Borderland by Ross Victory

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Borderland is not just a poetry collection—it’s an invitation to explore the most vulnerable corners of the human experience. Award-winning author Ross Victory takes readers on an emotional journey across the intersections of masculinity, race, bisexuality, and grief. In a fearless blend of narrative and free verse, Victory dismantles societal expectations, offering a space where identity can exist fluidly and unapologetically.

Through its evocative imagery and bold storytelling, Borderland tackles life’s most complex themes—love, loss, strength, and defiance. Each poem immerses readers in raw emotion, from tender vulnerability to fierce defiance. This collection is perfect for readers seeking honest, unfiltered reflections on what it means to exist at the crossroads of identity and experience.

With a voice that’s as unique as it is powerful, Ross Victory has created a collection that speaks to anyone searching for connection and understanding. Borderland isn’t just a book—it’s a movement, a conversation, and a space to find yourself reflected in its pages.

Step into the borderland, where identity knows no boundaries.

Read an Excerpt

The Watchtower

I am a lone sniper standing watch
over my heart,
On a fortress wrought with steel and barbed wire.

I scan the horizon, forever askance,
Enemy or ally? Escape or endure?
Isolation strips away my doubt.

Perched still and silent,
High and ready above the world.

Mirages in the distance,
Stirrings in the sand,
Hallucinations in my mind,
A phantom wasteland.

In this tower,
Each approaching step
Sparks memories of betrayal,
Too vivid to forget.

Steady aim, my rifle cracks—

I descend.

Moving with stealth and care,
To find a crumpled note,
“Do you need help? We see you alone up there.”

How do I distinguish,
Between enemy and peer?

Steady aim, my rifle cracks—

I descend.

Another crumpled letter,
“I’m in love with you.”

Atop the watchtower,
Guarded by suspicion,
Threats of war outweigh my desire for love,
On guard, I am stifled by my own protection.

Ready, aim…

Once, I came down to aid a woman calling for help,
Blade to the neck, a sword in my side
She robbed me of everything,
Scars remain

Oh, the irony that echoes,
In this needle's eye,
Among glorious clouds, silken air,
I repel the saving light.

One day, I may know the truth,
Sometimes love knocks.

Until that day,
In the Borderland's cruel lore,
My instinct, my watchtower a monument,
To a boy lost in war.

About the Author:

Ross Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, music artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade, American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writing after losing his father and brother. A former English teacher, Ross creates immersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” a father-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles and a music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure, bisexuality, and family. In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze” and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa's Cabin.” Ross also publishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse on Medium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference. This fall he will release his first poetry collection titled, “Borderland,” exploring the intersection of race, masculinity, and sexuality.

Website: https://www.rossvictory.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rossvvictorius

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Borderland-Poetry-Intersection-Masculinity-Bisexuality-ebook/dp/B0DJ1PHR13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Angel Scroll by Penelope Holt

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

ONE ANCIENT PROPHECY, TWO HEARTBROKEN LOVERS, AND A WORLDWIDE SCAVENGER HUNT FOR THREE MIRACULOUS PAINTINGS.

After her husband’s death, New York artist Claire Lucas has baffling dreams and waking visions as she channels an enigmatic and healing painting of a holy man in India at the deathbed of a young woman. When widowed antiquarian Richard Markson announces that Claire’s canvas is one-third of three paintings prophesied by the Angel Scroll, a recently discovered Dead Sea parchment, she is pulled into an international scavenger hunt to find the stolen scroll and the paintings it predicts.

As she pursues the paintings with Richard across historic and holy sites in America, Israel, and Europe, Claire encounters a series of remarkable teachers. A Buddhist, a Benedictine monk, and a professor of early goddess worship all provide rich explanations for the artist’s compelling and perplexing psychic experiences — until she assembles the incredible triptych and deciphers its inspirational message for the modern world.

