1956 Love & Revolution by J. A. Boulet - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host J. A. Boulet and her new book, “1956 Love & Revolution,” 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 $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with J. A. and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

1956 Love & Revolution

by J. A. Boulet

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GENRE:   Historical Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

1956 Love & Revolution

What would you do for your country?

In 1955, a group of uncommon people meet by chance. During the final year of Rákosi’s iron fist rule, Imre Nagy’s reforms are repealed, plunging Hungary back into economic ruin.

A university student, a cleaner, a Hungarian soldier and several others find themselves drawn toward each other as their love for their country is tested. In the fall of 1956, political strife deepens as the students begin demanding reform.

How far will they go to save Hungary?

Well-researched, politically charged and fast-paced, 1956 Love & Revolution will lure you into the lives of everyday Hungarians who risked everything for their country.

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BOOK TRAILER:

Check out J. A.’s new Book Trailer for “1956 Love & Revolution,” below!!

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EXCERPT ONE:

It was August 1955, and Elona was tired. She grabbed her bucket and wrung out the mop one last time. She had been cleaning at the theatre all night, and it was now early dawn. Something about the purple-lightening skies always enchanted her. Budapest was a quiet city at 4:30 am, almost peaceful. But Hungary was nothing close to peaceful lately. So many things were happening in her country that it made her stomach churn. Politics wasn’t something she was keen on, but lately, it seemed every Hungarian held hope that their country would reinstate a more economically-sound government.

They lived through so many years of repression, paying exorbitant taxes for Hungary's industrialization and war reparations to Russia, among so many other fees, that every single Hungarian paid almost two-thirds of their income out to the government. This left so little for food, cigarettes or anything else. It was a tough life of constantly working with little chance of enjoyment.

Elona was only twenty-one years old, but she felt like she was eighty.

She stepped outside onto the dark street and turned back to lock the theatre doors. Her pail and mop were already beside the door when she noticed she had left the dirty water in the bucket. She sighed and cursed softly. Elona was not going to open up the heavy double doors again and return all the way to the other side of the washrooms to dump her bucket.

She pushed the keys deep inside her pants pocket and picked up the pail gently, sneaking to the alleyway. Elona tiredly tipped her bucket in the alleyway, dumping it upside down to empty it completely so she could return home with a much less heavy pail. She didn’t drive, and her bicycle broke, so she didn’t even have that luxury anymore. A headache started at her temples, and she massaged her face gently. Maybe, one day things will get better.

She looked up as male voices echoed down the street. She wondered who would be in the streets at this hour. There wasn’t much crime because of the state police, so she usually had nothing to fear.

Then a chill ran down her spine.

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GUEST POST:

Making It Believable: Writing Romantic and Intimate Scenes

Even though my genre is historical fiction, history contains a fair amount of romance. It is part of daily life, meeting a person at first glance, having that initial peak of interest, stumbling through the awkward opening conversations and of course, progressing to a sensual encounter.

I believe romantic and intimate scenes are more than just the act of intercourse. It is a slow brew, a build-up of all the steps of attraction and individuality. What one person finds attractive may be appalling to the next. I love writing the build-up, which can literally happen on the first page, from a glance or an appreciation of the gait of a man or the strength of a slight woman. It all forms part of the reader’s journey to the climax.

Next, writing the actual sex scenes becomes a balance between what the writer likes and what the readers like. But the point to remember is it will never be perfect. Every reader has their individual preferences, likes and dislikes. But what makes a wonderful intimate scene is something everyone can appreciate. A kiss on the neck or the clumsiness of the first time, once a reader can associate with a scene, they will keep reading.

All of these steps make romances real. Love doesn’t occur out of nowhere. Many thought processes proceed the act of sex, sometimes months or years before! Keep the journey of love flowing from the first page to the last and readers will love you for it.

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AUTHOR BIO:

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of five historical fiction novels. Her newest novel, 1956 Love & Revolution, is a chilling standalone book about the 1956 Hungarian uprising. A highly anticipated release scheduled for June 5, 2023, this is a book that the author holds close to her heart.

J. A. Boulet was raised in the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution. Her father was a Hungarian soldier who fought bravely during the 1956 uprising. He escaped and was granted asylum in Canada. Ms. Boulet’s mother also fled from the revolution shortly after. The couple met, fell in love and built a family in Saskatchewan.

J. A. Boulet was born decades later. Raised in a refugee family with strong morals has provided J. A. with the foundation to which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually. She writes with an unsettling realism, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go. 1956: Love and Revolution is a book you won’t be able to put down.

