maps of Australia in the World by Jose Tugaff Amoloria and Lourdes Villena Amoloria - Book Tour - Book Blast - TWO Giveaways!! - Enter Daily!!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will award a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) 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.
EXCERPT TWO:

Some of the art pieces were highlighted with microlights when photographed. The results were beyond expectations— almost miraculous!—as Jose does not have any significant artistic talents or training nor did he have prior plans to create these artworks. He did not even have prototypes and didn’t even know how to draw. He was diagnosed as colour blind for most colours (except for traffic lights), so he asked Lourdes to help with the colours for the installation of the right microlights.

One of the Most Expensive, Iconic and Kinetic Maps of Australia in the World The artwork’s designs were dictated by his dreams and imagination. Jose made use of his technical discoveries in watch repair and electronics to revive old timepieces and make them functional again. He used trashed spare parts and old pieces of jewellery to create one-of-a-kind treasured masterpieces. Jose humbly admits that the ideas and successful effort behind these creations did not come from him but from the Supreme Being, whom many of us call God. He also believes in the transformative power of love and support that comes from those who truly love, wish and pray for his well-being and success.

His greatest realization is that to connect with the Supreme Creator, the Master Artist of the Universe, all he must do is pray to God as the most trusted Being. The nearest distance to be heard and make dreams manifest is between his knees and the floor. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. It is his life goal to help others realise the value of dreams, the need to act on them without fear and to fully trust God to guide them in their life journey no matter how difficult challenges can be.

AUTHOR BIOS:
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.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Kissing Asphalt by Delicia Niami - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Kissing Asphalt
by Delicia Niami

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GENRE:  Memoir

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BOOK BLURB:

Resilience isn’t inherited. It’s a hard-fought skill forged by our ability to pick up the broken pieces of our past and remake them into something new.

Meet four-year-old Delicia, a poor but carefree child who is about to have her world shattered. Along with her seven-year-old brother Nile, she is kidnapped from her Los Angeles home by her estranged father and taken to Iraq, a foreign world she has never known. This is just the beginning of a string of traumas, hardships, and assaults Delicia will endure throughout her tumultuous childhood.

Now an adult living back in California, Delicia Niami bravely recounts how she survived the unimaginable in her debut memoir. Kissing Asphalt, the first in her memoir trilogy, ResilientAF, grapples with the power of resilience, acceptance, and self-love. She revisits her terrifying past with vulnerability, compassion, and the honesty of a true survivor. Hold hands with Delicia as she faces her childhood scars and learns how to confront her fears, accept her true value and identity, and embrace her unique gifts. It’s a multi-decade roller coaster ride that is the beginning of her liberation, propelling her to live an inspired life and embrace her full human potential—a human potential she knows lives inside everyone, no matter what life has thrown at us.

For anyone who has struggled with childhood trauma, Delicia’s unflinching journey through darkness and back to light will resonate. She has decided to share her story publicly in hopes that it will serve as a guide to the many who have suffered in silence and continue to struggle against the daunting weight imposed by childhood trauma.

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EXCERPT ONE:

It was a sunny day in Arleta, California. A layer of smog covered the sky, giving it the most illustrious orange hue. My brother and I were anxiously awaiting our five-day Easter vacation with our father. Our parents were going through a tumultuous divorce and had been separated for about a year at this point. I felt extremely sad because I never got to see my “dad.” I thought it odd that he cut all ties with our family, especially his own children. At only four years of age, I couldn’t understand the concept of a father wanting nothing to do with his kids. Imagine the excitement my brother, who was seven at the time, and I felt after almost a year of not seeing him. Now we were going to get to spend five whole days for Easter with our “dad.”

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GUEST POST:

Writing This Book Has Taught Me…

Thanks for the opportunity to be on your blog and share my story. I never dreamed that writing my memoir would have such a profound impact on my life. I learned many things along the way.

First, there were things I learned about my abduction that I never knew. Following my mother's murder, I acquired a binder containing various documents. In it I found receipts, letters, handwritten phone messages from FBI agents (remember the “while you were out” pads?) amongst other various paperwork. My mother lost all rights to us the moment our father got us onto Iraqi soil. She knew she had to involve whomever she could the minute that she realized we had been taken.