Read an Excerpt

Hilde. Simply to think of her was to feel her presence, vibrant, beautiful, inviting. She had brought color, excitement, and warmth to his somber life of rigid routines and serious study. No matter how hard he tried, Richard couldn’t stop the memory of Hilde’s beautiful face and perfect body from moving through his memory a hundred times a day. He saw her blond hair, cut in a shimmering, sophisticated bob. He pictured how she pushed the hair on one side behind her ears and stroked her neck, as if to remind him how exciting her touch was. He remembered how she would arouse him by absentmindedly caressing him throughout the day. She gave him lingering kisses hello in the morning, and trailed her fingers in a light touch across his back when he was lost in study. She sometimes ran her palm down his arm with an exciting pressure as they talked. And at night, her hands felt for him hungrily beneath the sheets, as he wrapped himself around the beautiful body he had craved all day and finally took his pleasure.

Richard had memorized every inch of his wife’s lithe, petite frame that radiated so much sex appeal. She was vivacious, the center of attention in any group, but languid and seductive when they were alone. Mostly it was her laugh, throaty and full of easy warmth, that haunted him. Her cornflower blue eyes would brighten, and her lovely face would soften and transform itself with an even lovelier smile to accompany that unforgettable laugh. How could he speak of Hilde when it hurt so much just to think about her?

About the Author:

Penelope Holt was born and educated in England and now lives in New York. She is a novelist, playwright, business writer, and marketing executive, whose work has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, York Arts Center, and New York’s American Folk Theater. In addition to writing fiction, The Angel Scroll, and The Apple, based on the controversial Herman Rosenblat Holocaust romance, Holt is a prolific writer, editor, and co-author of non-fiction, including Business Intelligence at Work A Personal Operating System for Career Success, Singing God’s Work, the story of the Harlem Gospel Choir, and many other works. She is married with two children.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Scroll-Prophecy-Destiny-Novel-ebook/dp/B0D56KD3N5/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Loving Lizzie Finn by Tamara Hughes

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lizzie Finn grew up in a brothel, and she’s reminded of that fact every day. She dreams of finding a job and becoming independent. Only then can she be free of her aunt’s disdain. First, she must find an employer who won’t turn her away because of her past.

Byron Greeley is determined to save his family’s business after Lizzie’s uncle falsifies the amount Byron owes on a loan from the bank. Determined to find proof of Teague’s perfidy, Byron slips into the banker’s house and rummages through the study only to be discovered by Lizzie, a red-haired beauty who utterly captivates him.

Byron offers Lizzie a job in exchange for information about her uncle, and because she believes her uncle is innocent, she agrees. When Teague discovers Lizzie and Byron’s growing affection, he threatens to destroy Byron and his family, insisting Byron is exploiting her. Is Teague’s warning well-founded? Are Byron’s feelings for Lizzie true, or is Byron using her for his own gain?

Read an Excerpt

She grasped handfuls of his coat as she basked in the sensations Byron inspired. Dear God, this man had the ability to tease the very Devil into giving up his soul. She’d always believed she’d be better served being alone all her life, but with Byron, she’d never felt so happy, so safe to be who she truly was. “Marry me,” she whispered. The moment the words left her lips, a thread of panic wound itself around her heart.

Byron froze for a moment before he drew back. “What did you say?”

“I … I …”

A knowing smile tugged at his lips. He set his hands on the desk on either side of her and leaned in. “Don’t worry. I won’t pressure you to repeat it, but I will take it as a sign of progress.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and cringed. Indeed, he was wearing down her reluctance.

A fingertip traced her nose before warm lips pressed against hers in an all-too-brief kiss.

When she opened her eyes, Byron stared back, his grin still in place, and a giddy thrill coursed through her. If she did marry Byron, what would their lives be like? Even if the two of them could be happy together, what about his parents and sister? “If your family knew where I grew up, would they accept me?”

“Of course.” Although Byron was quick to respond, his smile faded. “I’ll marry you even if they don’t.”

About the Author:

A small-town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. To learn more, stop by her website: www.tamarahughes.com.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tamarahughesauth
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tamara-hughes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamara.hughes2/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7738043.Tamara_Hughes
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tamarahughes

Buy link for Loving Lizzie Finn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMQ4X1H

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fate of our Union by Hildebrand Hengest Hermannson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A mountainous thundering bull breaks up battling tribesmen, summoning three struggling youths, as an insidious unseen enemy turns tribes against tribes—pitting rich against poor, sons against fathers, and men against gods. Its insatiable hunger for division threatens to plunge mankind into a dystopian realm ruled by man-eating wolves.

