America's Hero by Regan Taylor - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Regan Taylor and her new book, “America’s Hero,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card OR a Copy of the Featured Book, “America’s Hero,” for ONE lucky winner!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Regan and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

America's Hero

by Regan Taylor

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GENRE:  Paranormal

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BLURB:

After her F/A-18 crashes Marine Corps Major Cassie Winter embarks on a daring rescue saving both her life and that of her RIO. In the aftermath she returns to her ship and hottie actor, Austin Quinn learns of her story. Quinn is determined to tell Cassie's story with a slight twist -- he will be the hero instead of Cassie. When he arrives on her ship she wants nothing to do with him, but once she is ordered to take him on a flight something strange happens and they find themselves back in time. As they move forward to their own time and beyond the couple finds more than just adventure. He plays America's Hero, but she IS America's Hero.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Over the whop-whop of the rotors, the CH-46 rescue helicopter reported in to the aircraft carrier George Washington’s air controller. “Calvary 1 approaching LZ.”

“Copy your traffic, Calvary 1,” the controller responded, calm and in control. The voice of assurance coming over the air was heard clearly as the CH-46 approached what was designated as the landing zone, a place that was as safe as could be—given the circumstances.

Pilot Dawg Jameson scanned the area where the F/A-18 Hornet they were searching for had been downed two days earlier. If its pilot and weapons systems officer were alive, at a minimum, they’d be badly injured. He spotted a moving cloud of dust and identified three battered trucks, loaded with men who appeared to be carrying guns. The cloud moved toward the barely visible, scattered debris. No doubt they were also headed for the crash site. Most definitely not to effect a rescue but to take prisoners—if the crew were still alive.

“Calvary 1, Base, looks like company en route, counting three trucks filled with tangos. Request fast mover cover ASAP,” Dawg radioed in.

“Base copies, fast movers en route.”

“You see anything?” Dawg asked his co-pilot and crew.

“Nothing yet, Captain,” the co-pilot’s voice crackled over the headset.

Hovering over the crash site of the downed F/A-18 the crew of the CH-46 scanned the area. Major Cass Winter, aka, Snow White, had been shot down with Weapons System Officer Keith McDonald two days before and all the wingman could provide was a general location with two chutes deployed.

One of the embedded reporters on a passing helicopter sent out to check for survivors reported seeing what appeared to be one of the jet’s external tanks. Now, with tangos approaching from the east, the 46 either had to find the crewmen in the next few minutes or get out of Dodge fast. The thwuck of two COBRA attack helicopters initially sent as cover could be heard approaching, buying the rescue crew a few more precious minutes.

“Where the hell are those fast movers?” Jameson yelled as he set down the 46.

“There! I see something in that clump of whatever the heck that stuff is over there!” Lance Corporal Adamson called out.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Regan Taylor is originally Seaford, New York and now bucolic Marin County California. Published in both fiction and non-fiction she enjoys quiet days writing, reading with one of her cats on her lap and crocheting. She volunteers with Friends of Ferals in Marin County and considers the feral she cares for, OC, as one of her own. Her past careers include legal secretary, therapist and police dispatcher.

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CONNECT WITH REGAN:

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/MsReganTaylor

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/regan-taylor-d313aa4d-6b5c-452e-a70c-77cda676bb53

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/america-s-hero-by-regan-taylor

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1085063.Regan_Taylor

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60413200-america-s-hero

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3JBPFF1

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3tx5RBP

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09R5YT38B

Amazon UK Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09R5YT38B

Amazon AU Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09R5YT38B

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/americas-hero-regan-taylor/1017484270

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/america-s-hero-1

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/america-s-hero-1

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Regan will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card or a copy of the featured book, “America’s Hero,” to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

The Raven and the Pig by Lou Kemp - Book Tour - Book Trailer - THREE Guest Posts!!! - Giveaway - Enter Daily!!!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Lou Kemp and her new book, “The Raven and the Pig,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card; OR a Special Prize Pack that includes a Coffee Mug AND a Pen – BOTH items feature the book cover of today’s featured book; OR an eBook Copy of the featured book, “The Raven and the Pig,” Book Two in Lou’s latest book series!!  That’s right – there will be THREE lucky winners!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Lou and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