This binder evoked many emotions in me. It demonstrated the immense effort my mother put into getting us back, even resorting to threatening suicide in a letter to him, which ultimately convinced him to allow us to return home. That, along with the fact that she agreed to give him anything he wanted, including not pressing charges for kidnapping. Once he returned to the states, I didn’t hear from him again until I was 35.

Writing this book made me realize that I was actually a victim of abuse. I never considered myself abused. Even after I wrote Kissing Asphalt. I changed the original subtitle after my distributor suggested using the word “abuse.” Initially, I felt confused, but upon reflection, I came to the realization that I had experienced abuse in numerous ways. I knew I had been sexually molested, but I wasn't aware of the physical, emotional, and mostly verbal abuse I endured as a child. When you are a kid, you only know what your world is and if screaming and yelling is the normal in your house, that seems standard. You don’t know what you don’t know….

Along the same lines, I realized that my brother, Nile, had frequently subjected me to verbal abuse as an adult as well as throughout my life. Writing this book allowed me to see that I AM ResilientAF! I stood up to him and even stopped speaking with him for some time. Now if he screams at me or calls me names, I don’t take it. He's aware of it now and has been more respectful since I asserted myself.

This story taught me that my life was filled with trauma and abuse, yet I triumphed. Not only did I overcome, but I am a well-adjusted, happy person. That is why I wrote my story. I wanted to let people know that if I can get through my life, anyone can!

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AUTHOR BIO:


Delicia Niami is an acclaimed memoirist and LGBTQ+ advocate, whose raw and edgy storytelling has touched the hearts of readers worldwide. Residing in Santa Cruz and an alumna of UCSC, Delicia draws inspiration from her own journey of resilience and empowerment. Through her memoirs, she fearlessly addresses topics such as sexual abuse, trauma recovery, and the importance of self-compassion. Delicia's work not only sheds light on difficult experiences but also empowers others to find their voices and embrace their own resilience. Her passion for advocacy shines through in her writing, making her a powerful voice for change and healing in today's world.

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Delicia will award a randomly drawn winner a signed special edition copy of the featured book, "Kissing Asphalt," via Rafflecopter during the tour.


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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Crossing Day by William A. Glass - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Crossing Day
by William A. Glass

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GENRE:   Young Adult / Alternate History

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BOOK BLURB:

It's been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird's drive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?

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EXCERPT THREE:

Melanie wanders into the dining room and finds her parents already seated at the table with their personal slaves standing behind them. Her mother, Dorothy, takes a sip of orange juice and replaces the glass on the lace tablecloth. Her servant, Natty, immediately gets a pitcher from the sideboard and refills the glass. Meanwhile, James is smiling at Melanie. “Morning, Miss,” he says. The white-haired Black man pulls out her chair. Once she’s seated, he spreads a cloth napkin over her lap.

“What was all the ruckus at Jaybird’s last night?” Dan Montgomery asks. He’s the mayor of Huntsville and knows everything.

“A German boy started it,” Melanie says defensively.

“Yes, and his father already called me to complain. He’s a big wheel at The Space Flight Complex.”

“Sorry!”

Montgomery points to the syrup. His slave, Parker, reaches for it and then pours. “Enough,” Montgomery snaps. He turns back to Melanie. “You and all the others will have a week of detention.”

Melanie gasps. “What about cheerleading practice?”

“You should have thought of that before you went to the drive-in. That’s where all the delinquents hang out and you with them.”

“I won’t go anymore. Please.” Melanie bats her baby blues at her father. His expression melts. “Go to detention after school today, and maybe we’ll see about tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Montgomery cuts off a bite of pancake and pops it into his mouth. That reminds Melanie to eat as well. It’s almost time for the bus.

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GUEST POST:

World-building can be the most important element of your book.  What media outlets, role-models, and real-life inspirations did you draw from while writing this book?

Writing an adventure story can be just as much fun as reading one, especially if you have no idea where the story is going next as you write it. That was the case for me with Crossing Day. But one thing I knew at the start was the world I wanted to create for the setting. And yes, that’s the most important element of my book.

Crossing Day is set in present-day northern Alabama one hundred and sixty years after the Confederacy gained independence in the Civil War. The story follows a group of teenagers. Initially, it appears these kids live in a familiar world, doing things teenagers today would consider normal. They’re on their phones incessantly, texting, sharing videos, and keeping up with social media. Occasionally, they’ll put the device down for soccer practice or a game.

