Out of Body by Kimberly Baer - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kimberly Baer will award a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Those weird dreams Abby Kendrick has been having? Turns out they aren’t dreams after all. They’re out-of-body experiences, like the ones her cousin Logan is having. At first Abby has fun with her new ability, using it to spy on her neighborhood crush and spook a mean girl. But when Logan gets in trouble on the astral plane, the game changes, and Abby must bend the rules of out-of-body travel as she journeys to a distant realm. Her mission is a perilous one, and success is not guaranteed. Can she save Logan and find her way home again? Or will the cousins be lost forever on the astral plane?

EXCERPT TWO:

The girl slept on, never stirring, breathing deeply. Arms and legs akimbo, hair spread out like disconnected wires, mouth hanging open. Was that how I looked when I was sleeping? It wasn’t pretty.

Something twinkled below me, a translucent silvery cord tethering me to my body. I’d never noticed it in my dreams-that-weren’t-really-dreams, maybe because I hadn’t realized I was out of body. The cord, thick and round as Italian sausage, was weird but reassuring. I assumed it would keep me from getting lost, because no matter where I went, I could simply follow it back to my body.

But how did the cord work? Was it retractable like the cord on our vacuum cleaner? Stretchy like a bungee cord? If so, how far could it stretch? I wanted to test it for myself, but before I could do that, I needed to figure out how to move. For now, I was stuck in place like a stalled weather front.

A few nights ago, I’d traveled all the way to Sorcery Place. I’d gone to Sophia’s house, to Grandma’s. How had I done it?

More important, how could I get back into my body? I gave a psychic grunt, straining toward that sleeping form, but nothing happened. I was anchored to the ceiling as firmly as my physical body was anchored to the bed.

What if I couldn’t get back? What if I was stuck up here forever?

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Kimberly Baer is an author and professional editor who was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a town marginally famous for having endured three major floods. She even lived there during one of them. She enjoys power-walking on days when it’s not too hot, too cold, too rainy, too snowy, or too windy. On indoor days, you're likely to find her hard at work on her next novel or binge-watching old episodes of Survivor, her favorite guilty pleasure.

Kim has had her nose in a book practically since birth. Her first story, written at age six, was about a baby chick that hatched out of a little girl’s Easter egg after somehow surviving the hard-boiling process. These days she writes in a variety of genres, including adult romantic suspense, young adult, and middle-grade. Her books are published by The Wild Rose Press and have won several awards.

Out of Body Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYzqrZ2gl-I

Website: http://www.kimberlybaer.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimberlyBaer14
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlybaer_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyBaer/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimberlybaer_author1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Baer/e/B08D3RVKCH/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kimberly_baer
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-baer

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Body-Kimberly-Baer-ebook/dp/B0CQ34D8H5/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144460559?ean=9781509253074
Apple books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/out-of-body/id6474144928
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/out-of-body-by-kimberly-baer

GIVEAWAY:

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The Babel Apocalypse by Vyvyan Evans - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

The Babel Apocalypse Audiobook

by Vyvyan Evans

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GENRE:   Science Fiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Language is no longer learned, but streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can’t afford monthly language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the world’s most valuable commodity.

But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms.

Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. Suspect number one is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where those who control language control everything, all is not as it seems. After all, if the mysterious Ebba Black is to blame, why is the Russian Federation being framed for an outage it claims no responsibility for? And why is Ebba now a target for assassination?

As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization and a deadly war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foe—his life depends on it.

And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse.

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EXCERPT THREE:

As I was about to glance back at the voices, a light flickered in my peripheral vision, drawing my gaze upward to the night sky. A soft white glow, high up in the dark. At first it was indistinguishable from the airway lights. But it persisted, the size of a small disk at first, before shifting to red-orange, getting larger. At that point I realized it definitely couldn’t be a hover car. This was farther up, probably low Earth orbit, which explained the initial white. But the shift in coloration—that meant a detonation, producing nitrogen dioxide, which turned deep orange when mixed with air. A gaseous cloud has reached the atmosphere, I thought. I was witnessing a chemical explosion in space large enough to be visible to the naked eye. But what was exploding?

As I continued looking up, the orange grew in intensity until it flared across the skyline, illuminating the entire landscape around me with an eerie red-orange. It was only then that I became aware of the newly hushed silence of the drunken revelers nearby. And the silhouettes of other people too, who had also stopped and peppered the pedestrian corridor. We were all now strange red creatures, watching transfixed in rapt silence as the night sky was on fire. And just as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone; the orange light faded back into a deep well of pitch black.