The Raven and the Pig

Book Two

by Lou Kemp

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GENRE:  Magical Realism

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BLURB:

Synopsis of The Raven and the Pig Book 2

As the music dies, the magician Celwyn is mortally wounded.  His darker, immortal brother Pelaez brings him back, barely, with his magic. The party of protagonists travel on the Nautilus to the Cape Verde Islands and the healer of immortals.  During the journey, Professor Kang and Bartholomew can not tell if Pelaez will keep his brother alive.  Captain Nemo is ready to evict Pelaez forcibly, and keeping Celwyn alive is the only thing that restrains him.

After Celwyn is saved, the healer requests payment for his services. This sends the adventurers to the catacombs in Capuchin where their experience is one they will not forget. Before it is over, several of the protagonists question why it seems everyone from warlocks and vampires to witches, seem to be congregating in their world. Before it is over, some of them become surprising allies, and a few of their allies turn against them.

In part II, work on the new flying machine begins in earnest bringing attention from the Mafioso and a cherub-like warlock called Duncan.  After a final battle with Duncan, the flying machine is destroyed and everyone at their compound is murdered by one of their own.

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BOOK TRAILER:

Check out Lou Kemp’s Book Trailer for her new book, “The Raven and the Pig,” below:

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EXCERPT ONE:

Prelude

The rolling hills near Odessa, north of Constantinople 1867

With each step he took, Professor Xiau Kang sensed the intensity, and importance of what he would find.  Above all, he felt the weight of his sadness.  He had done his best to ignore that there was no guarantee Captain Nemo had located Thales, if Nemo failed to find him, Jonas Celwyn would be dead within a matter of days, perhaps hours.

A long time ago, on the Zelda, the magician had doubted a mechanical man could feel.  Kang paused, swaying on his feet as he fought to regain his control; at this moment, the automat knew real despair, a wrenching grief that they would lose Jonas.  He swallowed hard and walked faster, climbing to the top of the berm.

There she was!  The long black submarine lay still in the water.  A single sailor stood on patrol, and another perched in the cage on top with a spyglass.

Kang called, “I’ll get Mr. Celwyn.  Please let the Captain know we’re here.”

Conductor Smith joined him as they ran back to the coach.  The others had seen them and began unloading the magician onto the stretcher that Kang had fashioned for this moment.  He skidded to a stop and grabbed Celwyn’s hand.

“The Nautilus is here. It isn’t far.”

In the distance, a low hum reached them; the sound sputtered and grew stronger.

The magician’s eyes opened slowly, like a thread from his memory raised his lids, impelling him to look.  Everyone, including Jonas, gazed upward, as if they had already known what was to come.

The noise grew louder, and then a bright yellow flying machine crested the low hills and headed toward the estuary.

“Yes!” Kang shouted, raising his fist in triumph.

The plane swerved to the north, banked, and then flew toward them again in a wide arc.

“Oh, my God, it’s Bartholomew,” Elizabeth exclaimed.

Bartholomew wore a broad smile and his scarf fluttered in the breeze as he sailed over them.  He waved.  As he banked again, the engine revved and he turned, descending for another pass.  Celwyn raised himself onto an elbow to wave back.

“Hurry,” Kang said.  “Bartholomew is going to land.  We have to get Jonas onto the ship.”

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GUEST POST #1:

Some of My Favorite Items in My Office

Steampunk and celebrating craziness.  Pic included of my metallic fish and The Scream blow up desk doll.

A pic of my research books with a dead Elvis and Mardi gras beads too.

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GUEST POST #2:

Fierce Female Lead Characters: How to Create Strong Role Models in Books

Female lead characters should be more than the token romantic interest for a lead protagonist.  It is a struggle to keep the female leads true to themselves and the story while balancing the developing relationship between the protagonists.  But the situation is gold for readers and is worth it. Celwyn’s lady love enters the story in book 2. She is a vampire and witch who is also a spy for Queen Elizabeth.  Celwyn describes her this way, “She participates.”