However, early on, it becomes clear their world is not normal. What are Nazis doing in positions of authority in Alabama? Could enslaving people of African descent still be happening in North America? Well, in Crossing Day, these things happen. The teenagers are not at all surprised to run into Nazis. Several have slaves working as servants at home. But then, the teenagers’ complacency is shattered by an occurrence that wakes them to the injustice around them. The narrative takes off from there.

I was inspired to create this world, where the Southern Confederacy still exists, by a desire to debunk the myths that persist in the South about the origin of the Civil War. I had already finished a draft of Crossing Day when Nikki Haley, a serious presidential candidate, tried to dance around the question of what caused the Civil War. I sympathized with her because I, too, was taught that the South seceded from the Union over the principle of state’s rights. Like Haley, I was taught that secession had nothing to do with slavery. It was only after extensive reading that I realized the primary Civil Right that the slaveholders of the South were interested in was the right to own human property. A right that was guaranteed to them in the US Constitution. 

Crossing Day is an action-packed adventure story written to be wildly entertaining. But the underlying message is that the Civil War was caused by the South’s determination not merely to maintain but to extend the institution of chattel slavery. My point is that we would still have slavery if the Confederacy had become an independent nation because of the Civil War.

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AUTHOR BIO:


Bill is a retired business executive who now lives in a small southern town with his wife, Bettina. She’s a retired high school German teacher. Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Often, Bettina, who has a commercial driver’s license, pilots the soccer team bus to away games.

Bettina and Bill have three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon who have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Instead of having an empty nest, Bettina and Bill now host three rescue dogs. They enjoy finding promising hiking trails to explore with their dogs.

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CONNECT WITH WILLIAM:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

William will award a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

No Good Deed by January Bain - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


No Good Deed
by January Bain

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GENRE:   Psychological Thriller

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BOOK BLURB:

A gripping tale where good deeds intertwine with hidden crimes and a quest for truth…

Katie Kelly finally has the career and house of her dreams, but it’s a life built on a shaky foundation. Everything she holds dear could be stripped away in a split-second if the truth were to become known and her secrets exposed. Her best friend, Sadie, is also involved in hiding the past. The pair have managed to move on since that day of reckoning that occurred when they were just teenagers, by helping others to escape bad situations.

When a young woman runs to Katie and begs for her help, Katie is compelled to come to her aid and hides her in a safe room, locked away from her abusive boyfriend.

But then the past rises up and threatens to derail her best efforts to help the young girl, exposing her and her best friend to the vulgarities of fate as the girl is discovered to have an unexpected agenda, harboring secrets of her own. Katie is left with few choices. With her entire life crashing down around her ears, she must act to save not only herself, but her dear friend as well. Can Katie stop the past from destroying all hopes for a future?

Discover the chilling consequences of one woman's altruism in the face of hidden crimes. Join Katie Kelly as she navigates the shadows of her past, compelled to make a choice that could change lives forever. Grab your copy now.

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EXCERPT TWO:

You’re supposed to forgive and forget.

If you asked most people, you do the hard work of forgiving to get rewarded with peace of mind. Forgiving them makes you a better person, helps set you free, yada yada.

I stopped fighting with the blasted wool that kept shredding under my twitchy fingers, throwing my current therapy project away from me with disgust. Counting stitches this morning to finish the crocheted afghan I’d promised my sister Rose had proved impossible. Normally, I enjoyed applying the skill my grandmother had taught me as a child, finding it relaxing. Not today.

What was going on across the street?

I lived in a small cul-de-sac of only a handful of homes, a much-coveted location with great neighbors and an even better view. I’d bought Riverbend, my dream home, when I first made it big in the gaming software industry. The spacious lot and acres of riverfront were hard to come by in a city, even a small city, a relic of another age when elegance won out over greed.

Riverbend was my sanctuary, especially since I’d become a single divorced woman living alone. The manor-style limestone house was so huge even the helpful real estate agent had tried to talk me out of buying it, what with its six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a swimming pool. Most people would think it far too large, but I loved it. One day every bedroom would be filled, they could mark my words. I’d been trying to get my sister Rose to move in with her children, but so far, no dice.