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GUEST POST:

Reasons You Should Read My Book (Based on Published Reviews):

“…a science fiction version of a Dan Brown book mixed with James Bond.” (SFBook.com)

"The Babel Apocalypse...explores the sheer transience and fragility of human language as well as evoking the philosophical question of what it means to be human." (Babel Magazine)

"Part of a new series of by linguist Vyvyan Evans: what will happen if (when?!) most of the world’s people are “chipped” with tech that streams Unilanguage technology controlled by corporations. And what will happen when there is an outage. A great addition to the corpus of linguistic sci-fi." (Literary Ashland)

“…a thrilling sci-fi mystery set in a high-tech future where language is no longer learned but streamed to neural implants. Powerful corporations control the technology, and when a cyberattack causes a global language outage, detective Emyr Morgan is tasked with finding the one responsible. What he discovers leads him to question everything he’s ever known…We recommend it to readers of cyber-punk and dystopian fiction, especially those with a passion for linguistics!"  (Reedsy Discovery: Recommended Read)

"…an impressively complex storyline with numerous bombshell plot twists, emotionally compelling characters, and weighty themes concerning the power of language and the danger of humankind’s becoming overly dependent on technology…the pace becomes breakneck and the action nonstop, leading up to a stand-up-and-applaud conclusion that not only satisfies, but sets the stage for the next installment."  (Kirkus, starred review)

"I was hooked by the perfect blend of Sci-Fi, mystery, and thriller, and the author's unique method of crashing a near-future Earth society." (Reedsy)

“…a cyberpunk tale in the tradition of Neal Stephenson...This is a very, very well-written book...If you are into cyberpunk dystopias, this is a well written take on the topic." (Medium)

"The Babel Apocalypse is a cyberpunk-esque story that involves the weaponization of language against the world's population, power struggles, and the targeted use of information." (The Real World According to Sam)

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AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Dr. Vyvyan Evans is a native of Chester, England. He holds a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and is a Professor of Linguistics. He has published numerous acclaimed popular science and technical books on language and linguistics. His popular science essays and articles have appeared in numerous venues including 'The Guardian', 'Psychology Today', 'New York Post', 'New Scientist', 'Newsweek' and 'The New Republic'. His award-winning writing focuses, in one way or another, on the nature of language and mind, the impact of technology on language, and the future of communication. His science fiction work explores the status of language and digital communication technology as potential weapons of mass destruction.

Book website (including ‘Buy’ links):

http://www.songs-of-the-sage.com

Author website:

https://www.vyvevans.net

Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@vyvevans

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/VyvEvans

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Vyvyan.Evans.Author

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nephilim_publishing

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Vyvyan Evans will award a copy of the Audiobook of the Featured Book, "The Babel Apocalypse," to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Secrets of a Gay Man Growing Up in the 1950s by Jonathan Feinn - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Secrets of a Gay Man Growing Up in the 1950s

by Jonathan Feinn

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GENRE:   Memoir

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BOOK BLURB:

The Blessing of Self -Acceptance

I decided to write my memoir when I reached my mid-eighties. Given the gift of longevity, I felt a strong need to review my life openly and to recall both the joyful moments as well as the days and nights of feeling anguish and hopelessness. Highlighting events and experiences in my life has given me the opportunity to better understand the emotional and physical cost over the years of denying the person I am and the pain of self-rejection.

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EXCERPT THREE:

My travels broadened my perspective to better understand the cultural differences among peoples in the world but just as important was my increasing awareness all peoples strive to fulfill similar hopes and dreams.

Among the important learnings for me was to become aware I could travel independently and was significantly more adaptable than I had thought. I was aware of my openness and desire to learn from others and developed a major respect for the different ways people strive to meet their challenges in life.   I’m grateful to so many for their hospitality and openness in allowing me to learn and to share in differing customs and traditions, some which were quite different from my own experiences. 

My new perspectives led to feelings of deep respect and appreciation for all that I learned. I now know differences in language can be managed and handled and people everywhere share the same significant life tasks including the need to feel accepted and loved as they are; to find satisfaction in their work, to find love within their family and community and a hope their children will have opportunities to fulfill their potential. 