The series characters initially consist of the three main ones: Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Kang.  Secondary is Tara McFein, Nemo, Jules Verne, Mrs. Kang, Valentine Soriano (Tara’s uncle and head of a large vampire family), Annabelle, Patrick, and the orphans they rescued.  There are lots of characters to keep track of along with the adventurers as the story unfolds. As Tara’s character becomes stronger and more integral to the plot, she has an opportunity to save Celwyn.  Later, she becomes the central thread in the story when it moves back to London.

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GUEST POST #3:

Falling in Love with the Main Characters

Initially, Celwyn and Professor Kang, an automat, meet under difficult circumstances.  The magician was hired to deliver Kang to a man called Talos.  But as the time drew near to do so, Celwyn and Kang became fast friends and confidants and Talos was the one who died.  Celwyn is lovable, unpredictable, and Kang loves to nag him.  That was the beginning of their friendship.  When Bartholomew arrives in the story, he dives into the dangers they faced.  One of the first thing he sees is Celwyn tossing a nasty vampire called Mrs. Karras off an Orient Express-type train in the mountains near Iran.  Who is the other voice of reason?  Annabelle, the heiress who bribes them into taking her with them across Asia and into Europe.  She doesn’t put up with Celwyn magical antics, and as the story progresses, she finds that is the least she should worry about.  When the magician installs them in what appears to be a high-class bordello to hide from their enemies, Annabelle puts her foot down.  Celwyn changes the rooms into something else right before her eyes.  Her moment of accepting his magic occurred then, and she swallowed it along with a caustic comment it deserved. She becomes a good-natured voice of reason as they travel west, and the others take care not to unduly alarm her with things not easily explained.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure painted with a horrific element as needed.

I’m one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and I sometimes write myself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps. Black by Pearl Jam especially.

More information is available at LouKemp.com. I'd love to hear from you and what you think of Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Professor Xiau Kang.

Milestones:

2009: The anthology story Sherlock’s Opera appeared in Seattle Noir, edited by Curt Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online. Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology.

2010: My story, In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling MWA anthology Crimes by Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris. The immortal magician Celwyn makes his first appearance in print.

2018: The story, The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn series begins.

Present: The full length prequel, The Violins Played before Junstan, to the Celwyn book series is published on Kindle. The companion book, Farm Hall is also published where Pelaez, another immortal magician and Celwyn's brother, makes his first appearance. The remaining books in the series: Music Shall Untune the Sky, The Raven and the Pig, The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died, will be available beginning in August 2021.

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CONNECT WITH LOU:

Website:

https://www.loukemp.com

Facebook Fan Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Lou-Kemp-Author-Page-110721901406273

Facebook Personal Page:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Lou-Kemp/100070730154592

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/LouKempBooks

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/LouKempAuthor

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3452047.Lou_Kemp

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59603776-the-raven-and-the-pig

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3GVxA3E

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3GU5dCD

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3GTZKM6

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Raven-Pig-Book-Celwyn-ebook/dp/B09KXFWBZC

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Raven-Pig-Book-2/dp/B09KN4JQC6

Amazon UK Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raven-Pig-Book-Celwyn-ebook/dp/B09KXFWBZC

Amazon UK Paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raven-Pig-Book-2/dp/B09KN4JQC6

Amazon AU Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Raven-Pig-Book-Celwyn-ebook/dp/B09KXFWBZC

Amazon AU Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Raven-Pig-Book-2/dp/B09KN4JQC6

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Lou will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner; a 2nd randomly drawn winner a mug and pen with the book image; and a 3rd randomly drawn winner will win an eBook via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

The Write Balance: How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public by Bonni Goldberg - Book Tour - FREE Bonus Book!! - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host fellow Oregonian Bonni Goldberg and her new book, “The Write Balance: How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a uniquely tailored prize directly from the author!!  One lucky winner will be able to choose from a 30-minute coaching call, a Q&A Zoom with their group, OR feedback on 3 double spaced pages of their work (via email). In addition, a free eBook about balancing writing & marketing will be given to everyone who enters the giveaway!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Bonni and to increase your chances of winning!!