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CONNECT WITH J. A.:

Website:

https://jaboulet.ca

Email:

admin@jaboulet.ca

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/love_walk_life

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jabouletauthor

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHyJHrncBj09F5119oxt6Vw

Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/user/NormalFemale

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-boulet

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/1956-love-revolution-by-j-a-boulet

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20412245.J_A_Boulet

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156428207-1956-love-revolution

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/32CvSRO

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3Dr8FEZ

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/472O8Ee

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/3Y74986

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/1956-Love-Revolution-J-Boulet-ebook/dp/B0C5B9D76K

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/1956-Love-Revolution-J-Boulet/dp/177819995X

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/1956-Love-Revolution-J-Boulet/dp/1778199968

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1956-love-revolution-j-a-boulet/1143506769?ean=2940166061348

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1956-love-revolution-j-a-boulet/1143506769?ean=9781778199950

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1956-love-revolution-j-a-boulet/1143506769?ean=9781778199967

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/1956-love-revolution

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/1956-love-revolution

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

J. A. will be awarding a $10 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 and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Hollyland by Patricia Leavy - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Patricia Leavy and her new book, “Hollyland,” 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 $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Patricia and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

Hollyland

by Patricia Leavy

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GENRE:   Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

What happens when a seemingly ordinary woman with a passion for the arts falls in love with a Hollywood star known for his bachelor status and quick temper with the paparazzi? Something extraordinary.

Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?

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EXCERPT ONE:

Dee clutched her cell phone and exited the crowded bar to see a line of hopefuls waiting to get in. Looking for a quiet place to take her call, she walked around the corner to the empty side street, the warm LA breeze blowing through her long, chestnut hair. Just as she put the phone to her ear, actor Ryder Field stepped out of the side entrance. With a string of film credits to his name, he was best known for the twelve years he starred as CIA operative Bruce Jones on the hit action television series, The Mission. Examining his tight black jeans and black T-shirt that showed off his muscular, tattooed arms, Dee couldn’t help but notice how impossibly sexy he was. They made eye contact, and she looked down ever so slightly. He smiled at her, and then leaned against the stucco exterior of the building and lit a cigarette.

“Uh, hi. I’m here,” she said, trying to refocus on her call. “Are they freaking out?... I guess you haven’t read it yet,” she said with a laugh. “Well, yeah, you could say that. It might be a little provocative. As soon as we hang up, I’ll text you the bits you should be aware of… Right now?... Jesus, just let me text you in a minute… Fine.” She glanced over at Ryder, he smiled, and took a drag of his cigarette. She looked down, lowered her voice and said, “On page one there’s an explicit oral act in the balcony of a church. Page four, bent over a pew… No, the other thing… Page seven, on the altar…” She glanced up at Ryder who was staring at her, trying to keep a straight face, laughter in his sea-colored eyes. “Well, tell them technically it’s not forbidden in the Bible. I don’t think it’s expressly mentioned… Oh, one more thing. Holy water is used as a metaphor throughout… Think about it… Yeah…” She laughed. “Oh, I can imagine the subject line of that email!... Well, just tell them, ‘Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.’” She laughed. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, bye,” she said, hanging up.

She looked sheepishly at Ryder, who turned to face her, his side against the building. “Sorry about that,” she said.

“I have a million questions about that call,” he said.

She smiled and said, “Have a good night,” turning to leave.

“Wait, you can’t leave me wondering like that. You’re not going to tell me?”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. Hollyland was featured on She Reads in “The Most Anticipated Romances of Spring 2023” and was the 2023 Firebird Book Awards 1st Place Winner in Pop Culture Fiction and 1st Place Winner in Summer/Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

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CONNECT WITH PATRICIA:

Website:

http://www.patricialeavy.com

She Writes Press:

https://shewritespress.com/product/hollyland

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/PatriciaLeavy

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/patricialeavy

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/558738.Patricia_Leavy

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75716960-hollyland

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3wx95EG

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/470HJJG

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/475EMHV

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hollyland-Novel-Patricia-Leavy-ebook/dp/B0B8H78CNT

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hollyland-Novel-Patricia-Leavy/dp/1647422965

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hollyland-patricia-leavy/1142791633?ean=9781647422974

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hollyland-patricia-leavy/1142791633?ean=9781647422967

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hollyland

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/hollyland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Patricia will be awarding a $10 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 and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Midnight Rapture by Anya Summers - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Anya Summers and her new book, “Midnight Rapture,” 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!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Anya and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

Midnight Rapture

Dungeon Singles Night

Book Twelve

by Anya Summers

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GENRE: Contemporary Erotic Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Rescued by a hot, kilt-wearing Scot…

Freya’s on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend. She’s exhausted and terrified, but if she stops, she knows he’ll find her – and their infant daughter – and make her pay. Desperation drives her to do something she shouldn’t, that she knows is fundamentally wrong…

… and sure enough, she gets caught red-handed. All she can do is beg for mercy.