I’m grateful to the Thai family I lived with for a year who were so generous and caring and respectful to me. The parents were professionals and had two young children. They kindly shared their home with Sung Wien who cared for the home and the children and prepared the evening meal for us each day consisting of many different dishes. I’m deeply appreciative of the Sri Lankan family I’ve known for more than 30 years who now live in Paris. I’ve known their three young adult children since their early childhood and am grateful for their on-going love. It brings special joy to me.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jonathan holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and was trained to serve both as a teacher and administrator providing guidance to staff and to children and adolescents with identified emotional disturbance and behavior disorders. He has served as a consultant to differing programs in both public and private school settings and was the director of a high school off-campus learning center serving students who required part-time placement outside the main building.

He has held faculty positions at National College in Evanston, Illinois and Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania where he taught students studying for both Master’s degrees and state certification. Prior to his retirement, he taught gifted elementary students in a ‘pull-out’ program. He is currently retired and continues his love of travel. To date he has visited 22 countries where he developed meaningful and lasting friendships with people in differing settings throughout the world.

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINK:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Gay-Man-Growing-1950s/dp/1614688540

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jonathan 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.

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If the Duke Dares by Darcy Burke - Book Tour - Exclusive Excerpt - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

If the Duke Dares

by Darcy Burke

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GENRE:   Regency Historical Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Incorrigible flirt Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne is in need of a duchess. En route to greet a potential bride, he encounters a most intriguing and captivating widow who completely distracts him from his task. However, she disappears before he can deepen their acquaintance. Acton begrudgingly goes to meet his bride, unaware she and the widow are one and the same.

When Persephone Barclay’s younger sister is compromised, Persephone must wed before the scandal spreads. Her parents scramble to present her to the Duke of Wellesbourne; except he’s precisely the kind of rogue she has now vowed to avoid. Taking flight to avoid a match, Persephone runs straight into her would-be betrothed and pretends to be someone else. But dash it all, the duke proves to be irresistibly charming! If she remains in his company, she’ll end up in the wicked scoundrel’s clutches.

Even worse, her second attempt at escape lands her in increasingly poor circumstances. With nowhere to turn and her safety at risk, she may have to accept help from the one man who threatens her resolve—and her reputation.

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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:

Persephone tipped her head up. “It does look as though it could rain,” she agreed just as a drop landed on her nose. “Oh!”

“Was that a raindrop?” he asked.

“Yes.” She was already scrambling to her feet.

Acton bottled the ale and jumped up. The rain began to fall more steadily. Then lightning flashed within the clouds. He snatched up the blanket as he shouted, “Go!”

Persephone dashed to the coach and quickly climbed inside. Acton followed, handing her the ale and the blanket before hoisting himself up. He moved too quickly, though, and hit his head as he pushed in.

“Ow.” He winced before collapsing on the rear-facing seat, massaging his forehead.

Persephone set the bottle and blanket aside and moved to the other seat. “Let me see.”

He lowered his hand, to reveal his reddened flesh. Persephone gently touched the area. “The skin isn’t broken. But it’s awfully red.”

“I’m blaming that chair-bed.”

Bemused, she couldn’t make the connection. “Why?”

“Last night, I thought I was too tall for it. Today, I thought I was short enough to make it into the coach without hitting my head.”

Persephone laughed, and his gaze met and held hers.

Their faces were so close. She could see a faint freckle at the base of his nose that wasn’t really visible from a nonintimate distance.

“I love when you laugh. It’s so unreserved and…real. You aren’t like other young ladies. You don’t simper. Or flirt. Or pretend to be anything you’re not.”

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AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of over sixty captivating, compelling historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Her novels have been translated into five languages and are also available as audio books. Join her Reader Club at https://www.darcyburke.com/join.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming, teacher husband, artist daughter, and writer (yes!) son. They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, a rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, an adorable former stray who wandered onto their deck and into their hearts, and two bonded boys who used to belong to (separate) neighbors but chose them instead. You can find Darcy in her comfy writing chair, folding laundry (which she loves), or enjoying game night with the family. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com and follow her social media: Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans, Instagram at http://www.instagram/darcyburkeauthor, and Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/darcyburkewrite.

If the Duke Dares website link: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon:

https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Amz

Apple:

https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-App

Barnes & Noble:

https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-BN

Google Play:

https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-GP

Kobo:

https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Kobo

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Darcy will award a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) PLUS Swag to a randomly drawn winner (Swag US/Canada Only) via Rafflecopter during the tour.