Plus, Bonni is offering her readers a FREE eBook copy of her book, “Writing & Marketing: 8 Authors Reveal Their Secrets,” available now on Bookfunnel!!  See below for more details.

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

The Write Balance:

How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public

by Bonni Goldberg

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GENRE: Non-Fiction, Writing Advice

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BLURB:

In The Write Balance, the companion book to the beloved bestseller, Room to Write, Bonni Goldberg demonstrates how to find fulfillment as a writer by embracing three key aspects of writing: 1) Percolation: what takes place before a first draft is written; 2) Revision: the writer's role after the initial draft; and 3) Going Public: the writer's mission once the writing is done. Filled with tools, examples and exercises, Bonni’s guide offers motives, choices, and encouragement for writers to appreciate and to be creative in the phases before and beyond a first draft. Whether you’re new to writing or a pro, become more passionate and balanced in your writing life.

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EXCERPT THREE:

The public aspect of writing is the third and final practice you must take part in to nourish your Writing Self. You may think of going public as a writer as publishing, but it’s much larger than that. When you make writing, you enter a new relationship to the written word that includes passing it on to others. Going public is doing your part to bring the written word to the rest of the world. The words you offer can be your own or someone else’s. You can give them to a large group of strangers or to a few people you are close to. But to fulfill yourself and your role as a writer, you must complete the writing cycle by being public somehow. We get convoluted messages about going public that are tangled up in perceptions about publishing companies and best-seller lists because we don’t talk enough about the bigger picture. Writers often can’t see past the publish-with-a-big-traditional-publisher-or-perish perspective because the value of other options—sometimes even the options themselves— aren’t clear. Indifferent agents, editors, and publishers aren’t what frustrate your attempts to go public. Your frustration is caused by a set of internal limitations that may include your particular definition of success as a writer, misconceptions about the purpose of going public, a fear of rejection, and misunderstanding your role as a writer. We’ll deal with these frustrations and others throughout this section, beginning here by reviving the idea of “sharing,” an overlooked definition of going public.

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GUEST POST:

Manage Rejection, Improve Accountability & Overcome Writing Obstacles: A Guide for New and Seasoned Writers

**(Full disclosure: Ally gave me a reasonable list of individual topics that included each of the topics in the title. With choices like this, I suffer serious FOMO. That’s why I settled on a mash-up. Ally and I live in the same city, so I hope she’ll give a hometown gal a pass.)**

Whether you’re new to writing or you’ve been at it for decades, rejection, accountability and writing obstacles are issues you keep having to deal with. Why? They never go away. And even your reliable strategies sometimes stop working and you need to try something else.

Rejection: Turn It Around

100 Rejections are a Good Thing is a real Facebook group. Join. A community is one antidote for any undeserved shame or loss of confidence you might experience from rejections. Rejections are inevitable. Make them into a goal instead of proof that your project isn’t good enough. My debut picture book is forthcoming in 2023 because a writing friend of mine tasked me with submitting it to 29 publishers. What she said was, I don’t want to hear you whine or complain about getting this published until you’ve sent it to 29 publishers (29 isn’t even a high number). I received 27 rejections. Later I asked her what if they’d all been rejections? Can you guess? “I would have sent you to get 29 more.” I would have done it too. And if I still had no takers, I would have indie published it. My point is not to confuse rejection with a loss of your personal power. When a publisher or an agent passes, your expectations and hopes are dashed, not your ability to share your writing with others. You confuse your power to create and control plots and worlds and outcomes in your writing with the realm of publishing. You’re not the author of your publishing narrative; you’re the main character on a journey.

A Beautiful Bouquet is One of My Favorite Writing Rewards!!

