Category: spotlight tour

Interlude to Sentimental Me Book Spotlight

iRead Book Tours

In this book spotlight, we have two books from author Michael Judkins: Interlude to Sentimental Me and Sentimental Me.

Interlude to Sentimental Me Book Spotlight

About Interlude to Sentimental Me: Volume Two

A collection of emotionally driven poetry that covers the story of pain, tribulations, happiness, self-esteem and self discovery through love and heartache. The Interlude will take readers on a journey of determination and imagery, which leads to the formation of short stories and performances.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Google Play, Smashwords, Kobo and Aois21market.

Interlude to Sentimental Me Book Spotlight

About Sentimental Me: Volume One

Sentimental Me – displays his ability to wrest good from bad, to display the courage to dig deep within himself to help others. Through an inspired melding of his unique voice and inspiring photographic images of nature, Michael provides the reader with a unique perspective of the human condition, inspiring others to follow their own creative paths without boundaries.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Poetry Lyric Video

About the Author

Interlude to Sentimental Me Book Spotlight

Michael Barry Judkins was born in the Bronx, New York, along with his four brothers and sisters. Michael’s childhood memories, although bittersweet, provided a rich foundation for him to draw upon later in life as an accomplished author.

Delightful memories of trips to the zoo or picking apples with his mother contrast greatly to daily reminders of what any hard-working family must battle in building a life in an urban setting. Domestic violence. Drugs. Gangs. All play their part in shaping a person – whether for good or bad is often an individual’s choice.

After spending years immersed in typical, reactive adolescent behaviors like skipping school, smoking and drinking, Michael began experimenting with other alternatives to developing new relationships and helping resolve social issues. As he took these first, proactive steps to be part of the solution, and not the problem, the germ of the idea for his first book – Sentimental Me – was born.

Graduating from high school a year early, and after a foray into the music business, Michael completed a BS degree in Human Services and MS in Mental Health Counseling. A daydreamer for as long as he can remember, Michael’s inability to forge a relationship with his beloved father before he passed when Michael was only two years old still haunts him today. His mother’s cherished memories of his father’s spirit and honored Armed Forces service, while providing some solace, also serve to make Michael wonder what might have been, if only.

Today, with several poetry collections and short stories in the works, Michael’s first release – Sentimental Me – displays his ability to wrest good from bad, to display the courage to dig deep within himself to help others. Through an inspired melding of his unique voice and inspiring photographic images of nature, Michael provides the reader with a unique perspective of the human condition, inspiring others to follow their own creative paths without boundaries.

Michael now resides in Allentown, P.A., and welcomes all readers to feel free to contact him at judkins_michal@yahoo.com to discuss your reaction to his work, or learn more about upcoming releases. You can connect with him on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Candidate for Murder Book Spotlight

iRead Book Tours

In Candidate for Murder, it’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the local year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clothes lines.

Candidate for Murder

About Candidate for Murder

When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run as mayor of Spencer!

What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight Gnarly becomes the front runner—at which point his political enemies take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front runner, of course.

Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply embarrassing the front runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge from the United States Army, but to throw in a murder for good measure. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!

Candidate for Murder Book Spotlight

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Book Trailer

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I loved the book description and wanted to share it with you my readers!

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Live Self-Sufficiently Book Spotlight

iRead Book Tours

Learn how to live your life self-sufficiently with this new twelve step book!

Live Self-SufficientlyAbout Live Self-Sufficiently

This is a twelve-step guide to living self-sufficiently with lessons on personal growth, self love, health and wellness, financial stability and healthy relationships.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Alibris.

About the Author

Live Self Sufficiently

Tisha Marie Payton is a certified life and relationship coach. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her education is in human relations with an emphasis in art therapy. For over twelve years Ms. Payton provided service to her community as a Girl Scout, has competed in pageants, fitness and swimsuit modeling, and landed the cover of Playboy Magazine. Throughout her collegiate and modeling career, she found that many people live dependent upon others and aren’t truly living happily. She began a nonprofit organization called Building ME in Texas to build enlightened minds in youth and provide pertinent life skills to stop the cycle of dependency. This is a twelve-step guide to personal growth, self-love, health and wellness, financial stability, and healthy relationships.

You can connect with her on her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour post, I received no compensation for this post. I loved the book’s description and wanted to share it with you my readers!

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The Winemakers Spotlight Tour

Italy Book Tours

When Caterina Rosetta inherits a cottage in the countryside of Italy from a grandmother she’s never known, she discovers a long-buried family secret — a secret so devastating, it threatens the future of everything her mother has worked for.

The Winemakers Spotlight Tour

About The Winemakers

1956: When Caterina Rosetta inherits a cottage in the countryside of Italy from a grandmother she’s never known, she discovers a long-buried family secret — a secret so devastating, it threatens the future of everything her mother has worked for.

Many years before, her mother’s hard-won dreams of staking her family’s claim in the vineyards of California came to fruition; but as an old murder comes to light, and Caterina uncovers a tragic secret that may destroy the man she loves, she realizes her happiness will depend on revealing the truth of her mother’s buried past.