When Jasper catches the gorgeous new maid with her hand in his wallet, his first instinct is to call the police. But Freya’s tearful plea strikes a chord deep within him, and instead he finds himself offering her the protection of his name and family.

Their union is meant to be on paper only but Jasper soon finds himself enthralled by his new bride. He starts a campaign to seduce her into his bed, never expecting her to wiggle her way into his heart.

And when her past threatens her very existence, he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Fall headlong into this steamy, fake relationship, stand-alone romance between a fierce Scottish businessman and a single mother as they navigate the road of love with all its pitfalls.

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EXCERPT THREE:

Marry him? Was the guy clinically insane?

Who asked someone they’d just met to marry them? She’d tell you who did stuff like that—crazy people.

Holding Maddie close, Freya didn’t know what to think or how to feel about his offer. He was only a few years older than she, by her reckoning, maybe in his early thirties. He could be English, but with a name like Campbell would bet what cash she had left he was Scottish.

His voice was sex personified. His Scottish brogue in that sexy baritone made his words sound like a caress. And when he spoke, the potent vibrations shivered through her body down into her toes. A man like him was dangerous to her sensibilities. A hypothesis proven by that reckless kiss. And what a kiss! Her body still hummed with illicit desire.

But she had sworn long ago that she would never be taken in by a charming, handsome face again. She’d done that once.

Holding Maddie close in case she needed to make a break for it, she asked, “What’s your name?”

He cast an arched stare as he rounded the kitchen island and faced her. “Jasper Campbell, at your service. And who is this little lassie?” He nodded toward her daughter. Maddie stared at him in fascination. Like mother, like daughter. But it could just be she wasn’t used to being around men that much, and definitely not one this enormous.

“This is Maddie.” Freya said her name, and her daughter grinned like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

“I’ve got a highchair in the pantry. Let me grab it, and we can set it by the table. And don’t think of leaving until we’ve finished discussing this matter. You try to leave before we’ve finished our negotiations, and I will call the authorities.”

She sucked in a breath at the threat. Rich people really were different. Only a guy who had never interacted with cops would call them the authorities. But she had no plans to leave just yet. Because she wanted to see if he was serious about his offer.

Did he really want to marry her for a year to gain his inheritance? Would he really buy her a house and give her twenty million dollars if she agreed?

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AUTHOR BIO:

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead of binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

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CONNECT WITH ANYA:

Website:

http://www.anyasummers.com

Website:

http://www.maggiemaegallagher.com

Newsletter:

http://www.eepurl.com/bPCkZ5

Facebook Personal Page:

http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor

Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummers

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/AnyaBSummers

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anyasummersauthor

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anya-summers

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/midnight-rapture-dungeon-singles-night-12-by-anya-summers

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85173231-midnight-rapture

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2mDG76P

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/4583UvB

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3q66R18

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/4588DNV

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Midnight-Rapture-Dungeon-Singles-Night-ebook/dp/B0BSG79MX3

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Midnight-Rapture-Dungeon-Singles-Night/dp/B0C9KJBD9V

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Midnight-Rapture-Dungeon-Singles-Night/dp/B0C9KM8VML

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6445461147

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-rapture-anya-summers/1143394424?ean=2940160834085

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-highlander-anya-summers/1141249997

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hwq7EAAAQBAJ

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/midnight-rapture

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/midnight-rapture

Universal – Books2Read:

(eBooks/Paperbacks)

https://books2read.com/u/4ARQ80

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Anya 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.

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.

A Voice Out of Poverty: The Power to Achieve through Adversity by Jillian Haslam - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Jillian Haslam and her new book, “A Voice Out of Poverty: The Power to Achieve through Adversity,” 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!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Jillian and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

A Voice Out of Poverty:

The Power to Achieve through Adversity

by Jillian Haslam

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GENRE:   Memoir

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BOOK BLURB:

A woman’s ascent from devastating poverty and childhood trauma to international standing as a prominent advocate for the poor and helpless.

As a young girl, Jillian Haslam saved a life. Herself tiny and aching from malnutrition, she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk to try and prevent her newborn sister from dying of starvation.

From the slums of Calcutta to the executive floors of a global bank, A Voice out of Poverty offers an unflinching look at one woman’s journey from destitution to success.