Accountability: Get Help and Treats

When I’m on a contracted book deadline, I become an organized, responsible version of myself. A doppelgänger. When I’ve met the deadline, that version of me disappears. The squirrelly social media browsing overwhelmed me is back in charge. Then I use an elaborate system to stay on track. I belong to a writer’s accountability group. We begin the one-hour session with our success from the previous week, support a few members who are struggling, and end with our goals for the coming week. Reporting back to others motivates me. I don’t like to disappoint. When I face a daunting task, I search out an individual accountability buddy. For a set amount of time, I email this person every day with what I’ve done and what’s next. All they have to do is email back now and then cheering me on. I also have a stash of rewards for completing specific tasks. When I finish all the guest blog posts and interviews for this tour, there’s one waiting for me… If you use other methods, please share them in the comments.

Cheers to One of My Other Favorite Writing Rewards!!

Writing Obstacles: 3 Words

Lower your standards. That’s it. Almost all writing obstacles arise out of unrealistic expectations of yourself, often combined with an unwillingness (fear) of experimentation. Writing is an ebb and flow creative process. You learn the most by doing it. If you keep doing it, no matter how poorly, you will get better. Not inside of a vacuum, of course. Read (in and outside of your genre, how-tos, and advice books on the topic making you feel stuck). Take a few writing courses. Get feedback from other writers you trust. Enjoy some nourishing fun. And your writing will improve. You will write yourself out of the hole you’re in (sometimes by working on something else for a while), and you won’t be staring at a blank screen. Of course, you get afraid and stuck. Of course, you believe you should quit. And if you think you can just quit, go ahead and try. But if you can’t—and I mean this is the most supportive way—lower your standards and get back to work.

I hope you find something useful here. There’s more in The Write Balance. Thank you, Ally. I hope to see you in Rose City someday.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Bonni Goldberg is the author of The Write Balance: How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public, the companion book to the best-seller Room to Write: Daily Invitations to a Writer’s Life. Bonni is an award-winning poet and writer. She is the creator of the 2 Minute Journals™ series. Both traditionally and indie published, her books include non-fiction for adults and fiction and non-fiction for young readers. Her essays and blog posts can be found in numerous print and online publications.

Bonni teaches creative writing at colleges and leads writing workshops internationally for all ages. She knows everyone is creative, and she supports people to discover and share their authentic, meaningful and imaginative experiences through words.

Whether through her writings or through teaching, her methods and perspectives continue to empower thousands of adults, families, and children.

Bonni is also a Jewish educator. She speaks, writes, and leads workshops on Jewish topics such as Jewish identity, rituals and antisemitism at Jewish women’s events, JCCs, and conferences.

Bonni Goldberg lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner in life, and some creative projects, artist Geo Kendall.

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CONNECT WITH BONNI:

My Super Sweet & Adorable Grand-Dog, Casper

Website:

https://www.bonnigoldberg.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/bonnigoldbergbooks

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/bonnigoldberg

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/goldbergbonni

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/627067.Bonni_Goldberg

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59917360-the-write-balance

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3pMvKv9

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/35BZMek

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3619LK9

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Write-Balance-Embrace-Percolation-Revision-ebook/dp/B09P1ZVVS3

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Write-Balance-Embrace-Percolation-Revision/dp/1737198819

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BONUS!!!  FREE EBOOK:

Bonni is offering her readers a FREE eBook copy of her book, “The Write Balance: Writing & Marketing: 8 Authors Reveal Their Secrets,” via Bookfunnel!!!

Grab Your FREE eBook Copy Here:

https://bookhip.com/PASGHHQ

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Bonni will be awarding a prize to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour, the winner can choose between a 30-minute coaching call, a Q&A Zoom with their group, or feedback on 3 double spaced pages of their work (via email). In addition, a free eBook about balancing writing & marketing will be given to everyone who enters the raffle.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Find Your Way Back by Javacia Harris Bowser - Book Blast - Book Playlist - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Javacia Harris Bowser and her new book, “Find Your Way Back,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win ONE of TWO PRIZES!!!  ONE lucky winner will win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card AND a SECOND lucky winner will win a $50 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  That’s right – there will be TWO lucky winners!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Javacia and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Find Your Way Back

by Javacia Harris Bowser

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GENRE:  A Collection of Essays

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BLURB:

Award-winning freelance journalist Javacia Harris Bowser is convinced that writing is a superpower. She sees her life as proof of it since writing has helped her navigate marriage, crisis of faith and body image issues. It also helped her to beat cancer.