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Descendants of Atlantis by Courtney Davis - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Descendants of Atlantis

Courtney Davis

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GENRE:   Fantasy Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Sorcha is a descendant of the Atlantean people, a race of humans who were once the blood slaves of the vampires of Atlantis. She grew up knowing that the vampires were enemies, the werewolves were beasts, and the witches were their friends. When she starts to question the situation her clan has been put into with the witches, a vampire who haunts her erotic dreams comes to the rescue. Samson didn't grow up in Atlantis and didn't choose to become a vampire. He hates what he has to do to survive, and can't imagine ever deserving love. When he finds a Descendant of Atlantis near death and nurses her back to health, he expects her to run at the first opportunity. When she offers him her willing body, he knows he would do anything to keep her, and that means hiding his monstrous side. But you can't love someone if you're hiding part of yourself. One look at Samson and Sorcha knows she erased him from her memory on purpose, but why? What could he have done to make her risk such a dangerous spell? With battle on the horizon and Descendants in trouble, will Sorcha's memories be the end of any chance at Samson's happiness, or will it lead to a new understanding of what these monsters really are?

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EXCERPT THREE:

“Don’t worry, I’m the biggest predator in this ocean,” he grinned and flashed his fangs.

It should have scared her she supposed, but all it did was make her tingle with anticipation. What was wrong with her?

He pushed the boat back toward land, then pulled her in for a kiss, seeming to have no trouble staying afloat. She felt a rise of panic as the boat drifted away.

“Katherine, I will always keep you safe,” he promised and took her hand. “Now, follow me, we will swim fast and hard, straight down. The vortex will start to pull and when it does, things will go fast.”

“You won’t let go of me?”

“Of course not,” he promised. “Now, take a deep breath.”

She did, and then they were underwater and against every instinct, she was letting him drag her down toward the bottom. Soon her lungs began to burn, and panic swelled and just when she thought the panic might be too much, she felt a pull all over her body, a push behind her and a sucking in front. She was thrown through the water so fast she couldn’t have stopped it if she’d wanted to. She stopped swimming and clung to Ian’s arm with both hands. Her mind started to fuzz, she was desperate for air, and she was sure he was wrong.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Courtney Davis is an author of urban fantasy/paranormal/supernatural fiction with a little romance and humor thrown in. She loves creating worlds and exploring human, and inhuman, interaction. She lives in North Idaho with her husband and children where she teaches and enjoys time spent relaxing in the summer sun and winters by the fire. She has always had an affinity for reading and writing and a goal to make a career of it. There is no greater joy than to know her words took a reader out of reality for a time and into another world.

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CONNECT WITH COURTNEY:

AUTHOR WEB PAGE:

http://authorcourtneydavis.com

5PP PAGE:

http://www.5princebooks.com/courtneydavis

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE:

http://www.facebook.com/authorcourtneydavis

INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/authorcourtneydavis

TWITTER:

http://www.twitter.com/authorcdavis

TIKTOK:

http://www.tiktok.com/authorcdavis

GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22124381.Courtney_Davis

BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/courtney-davis-d140b5d2-64db-40c0-8004-4fdff2e339c6

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:

https://www.amazon.com/Descendants-Atlantis-Courtney-Davis-ebook/dp/B0CP31ZQ92

APPLE:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/descendants-of-atlantis/id6474148164

BARNES AND NOBLE:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/descendants-of-atlantis-courtney-davis/1144417244

KOBO:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vampires-of-atlantis-1

GOOGLEPLAY:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vampires_of_Atlantis/MkW5zwEACAAJ?hl=en

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tales of the Yankee Clipper: Stories and Reflections on Joe DiMaggio by Jonathan Weeks - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Tales of the Yankee Clipper:

Stories and Reflections on Joe DiMaggio

by Jonathan Weeks

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GENRE:   Non-Fiction Sports Biography

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BOOK BLURB:

There has probably never been a professional baseball player more of a puzzle than Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio had a talent for keeping his emotions suppressed and his innermost thoughts to himself. Few could say that they really knew him. And even the ones who did found him to be unpredictable. He was a walking contradiction. He was quiet, but not necessarily shy. He could be both gracious and abrupt, approachable or aloof depending on the situation. Although he came across as humble, he had a tremendous sense of entitlement. He was complex, secretive, inscrutable. There were many layers to the man who came to be affectionately known as the “Yankee Clipper.” DiMaggio always felt that his actions on the field should do the talking for him. And for the most part, they did. To many, DiMaggio personified elegance, style, and grace. An impeccable dresser, he was married to two glamorous actresses. On the field, he glided almost effortlessly, never having to dive for a ball and rarely (if ever) making a mistake on the basepaths. He became the living embodiment of the American dream and a symbol of the country’s so-called “greatest generation.” But as time marched on, DiMaggio grew increasingly distrustful of the people around him. It was understandable—inevitable even. The third book in Jonathan Week’s Yankees trilogy contains an abundance of anecdotes, statistics, and other little known facts about the Yankee Clipper.