A miraculous seven-headed horse, a symbol of unity, assembles the struggling youths of extraordinary origin into a journey of self-discovery. There Sunu the Saxon Poet, Rufus the Roman Stoic, and Keresaspa the Sarmatian Priestess must overcome pride, aversion, and unforgiveness; there they must learn from historical heroes, philosophers, and amazingly similar gods to battle the unseen monster and its rising wolfmen.

Fated to part ways to face the demons at home, Sunu, Rufus, and Keresaspa must reunite as they bring divided peoples together to fight the source tearing everyone apart. They must heed the divine wisdom of the seven-headed horse and justly wield the seven magic weapons they’ve mysteriously been given to overcome the unseen enemy and understand the higher purpose of the mountainous thundering bull.

Read an Excerpt

Sunu the Saxon and Rufus the Roman meet Keresaspa the Sarmatian (CH 7 of The Fate of Our Union).

Sunu and Rufus leaned in, beholding her sapphire blues—then she punched them in the face.

The woman sprang forward from the mountain while they fell backward onto brown pasture. As they stood up, she kicked back like a mad bull, hitting their chests.

Fallen back to the pasture, Sunu and Rufus rolled on the damp grass to face each other, then looked up at the woman to see her aiming an arrow, a cloud above her brooding face.

“Scavengers!”

They rolled away from her rapid-fire, bronze heads nipping at their skin. Sunu pulled a crimson arrow from his blood bull cloak and shot up to his feet. He extended his right arm, catching a whizzing red shaft with the Gauntlet of Truth and snapping it while whipping the Fetter of Awe with his left hand, lassoing the woman by her waist.

She held out her bow as he yanked her his way.

Sunu grabbed his mace while she nocked an arrow. As her skidding shins stopped near his bare feet, he batted the bow and arrow out of her hands. Rufus confiscated her archery while Sunu seized her sword and aimed it at her head.

She jerked back, nostrils flaring red, arcing her shoulders to slide out of the Fetter only to feel it tightening further. “I’ll be no man’s forced bride—not for the conqueror of hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousands!”

“Bride?” Sunu winced, glancing at Rufus as he ran to his side. “I thought you had beauty, but I said no word of you being my bride.”

About the Author:

Hildebrand Hengest Hermannson’s deep-rooted fire for Indo-European culture and Western Philosophy ignites his first novel, The Fate of Our Union, the inaugural piece in a planned series. His work draws inspiration from the national epics The Saga of the Volsungs (Norse), Mahabharata (Indian), Aenid (Roman), Odyssey (Greek), Táin Bó Cúailnge (Celtic), and Shahnameh (Iranian), weaving these rich cultures into original stories featuring fantasy world-building, dynamic characters, and intricate plots and themes. His Wild Hunt of thought breathes life into his spiritual, ethical, and cultural interests, inspiring us all to strive for imperishable virtue.

Website: https://www.hhhermannson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HHHermannson
Twitter: https://x.com/HHHermannson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hhhermannson77/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hhhermannson/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214514568-the-fate-of-our-union
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZS7TD5V?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Katie Walsh by Colleen L. Donnelly

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Katie Walsh expects to write a love story someday. The hero resembles her father, and the heroine the deceased mother she never knew but imagines from the longing on her father’s face.

Katie doesn’t expect her father to be murdered, or his will to leave their farm to Guy Knowles, the man she hoped to marry, and order her to another state. Betrayed by the men she trusted, what should have become a love like no other withers and dies.

Until Ted Howard, who doesn’t fit the hole Guy left in her heart. Instead, he fits himself into what she needs—someone who will stay, protect her, and break his own heart for her if needed.

Read an Excerpt

“You’re in love, aren’t you?” Her voice softened.