Throughout, Haslam demonstrates an inexhaustible drive to rise above adversity and find beacons of positivity in impossible circumstances. But her rise doesn’t stop at the top; she returns to her roots again and again to extend a hand to those left in the impoverished communities that she so narrowly escaped.

British by ancestry and born in India after its independence, Haslam and her family suffered degradation and prejudice. They were forced to live on the streets, flee danger in the middle of the night, and face persistent abuse and starvation.

This treacherous environment is the backdrop of an unlikely story of resilience and an unshakable family bond. From squalor and powerlessness, Haslam finds countless moments of grace, community, gratitude, and love.

A Voice out of Poverty is a raw and inspiring memoir that shows how beauty can be found in improbable places, and how “success” is not just the act of making it through. Rather, it is the act of reaching back to bring others with you.

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EXCERPT TWO:

“Oh, come on now Jillu, it’s not that bad!” she said. The brusque tone harkened to how she’d counsel us not to yield to emotion. My mother relentlessly stressed that life could always have been harder. Never make a fuss. Be grateful for what you have, however paltry. Things can be worse.

I wasn’t appeased, and my mother could tell.

“We can get it cleaned up when we get back,” she added, wiping tears from my cheeks with a single thumb. Her other hand was trapped inside the hand of my younger sister, four-year-old Vanessa, who held on as if worried she’d fly away like a released balloon if she let go.

“Anyway, we’re leaving in a few days, and where we’re going is better.” More parental reassurance about greener pastures.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To Mrs. Brown’s. She’s letting us sleep on the floor in her room for a while. It will be crowded but all of us will be together again.”

“You mean Daddy and Donna can go there too?” I asked, my mood brightening. I saw a ghost of a smile emerging on Vanessa’s face as she took it all in. We often lived apart as a family because of our circumstances.

“Yes, but we can only stay for a few weeks, and then we must find somewhere else again. But don’t worry, you know Daddy and I always find us something.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding.

We resumed shuffling down the streets, navigating mass congestion. I turned my head for a long look back at the old woman and her dogs. I felt a surge of empathy for her, alone in wet and dirty clothes, facing each day with the promise of nothing. Soon we’d have a roof over our heads in a family home while she’d continue to fend for herself in the unsympathetic and unforgiving slum streets. She’d continue to get wet and dirty. She’d continue to try to survive each day with no family to love and care for her; I felt grateful for what I had and prayed that someday she might have the same. As those thoughts flooded me, she gingerly placed sheets of old newspaper on the wet ground to sit on.

The rain fell a little harder.

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GUEST POST:

Using Your Voice to Leave a Lasting Legacy Behind

There are few better ways to spark change in the world than using your voice. It is through our voices that we express our beliefs, show our passion, and push for the change we want to see in society.

The right of free speech is a fundamental human right, and you only need to visit a country where free speech is suppressed to truly appreciate it. It’s like freedom. Liberty. You don’t really get to appreciate it until it’s gone.

But that’s human nature, isn’t it?

It often takes momentous events for us to realise how fortunate we are.

It’s not until we lose our job that we truly recognise the gift of a secure pay check.

It’s not until our house is robbed that we realize how much our possessions meant to us.

And it’s not until we lose a loved one that we wish we had reminded them every day how much we love them.

Like a House of Cards

Free speech is an incredibly powerful tool and stripping anyone’s right to it leads to a less progressive world. It is through your voice that you can get your beliefs, opinions and issues heard through speeches, rallies and protests, not to mention bringing others on board your cause.

Since time immemorial, people have been using free speech to challenge societal norms. The world as we know it would be completely different were it not for free speech.

For instance, in America, women may never have had the right to vote, which seems unfathomable at this moment in time.

Martin Luther King is another of many famous examples of people who leveraged free speech to ignite a change. He is good proof that no matter the number of voices trying to silence you, it is good to continue to speak out for what you believe in.

It is through speaking out that many countries have been able to bring about the change they have longed for for decades.

Take the Arab Spring, for example.

What started out as a few dissenting voices in Tunisia against police corruption and brutality sparked a domino effect that led to the ousting of powerful dictatorships across North Africa and beyond that were deemed infallible.

It all started when a fruit vendor set himself on fire in front of a government building following harassment by police officers who wanted to confiscate his wooden cart because he did not have a permit to sell fruit.

This angered the people so much, which saw them take to the streets, town by town, before eventually toppling a president who had been in power for 23 years.

Egypt, which had been under an oppressive ruler for almost three decades, followed suit and within a weeks of mass protests brought down the powerful president.

The people of Libya then followed in the footsteps by rising up in arms to bring an end to 42 years of power of a powerful leader whose reputation preceded him.