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EXCERPT TWO:

YANKEE STALKER

While recovering from an injury at the beginning of the 1949 campaign, DiMaggio began receiving love notes from a woman he was not acquainted with. At the same time, letters started turning up at the offices of various New York gossip columnists. They were signed by a woman calling herself “Junior Standish,” who claimed to be in a romantic relationship with the Yankee slugger. DiMaggio was familiar with a Broadway dancer of the same name, but had never actually dated her. When a handful of columnists reported that the two had become a couple, DiMaggio and Standish both made public statements to the contrary.

The plot thickened when the mysterious letter-writer attempted to make contact with DiMaggio at his hotel. After being turned away, she sent a note threatening suicide if her efforts to meet him were thwarted in the future. Alarmed by this turn of events, Yankee PR-man Arthur Patterson contacted the police and enlisted the help of a bodyguard to protect Joe.

While police were investigating the matter, another note containing suicidal threats was delivered to DiMaggio’s hotel room. Hoping to produce some tangible leads regarding the author’s identity, details were leaked to the press. A 30-year-old woman was eventually taken into custody. While being interrogated by the assistant district attorney in Manhattan, she suffered a mental breakdown, screaming hysterically and threatening to kill herself. Police transported her to a Bronx hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Doctors agreed to release her into the custody of her father on the condition that she seek counseling and leave DiMaggio alone. She agreed to the arrangement and never bothered Joe again. Her identity was not disclosed to the press.

Incidents of a darker nature had plagued major-league baseball on prior occasions. A few weeks before DiMaggio’s stalker was taken into custody, a 19-year-old office worker named Ruth Steinhagen shot Phillies’ first baseman Eddie Waitkus in a Chicago hotel room. The troubled teen, who had developed an unhealthy obsession with Waitkus, ended up in a state psychiatric hospital, where she remained for three years. Waitkus recovered and played six more seasons. A similar scene had unfolded in 1932, when Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges was shot at the Carlos Hotel in Chicago by a showgirl named Violet Popovich. Jurges had broken off a casual relationship with Popovich, prompting her to behave irrationally. The infielder was shot twice—once in the hand and again in the ribs—but returned to action that year. He played in the majors until 1948.

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GUEST POST:

There are so many engaging stories about Joe DiMaggio it’s difficult for me to settle on one favorite. But in the interest of captivating readers who may not be die-hard fans of the sport, there is one generic tale that comes to mind. This particular anecdote can be found at the end of Part II in my book and is entitled Steinbrenner’s Failed Murder Plot.

Born into a wealthy family, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner lived a life of privilege. After making a fortune as CEO of the American Ship Building Company, he assembled a group of financiers to purchase the Yankees from CBS. Although the Yankees won several World Series titles during Steinbrenner’s tenure, his time with the club was wrought with controversy. Fickle and tempestuous, he went through more than a dozen managers between 1973 and 1990. His favorite victim was Billy Martin, who he fired and rehired several times. In 1974, Steinbrenner was suspended for making illegal contributions to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign. Another suspension followed in the early-‘90s after he paid a Bronx gambler to dig up dirt on one of his players.

Despite his problems with other Yankee personalities, Steinbrenner was particularly fond of DiMaggio. He believed that Joltin’ Joe was a good luck charm and, when the Yankees made the playoffs in 1996, he made sure that DiMaggio attended all of the home games. He even let Joe sit in the owner’s box.

Steinbrenner wanted to commission a statue of DiMaggio to be put in center field at Yankee Stadium. He also sought to have a DiMaggio statue erected in Central Park. In order to complete both projects, he needed Joe’s permission. The retired Yankee slugger stubbornly rejected the proposal, commenting, “As long as I am still walking, there is no way I will have anyone build a statue of me in this city. When I’m dead, they can do whatever the hell they want.” Joe had declined similar offers from New York City officials, who reportedly wanted to rename East 56th Street and the Major Deegan Expressway in his honor.