As a Black woman from the South, Javacia has used the written word to explore issues of gender and race as well as religion. Find Your Way Back is a collection of essays that demonstrate how Javacia has used writing to achieve some of her wildest dreams such as being a public speaker, having her own column, and being her own boss. The book also explores how writing, self-love, and faith helped her overcome her worst nightmare: a cancer diagnosis in 2020. Javacia’s goal is to show readers how writing can transform their lives as well. The book includes prompts throughout to help readers start their own writing journey.

This book is for the woman who has wanted to write since she was a girl but struggles to find the time or the courage to put her words on paper. Find Your Way Back, shows that instead of putting writing on the back burner when life gets turned upside down, we should turn to it to help life make sense again.

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EXCERPT ONE:

From: “How Does a Feminist Fight Cancer?

I was in my early twenties when I started calling myself a feminist—long before Beyonce’s song “***Flawless” made feminism cool. It was in my early twenties that I finally learned that—despite popular opinion—feminism had nothing to do with hating makeup, marriage, or men.

In the song “***Flawless” from Queen Bey’s 2013 self-titled album, we’re given a clear-cut definition of what being a feminist means courtesy of a snippet from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk, “We Should All Be Feminists.”1 Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. Merriam-Webster also defines feminism as “organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.”2

But for me, those definitions only scratch the surface. Yes, I call myself a feminist because I believe in women’s rights and the equality of the sexes. But I also call myself a feminist because simply put, I’m obsessed with women, and I’m obsessed with being a woman. That’s why as a freelance journalist, I mostly write stories for and about women. That’s why in 2011, I started a website and online community for women who write and blog called See Jane Write. And that’s why I believe in sisterhood—for real.

I feel an inexplicable kinship to nearly every woman on the planet, regardless of her age, race, or religion. It doesn’t matter if she’s a CEO of a company on the Fortune 500 list or a cashier at my local supermarket struggling to make ends meet. Whether she’s a princess or a pole dancer, in my mind, we are inextricably linked.

But after being diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 2020, I found myself wondering if being a woman was as wonderful as I’d always thought it to be. My oncologist told me early on that after chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I would have to take the drug Tamoxifen for five to ten years. The tumor found in and removed from my left breast turned out to be “ER-positive.” That means the cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen.

When explaining why I needed medication that would essentially push me into early menopause, my doctor said, “Estrogen tried to kill you.” Those words stunned me more than, “You have cancer.”

Learning that the thing that makes me a woman—biologically, at least— was the very thing threatening to end my life caused the earth beneath me to shift. As an ally to the trans community, I understand intellectually that gender is much more than biology. But emotionally, I felt betrayed by my body and by my womanhood.

Despite the sexism that women can face at work, home, church, and even while walking down the street, I have never seen being a woman as a cross to bear. Of course, I was aware of the horrific oppression faced by women and girls in some countries—including the United States. But these stories and statistics only made me more fiercely feminist. I wanted every woman to feel like womanhood was a blessing. But now, all of a sudden, it felt like a curse.

For months I tried to keep my diagnosis a secret, only telling a few close family members and friends about the lumpectomy I had in February of 2020. But as I got closer to my first day of chemotherapy, I knew I’d soon have to share the news with more people because soon I’d be bald.

There was no chance I’d run into friends at a networking event or at my favorite restaurant or wine bar. The COVID-19 pandemic had us all confined to our homes. But because of See Jane Write, I do live broadcasts on Facebook, and I post pictures and videos to Instagram often. I knew eyebrows would raise once people noticed I no longer had any. I knew I would have to go public with this fight against cancer, and I knew I would have to fight like a feminist.

But how does a feminist fight cancer? First, she makes a playlist because every battle needs a fight song. Of course, Destiny Child’s “Survivor” is at the top of my list.