The common theme among these protests – and many others like them – was that they started out as small embers which were fanned by the people’s voice. These flames slowly morphed into a huge bonfire as more and more like-minded citizens joined the cause.

And as it turned out, these people were in the majority. All they needed was someone to start the debate, and the end result would see powerful governments come down like a house of cards.

More recently, we are witnessing the people of Hong Kong speak up against an authoritarian main government that is threatening to erode their freedom of speech and expression.

And while the war is not won yet, the people of Hong Kong have sparked a debate that will have a long-lasting impact for generations to come.

Power of Voice

This shows the power of voice to bring about desired change in society.

And it happens in other aspects of our lives, not just politics.

It is through speaking out that issues plaguing society the world over are brought to the public’s attention – human trafficking, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, destructive impact of climate change, and many more.

Voicing out issues such as sexual harassment, as we have seen with Hollywood celebrities, has brought public awareness on the issue and people are starting to speak out against such entrenched practices.

Recently, one female student in Nigeria went public regarding how a lecturer at the University of Lagos tried to solicit sexual favours from the student in exchange for good grades.

“Sex for Grades”, it has been dubbed.

The story started doing rounds on social media prompting international mainstream media to pick it up. As more and more students begin to speak out, this is set to spark a change not just in schools the world over, but the workplace and society in general.

The same way a few voices have brought about a change in many communities in Africa where female genital mutilation used to be a common practice. By speaking out against it, the practice is now increasingly frowned upon.

Same case with forced childhood marriages.

The Takeaway

Society will always be beleaguered by many issues as the idea of a perfect world remains a mirage.

However, with normal people like you and me speaking out against unjust and unfair practices, we can help shed light on the issues which can ultimately help bring about desired change.

One voice can spark a chain reaction that leads to a better world.

As we are reminded by this quote:

“Speak up, because the day you don't speak up for the things that matter to you is the day your freedom truly ends.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jillian Haslam was born in 1970 and raised primarily in the slums of Calcutta. Despite the severe devastation of her family’s living circumstances, she completed her education and landed her first major employment as a personal assistant to the CEO at Bank of America in India.

Jillian rose through the ranks, and Bank of America appointed her president of its Charity and Diversity Network in India, where she spearheaded charitable work in four different cities. This led her to receive three philanthropic awards from Bank of America: the Star Recognition award, the Service Excellence award, and The Individual Achievement award.

In 2011, she published the first version of her memoir, Indian. English, which chronicles her life growing up amid dreadful poverty, abuse, and tragedy. The book sold over 150,000 copies, mostly while she was on the speaking circuit. Her story also incited interest from Hollywood and British film directors and producers, leading to the development of a feature film.

Charitable giving became Jillian’s life work. In 2012, she received the first runner up award for The Asian Woman of the Year in the “Social and Humanitarian” category. In early 2015, The Telegraph of Calcutta presented Jillian with the True Legend award for her exceptional contribution to social and humanitarian causes. In mid-2015, she was recognized as a finalist for the Role Model of the Year award for her work delivering speeches in educational institutes across the UK. In late 2016, she received an award for Excellence in Humanitarianism. And, in 2017, she received her greatest accolade, the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award.

Jillian became a speaker in demand and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She has delivered several TEDx talks, among other prestigious speaking engagements, on various topics that flow from her life story. Jillian speaks on topics that include entrepreneurialism, the power of the mind, and human resilience.

She has also been featured on various TV networks, including Channel 5 and the BBC, and a wide range of print media, including The Independent, The Pioneer, The Times, The Telegraph, The Metro, Gulf News, and other major media outlets. Jillian’s charitable work continues under the auspices of the Remedia Trust where she oversees several separate charities: Ageing Smiles (for the elderly poor), Happy Hearts (for children), Empowering Girls (for teaching various workable skills), India’s Disabled (for building a mobile medical unit), E3 Growth (focused on education, employment, and employability), and the Mother Teresa Project (for women and single mothers).

Jillian currently lives in London with her husband.

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CONNECT WITH JILLIAN:

Website:

https://www.jillianhaslam.com

Email:

contact@jillianhaslam.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jillian.haslam

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/IndianEnglishTheMovie

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JillianHaslam

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jillian.haslam

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6082080.Jillian_Haslam

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125139426-a-voice-out-of-poverty

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/46Z4FZR

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/44VRW8u

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3K77ZrN

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Voice-Out-Poverty-Achieve-Adversity-ebook/dp/B0BX48B964

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/A-Voice-out-of-Poverty/dp/9381043523

Books2Read eBooks/Paperbacks:

https://books2read.com/u/3JnzxK

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jillian 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.

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.