Shortly after Steinbrenner’s statue proposal, DiMaggio was invited to Yankee Stadium to watch a game in the owner’s box. George always went to great lengths to make Joe feel comfortable. All of the Yankee idol’s favorite beverages and snacks were readily available. On this particular occasion, Steinbrenner had added a new Philly cheese steak vendor. He raved about the quality of the sandwiches and insisted that Joe sample one. DiMaggio was very particular about what kind of foods he would eat, but eventually agreed. After finishing his sandwich, Joe complained of stomach discomfort and asked his companion to bring him home immediately.

Joe’s friend ignored multiple traffic laws getting him back to his apartment in haste. Upon arriving, Joe rushed off to the bathroom in obvious discomfort. “I don’t know what the hell Steinbrenner fed me,” he said from behind the bathroom door, “but I think he’s trying to kill me so he can put up that statue of me in center field.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jonathan Weeks has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his father. He grew up in the Capital District region of New York State and currently works in the mental health field.

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CONNECT WITH JONATHAN:

Blog:

http://www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks 

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINK:

Amazon US eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Yankee-Clipper-Reflections-DiMaggio-ebook/dp/B0CKBLVMM5

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mamacadabra by Carrie Monroe O'Keefe - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on thetour.

Starting her third year of marriage, Carrie Monroe O’Keefe had already been on the roller coaster of extreme highs and lows of a newly blended family. Thinking she could do a better job of navigating marriage, stepmotherhood, working full time, and all of the things, she embarked on a year of “what if.”

Settling into her role as wife and mom, she tried to find ways to do things better, see things differently, and reframe her thinking to create a better home for her family and to feel more at home herself. With humor, unwavering honesty, vulnerability, and sarcasm, Carrie finds her way through the year and to her true self.

EXCERPT TWO:

From Chapter: This House is Not a Home (Currently)

It’s a bright Saturday morning and I’m looking around my kitchen wondering when, exactly, I let it get THIS bad. The dishwasher has been run, but nobody has bothered to unload it, resulting in piles of dirty dishes in and around the sink. There are empty cereal boxes lined up, I assume, so I can cut out the Box Tops for Education labels…because I’m the only one who can what…use scissors? Break down the boxes for recycling? Throw away the empty bag inside the boxes that once held cereal?

Speaking of recycling, there’s a bag of recycling on a stool waiting to be taken out on our “next trip” out of the house. It’s been there for three days and we have, in fact, left the house several times in those three days.

The clincher, though, is the kitchen table. Our puppy has a best friend that lives next door. He comes over to our back deck door and barks for Sullivan to come out to play. They wrestle, run around, investigate, bark at each other, bark at passersby, lay down to rest, and then start over. When they’re out and I’m working or writing, I bring my laptop up to the kitchen table so I can check on the dogs from time to time.

At this very moment, I’m sitting at my kitchen table and surrounding my laptop are:

•One little girl’s black shoe.
•One little girl’s gold shoe.
•One little girl’s pink slipper.
•The Nancy Drew book we’re currently reading.
•Large bag of colored pencils.
•Pair of my husband’s dirty socks.
•Empty napkin holder on its side.
•The art project brought home by my littlest little girl.
•Pad of paper with my work notes scribbled on it.
•Three place mats (one was a casualty of yesterday’s juice fiasco).
•One black marker.
•Work documents of my husband’s.
•A partially completed drawing.

My kitchen table isn’t even big! How, or perhaps a better question is WHY, is there so much sh*t sitting on it?!! And does anybody else find it a teensy bit disconcerting that there are two shoes, a slipper, and dirty socks on the table at which we EAT OUR MEALS? Anyone???

AUTHOR BIO:

Carrie Monroe O’Keefe started blogging about her life by sharing stories of marriage, stepmotherhood, and how to navigate it all on mamacadabra.com in 2012. People said they loved reading the posts, so she kept writing. In addition to blogging, she released her middle-grade fiction book, The Whole Truth, in 2019.

Carrie lives outside of Minneapolis with her husband, two daughters, and dog Finlay.

CONNECT WITH CARRIE:

Website: http://www.mamacadabra.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/monroeokeefe

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144367657

Amazon:

www.amazon.com/Mamacadabra-Poof-Youre-mom-now/dp/1733629939

GIVEAWAY:

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