“Was in love. Like I said, it doesn’t matter now.” My voice wavered.

“There is no such thing as ‘was’ when it comes to first loves. They are the pioneers who break our hearts in and carve the place where forever love will eventually reside.”

Tears trickled down my cheeks.

“Who is he?” she coaxed.

“My neighbor in Nebraska. Evidently, I wasn’t the pioneer of his heart. Someone else will have that honor for Guy.” I could barely say his name, but Eliza had no trouble spurting, “Guy Knowles?” right back.

I glanced out the side window. Maybe Papa felt this sort of loss after Mama passed, and that was why he said so little when I plied him for more about her. The loss in his expression said he wanted what I did—more of and for the one we loved. Ultimately, more time.

Eliza leaned from her seat and wrapped me in her arms. “Go ahead. You need to cry. The mold Guy cut into your heart hurts because he didn’t fill it. But someday someone will. And you will be ready.”

I rested my head against hers and imagined a hole in my heart the exact shape as Guy. I didn’t want it filled by someone else someday. If Guy didn’t fill it, I wanted it gone. Forever.

About the Author:

Colleen L Donnelly was born and raised in the US Midwest but ventured to other parts of the country as an adult to experience life from other perspectives. Besides writing, she spends time outdoors, antique hunting, reading, or watching a good movie. Even though she retired from a career in laboratory science, she is never bored and always busy at something.

Social Media Links:

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenLDonnelly
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4
Twitter: https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3YQIFP2

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Licenced to Rear by Riya Aarini

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a book-themed T-shirt to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?
I write in the humor and satire genre because it’s a whole lot of fun to imagine and write. When readers get the humor, it’s doubly satisfying.

What world-building is required?
All the world-building comes from my imagination.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.
Mila Winston, the heroine in Licensed to Rear, is a go-getter and will not let misbehaving antagonists, like Peter Losor, stop her from achieving her dreams. As a character with unstoppable grit, she has a lot to teach everyone.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?
I’m not superstitious and I try to practice good habits. But to answer the question, I consider myself to be made up primarily of quirks.

Are you a plotter or pantser?
I use a hybrid approach and outline a bit, then write the rest by the seat of my pants.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?
An air purifier.

Anything new coming up from you? What?
I’m promoting Licensed to Rear right now.

Do you have a question for our readers?
What do you enjoy most about reading satire?

Mila Winston aspires to earn a professional license to practice parenthood. It’s all she needs to start her family in the happiest micronation on Earth. Newcomers flock to Coolbeensia to fulfill their dreams of raising children here, where kids are guaranteed loving—as opposed to horrible—parents.

But mighty obstacles test Mila’s grit. Peter Losor, a chap with an annoying air of bravado, questionable parenting skills, and a defiant personality, stirs up trouble, eventually challenging the very law that defines Coolbeensia—that licensure is mandatory to enjoy the privilege of raising children.

Will Mila survive her trying ordeal and achieve her ambitions of being a licensed parent in the quirky yet revolutionary micronation? Find out in this satirical, contemporary family fiction novel that will leave you second-guessing the ideals surrounding the prestigious job of parenthood!

Read an Excerpt

“He’s seven, barely getting started,” Jason retorted. “And for life? Are you kidding me?”

“Well, we have to look closely at the defendant’s conduct and determine if it unequivocally led to a violation of the plaintiff’s Fifth Amendment rights.”

“What was that right again?”

With a heavy sigh, Mila shook her head. “Jason, you should know it by now. It’s Friday, and you had three days to memorize the entire Bill of Rights.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, but—”

“No excuses, Jace. We’ve got to prepare if we’re going to be licensed parents.” She put her hand on his thigh and gave it a light push. “Anyway, the Fifth Amendment states that kids have the right to live in a make-believe world for as long as they wish.” She dropped her tablet onto her lap. “For sure, per Coolbeensian law, this kid’s right was violated.”

Jason jerked his head back. “How so? Kids at some point realize there’s no Santa Claus.”