But just as there’s no one way to be a woman, there’s no single way to be a feminist. And likewise, every cancer warrior must fight in their own way. Being a writer, I decided I would fight with words. As a friend of mine, who’s also a writer, once said, “I fight with my fingertips.” That mindset shifted how I approached every aspect of my battle with cancer.

During cancer treatments, I wrote from my body and for my body. I wrote as if the sentences could replace the locks of hair that fell into the shower after my curls became a casualty of chemo. I wrote as if the syllables could dry my tear- stained face. I wrote and pretended the dark spots on my tongue, fingernails, palms, and the bottoms of my feet were splotches of ink.

I wrote as if adjectives could restore my taste buds, allow me to know spicy, savory, and sweet once again. I wrote as if vowels and consonants could calm my constantly queasy belly.  I wrote even when hand-foot syndrome made it nearly impossible to hold a pen or touch my fingertips to a keyboard.

When facing a disease like cancer, fighting for your life isn’t simply about fighting to stay alive. You’re not only trying to keep your heart beating from one day to the next. When you feel like cancer is taking away every goal and every dream, you’re fighting to remember who you are.

So, I write. With Beyoncé’s “Find Your Way Back” playing in my ears, I write in journals, essays, poetry, blog posts, and even in the Notes app of my phone.

I write my way back to myself, and I share my words with my sisters so that they—no matter what battle they’re fighting—can write their way home too.

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BOOK PLAYLIST:

Check out the "Find Your Way Back," Playlist on Spotify!!

These are the songs that helped me cope with cancer treatment and have inspired me as I navigate survivorship.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Javacia Harris Bowser is an award-winning essayist and journalist and the founder of See Jane Write. A proud graduate of the journalism programs at the University of Alabama and the University of California at Berkeley, Javacia has written for USA Today, HerMoney.com, and Good Grit magazine. Named one of Birmingham’s Top 40 Under 40, she believes we can all write our way to the life of our dreams.

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CONNECT WITH JAVACIA:

Website:

http://seejanewritebham.com

Blog:

https://seejanewritebham.com/blog

Newsletter:

bit.ly/sjwemail

Email:

javacia@seejanewritebham.com

Text Community:

Text HELLO to (205) 892-9501 to get started. Text AFFIRM if you’d like to receive weekly affirmations each Monday and PROMPTS if you’d like weekly Writing Prompts each Wednesday.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/seejavaciawrite

Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/seejanewritebham

Facebook Group – Women Writers: See Jane Write Network:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/seejanewritebham

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/seejavaciawrite

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/seejavaciawrite

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22280041.Javacia_Harris_Bowser

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60555621-find-your-way-back

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3IF45CX

Also, use tags #FYWBBookTour and #TheLiteraryLobbyist on Twitter and Instagram!!

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CONNECT WITH DAWN MICHELLE HARDY:

**This book tour event is sponsored by Dawn Michelle Hardy of The Literary Lobbyist.  Dawn is an award-winning book publicist, literary agent, and publishing consultant.  Stop by her website for book publishing and promoting tips.  Check out her blog to learn more about her current book projects and be sure to connect with her on social media – see the links below!!**

Website:

https://theliterarylobbyist.com

Blog:

https://theliterarylobbyist.com/blog

Email:

hello@theliterarylobbyist.com

Phone:

(704) 561-1580

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/theliterarylobbyist

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/DawnMichellePR

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/TheLiteraryLobbyist

Also, use tags #FYWBBookTour and #TheLiteraryLobbyist on Twitter and Instagram!!

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3JGN6BC

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3JGA72J

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Find-Your-Way-Back-Anything-ebook/dp/B09T51P6BX

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Find-Your-Way-Back-Anything/dp/0578365286

See Jane Write Autographed Paperback:

https://seejanewritebham.com/product/findyourwayback

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

The Literary Lobbyist will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.  In addition, The Literary Lobbyist will be awarding a SECOND lucky winner a $50 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author, Javacia Harris Bowser; The Literary Lobbyist; and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.