From author Jan Moran comes The Winemakers, a sweeping, romantic novel that will hold you in its grasp until the last delicious sip.

Where To Buy

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Chapters and Books A  Million.

About the Author

Jan Moran is a Rizzoli bestselling and award winning author. She writes historical women’s fiction for St. Martin’s Press (Scent of Triumph, The Winemakers), contemporary women’s fiction (Flawless, Beauty Mark, Runway), and nonfiction books (Vintage Perfumes, Fabulous Fragrances). Her stories are smart and stylish, and written with emotional depth. Jan often draws on her international travel and business experiences, infusing her books with realistic details.

The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. She likes to talk to readers at website and on social media. She lives in southern California and loves lattes and iced coffee, anything chocolate, and Whole Foods Double Green smoothies to balance it all out.

Connect with her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

The Giveaway

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Author Interview

How did you choose to write a book about wine?

As an artisanal agricultural craft often elevated to art and associated with luxury, winemaking shares many similarities with perfumery, which was the industry backdrop of my last historical novel, Scent of Triumph. And I hardly have to say that the research for The Winemakers was thoroughly enjoyable.

How did you conduct your research for The Winemakers?

I’ve always been fascinated by winemaking and the history wine in Italy and America. Long before I began writing The Winemakers, I had visited Tuscany and spent time in the wine regions of California: Napa and Sonoma valleys, the Russian River valley, Paso Robles, and Temecula. I called on winemakers and producers in the industry and had the pleasure of meeting with luminaries such as Mike Grgich, the legendary co-founder of Grgich Hills in Napa; MaryAnn and Larry Tsai, co-founders of Moone-Tsai wines; and Elizabeth Vianna, the winemaker for Chimney Rock in Stag’s Leap.

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

I often begin with the period of time and the industry I want to feature. At the center of the saga, I place a smart woman with an enormous, heartbreaking problem to solve. After that, the characters come to life in my mind and the story begins to spin itself.

Many books feature strong female protagonists. What is different about your writing?

My characters are highly multifaceted and readers tell me they readily identify with the women I write about. As women, we often juggle love, careers, children, parents, friends, businesses, and so much more. The characters I include are smart, savvy, and stylish, though perhaps untested in life. I like to follow characters who discover themselves and what they’re truly capable of. Resilience is also a common theme in my work—I believe we are all capable of great things, no matter what challenges life throws at us. I write from the heart and, like a method actor, I’m often crying or laughing as I write scenes.

What advice would you give budding writers?

Never give up on your dream. Everyone has a story, and that story deserves to be heard. Many people might not want a career in writing, but they do want to leave a legacy for their family. With today’s technology it’s easier than ever to do just that.

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BookGrabbr Spotlight Tour

iRead Book Tours

​BookGrabbr: A great way for readers to discover new books and an innovative marketing tool for authors. 

BookGrabbr : Download, Share, Repeat

 

For Readers:

BookGrabbr is a social media-marketing tool that allows authors to share both full books and previews of their books with readers. Readers, you can have access to these books by signing in through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and using their ability to share as a form of currency. The “Share” is the payment! Share the book, and it will allow you to read it. Just click the “Grabb this book” button next to the book and our system will prompt you to share in exchange for reading!

BookGrabbr contains books of many genres, so visit today, “grabb” a book that catches your eye and start reading!

For Authors and Publishers:

Through their unique marketing tool and platform, BookGrabbr helps authors connect to readers that they wouldn’t generally be able to connect to through their friends and their friend’s friends. The noise in the marketplace is deafening, and at times can be a bit overwhelming for authors trying to promote their books.

BookGrabbr created a way to generate some more buzz by harnessing the power of each individual author’s social media platform.  Once you create your profile on BookGrabbr it allows potential readers to read a preview of your book or the full copy and then directs them to your site of choice to purchase your book in the format that you desire. And since BookGrabbr doesn’t make any money on book sales, you can send them to a retailer, or to your own personal page or wherever you choose! BookGrabbr’s purpose is to help you sell more books, gain momentum and generate exposure.

See how it works:

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​How does iRead Book Tours help?

 

For Readers: 

We help you discover new authors that have put their profile and books on BookGrabbr through our BookGrabbr Promotion Service.

For Authors and Publishers:

Don’t have time to dedicate to yet another marketing campaign? Let us take care of it for you. Through the BookGrabbr Promotion Service we create your profile, help you share your books on your social media and ours too, of course. In addition, we provide you with ideas and the support on how to best use your BookGrabbr profile. This is a cost-effective, efficient way to publicize your books! Contact us to see how we can help you spread the word about your book through BookGrabbr.

Like the idea? Enter the giveaway below to win a BookGrabbr Promotion Service worth $75 and $100 in cash!

Not an author? You can still win the $100 in cash.

Giveaway starts March 14 and ends April 15, 2016.

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