A ping on my cell phone riveted my attention away from the worry about the new neighbors and Rose’s situation, but spotting the number of my ex made me groan out loud.

Brad Bennett: Decided to take Andy on vaycay so you’re off the hook.

The happy face added at the end of the text was too much and I had to bite back the tears. The bastard. I had been counting on two weeks alone with my furry baby. The border cross collie had stolen my heart during our short-lived marriage. I missed Andy’s presence in my life more than my ex, ten to one.

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AUTHOR BIO:


January Bain is an award-winning author who firmly believes that stories unite us, that good stories help us to discover the commonality of the human experience by supporting values, empathy and understanding. She writes with her heart, mind, and soul, hoping that her novels will touch your life, giving you moments of freedom as you fly with her to other worlds.

Bain has had the pleasure of select novels being turned into games, and her work is also available in different languages.

January and her husband live in rural Canada on peaceful acreage where a variety of wildlife comes to visit regularly and expect to be fed and paid attention to.

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

January will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


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Toasted by Isobel Reed - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Isobel Reed will award a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Woodvalley Pines…where hunky firefighters save the day! It’s time to turn up the heat and hope this smokin’ hot fireman can control the blaze.

Libby hadn’t even been in Woodvalley Pines a day and she was already freaking out. Her kitchen had just set on fire. From toast of all things! That’s right, she was the victim of the elusive toaster fire. Yes, a toaster. Who knew they could just spontaneously burst into flames? She certainly didn’t. If that wasn’t enough to ruin her day, a swarm of hot firefighters seeing her in her pink pajamas would do it.

Zach tried his hardest not to laugh as the woman in the Disney pajamas accused him of keeping toaster fire safety a secret. He didn’t know where in the world this angry green-eyed princess had come from, but he had to admit that he was intrigued. After all, if she had this much passion when it came to talking toasters, what other kind of flames could he stoke in her?

Libby and Zach’s spark was instant, but will the fire burn out or can they keep the flames blazing?
EXCERPT TWO:

“You okay, ma’am? Neighbor reported he heard screaming.”

Oh sh**.

“Oh, yeah. There was screaming. I mean, yes, I did scream. But it was more like a release, y’know? Like, when you’re having a really sh**ty day and you scream into a pillow. It was kinda like that.” For the love of God, stop talking. “Anyway, yeah, I’m fine. All good. Hunky-dory.”

Hunky-dory? Really? And screaming into pillows? Way to embarrass yourself in front of the handsome firefighters. Are your Disney pajamas not enough humiliation for you? Do you want to detail your hair removal regime next?

Luckily, the other man decided not to comment. He simply nodded, for which Libby was grateful. Once he’d given Zach a quick update on the cause of the fire – that blasted toaster – he disappeared and left the two of them alone again.

Turns out, just the mention of the toaster was enough to bring back her rage.

“Did you know toasters just sometimes set on fire? When exactly did that become a thing? And why aren’t there more people talking about it?”

Zach incorrectly thought that clearing his throat would be enough to mask his snigger. “Uh, well, any old appliances can be a potential fire hazard. With toasters, a build-up of breadcrumbs can also act as fuel to the fire.”

“What the hell? I didn’t know that, Zach. Why didn’t I know that? Is this some big firefighter secret or something? ‘Cause I’m telling you right now, people need to know this! I’m thirty-one, Zach. Thirty-one! And never in my life would I have thought I could be making toast one day and then … boom! Fire! People need to be told. They need to know, damnit!”

Okay, it was safe to say this was not her finest moment. She was well aware ranting about toaster fires while sitting on the curb – in just her miniscule, bright pink shorts and vest top – was giving off batsh** crazy vibes. But she clearly just couldn’t help herself. Once she got a look at his expression, the crazy continued.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No, ma’am.”

“You are … you’re laughing at me!”

“Smiling. I’m smiling at you. There’s a big difference.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband, her son, and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

One Take Jake: Last Call by Jay Lang - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


One Take Jake:
Last Call
by Jay Lang

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GENRE:  Mystery

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BOOK BLURB:

Avenging the death of his sister, Lance, a once successful musician turned vigilante killer, has never denied his guilt…but knows now he could've handled things differently.

With dwindling hope after two years in the joint – and three life sentences ahead of him – Lance seizes his one opportunity for a life out of chains. With the help of loyal friends – straight-laced Reg and ex-druggie Jenny – Lance busts out of prison. He then begins his journey with Jenny to New York, where her street-wise Uncle Dusty will provide a safe hiding place, fake IDs, and a plan to get across the Mexican border.

However, it isn’t long before Jenny’s bad habits resurface, bringing heat on them both. They lose Dusty as an ally after he's tortured by gangsters over money Jenny had supposedly stolen. In a strange country with Feds and gangsters on his tail, Lance is forced to lead the rapidly deteriorating journey south.

Just above the Mexican border, the two are cornered at a motel, their chances of survival slim. Still, Lance has hope. That is, until he learns the awful truth – a truth that leaves him alone in his final, desperate fight for freedom.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Waking up in my six-by-eight cell this morning, I wasn’t sure if I’d have the balls to go through with it.

But with everything to gain and nothing to lose, I’d be a fool to pass up the one chance I have at freedom.

Strategy, patience, and timing are everything. There are always eyes watching, especially when you’re a convicted murderer.

* * *

The bell chimes for chow-time, but I stay in my bunk. It’s all part of the plan. A couple of bulls stroll past my door and casually glance at me, then continue on down the cell block.

I close my eyes and drift into the safe rooms of my mind. I’ve had this interesting riff playing on a loop in my head for weeks. I grin and tap my fingers on my chest.

The only rhythm in this soul-sucking institution is the hum of electricity that seeps from the industrial lighting overhead.

A sudden pain stabs my eyelids. In the arid chill of my cell, the headaches coupled with nosebleeds are a welcoming reminder that I can still feel.

I turn to the brick wall and use my imagination to draw another line, marking another day spent in this hell hole. I’ve managed to survive two years and a month toward my life sentence. Keeping track of time is like throwing stones into a bottomless pit and waiting to hear them hit bottom – they never do. Still, I refuse to accept that I’ll live out my days in this institution, watching my body rot and my soul be slowly absorbed into the cold cement walls to join the poor bastards who’ve succumbed before me.

I’ve only got one hat-trick. A one-off scheme that others have tried and failed at repeatedly. But I’m nothing like my fellow inmates. Granted, I butchered three people and left a hell of a mess – too sloppy. I was careless and made mistakes. But for the most part I’ve navigated life with logic and forethought; the same approach I’ll be using to execute my plan.

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AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Jay Lang grew up on the ocean, splitting her time between Read Island and Vancouver Island before moving to Vancouver to work as a TV, film and commercial actress. Eventually she left the industry for a quieter life. She fell in love with creative writing and spends her days hiking and drawing inspiration for her writing from nature.

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jay will be awarding a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


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Exiles by L. J. Ambrosio - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Welcome to the Launch Day Book Blast for Exiles, a Literary Fiction/Coming of Age by L. J. Ambrosio, organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!), an autographed copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly drawn winners. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.




In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

EXCERPT TWO:

Ron, weak in the legs from forgetting the spirit of his youth, had been managing bookstores more than living life. His legs pumped forward. but with the awkwardness of an old man who had forgotten how to walk. In a few seconds he was up to speed and ran faster to catch the thief.

Near the corner, Ron had missed his opportunity to slow and check for other people walking, so he slammed into a group of women. He especially blasted into an old lady whose groceries flew into the sky, and a yogurt splattered against a wall and the faces of the other women. She turned to condemn her assailant, but he was already on the next block in pursuit of the thief.

He spotted the thief at the Notre Dame Hotel, out of breath, leaning against a pillar. Surprised at the thief’s choice to stop here, he slowed down and let his feet pound the street into a halt.

Ron grabbed at him but still missed his shoulder.

“Give me the book back!” he said, very loudly.

The thief just shrugged his shoulder, a mocking smile. His smile made the act of chasing him through the streets feel silly, as if this were a game that had been played and he took it too seriously.

The thief looked at Ron and asked, sarcastically, “What language are you speaking?”

“What do you mean? I am speaking French!”

Our thief laughed, turned to a random man who walked down the street, and said, "This young man thinks he is speaking French Go ahead say something to this stranger; he will tell you are speaking some other language other than French!”

“I will call the police,” Ron said firmly.

AUTHOR BIO:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

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