“But at age seven, he had the right to be inspired by the magical world of Santa and other legendary beings. I mean, it’s just plain wrong that the father’s irresponsible blurt led him to no longer believe in the Tooth Fairy too. These figures add so much joy and wonder to a child’s life. The father had no right to take that joy away from his son so soon.”

She crossed her arms. “It’s just not sensitive parenting.”

“Eh, I disagree,” Jason argued, cocking his head. “In a couple years’ time he’d have learned the truth anyway, from friends and even teachers.”

Mila flung her neck back. “Ugh, I’d never tell my fourth graders that Santa doesn’t exist.” Her eyes grew big. “Some still believe.”

About the Author: Riya Aarini entered her small part of the world one summer day in the Pacific Northwest. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, including humor and contemporary fiction. If you enjoy quirkiness with a pinch of whimsy, you’ll have an appetite for her books.

Author Website: http://www.riyapresents.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aarinibooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aarinibooks

Book is available everywhere books are sold, including
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Licensed-Rear-Novel-Riya-Aarini-ebook/dp/B0DGFGDZYT

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anastasia's Midnight Song by M. Laszlo

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Laszlo will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Longing to cure her deep, hysterical fears involving a diabolical dream fox living inside her womb, Anastasia T. Grace takes a post making occult mirrors in the hope that she may someday convince herself that she commands the power to banish her nemesis into one of her creations. However, when a troubled, young Englishman grows obsessed with her beauty, she is forced to confront the pressing, all-too-real, misogynistic danger of male psychopathy.

This books takes the reader on a strange, metaphysical psychological drama that plays out with Anastasia and Jack, both troubled by their own demons and delusions. This is a book that could be read several times over and still not be able to glean all the richness the author provides. Themes of aroma, of being alone and lonely, of loss... and many more... are pictured in this journey through a dream or through madness? There are no clear answers, and this reader believes that's what the author intends. Every reader will get something different from the book...and may even get something different each time they read it.

The reader can delve into the different motifs - the dream fox, the diadem spider, the ghost girl of Svetlana - not to mention the music that is introduced throughout.

This is not a quick or easy beach read, but it is a book to be savored and experienced. It reminds me a lot of magical realism bound up in a dream vision - where the things experienced may or may not be factual, but have a reality too deep to explain. For readers who want to think and not just be entertained, this is the book for you. 4 stars. Read an excerpt

London. 19 June, 1918.

In the darkness before dawn, a dream awoke Anastasia—it was a nightmare in which the dream fox inside her willed itself to metamorphose into a large, hideous diadem spider.

She did not fall asleep again for an hour, and once she had, a foul odour awoke her for good. What could it be? She sat up and pinched her nose shut. Sensing warmth against her face, she realised the room was bathed in the morning light. The odour lingered, too, so she climbed out of bed and crawled off to her left, following the smell. Soon enough, she discovered what she believed to be the carcass of a rat lying to the side of the footboard. A dead rat. It’s an omen of something awful. When she finally mustered the nerve, she groped here and there for the tail and collected the lifeless creature. Then she stood, felt her way over to the window, and dropped the dead rat into the alley below.

After she had washed her hands, she stumbled back to the window. What to think of something like that? She revisited the dream. Could it be a sign the conniving dream fox inside my womb has already transformed into a monstrous diadem spider? If so, what happens next?

Outside, the streets grew quiet—and the lull made her twist the Huguenot cross. For a time, she paced. Wringing her hands, she debated what kind of pathology might be responsible for envisioning something so disturbing as the metamorphosis fantasy. Every now and then, she sat in bed and rubbed her belly—and in those moments, she brooded. Someday soon, I’ll deliver the diadem spider. Just like a woman gives birth to a little baby. And then the hideous thing will probably tear me to pieces and consume my remains, and why wouldn’t it?

About the Author:

M. Laszlo is the pseudonym of a reclusive author living in Bath, Ohio. According to rumor, he based the pen name on the name of the Paul Henreid character in Casablanca, Victor Laszlo.

M. Laszlo has lived and worked all over the world, and he has kept exhaustive journals and idea books corresponding to each location and post.

It is said that the maniacal habit began in childhood during summer vacations—when his family began renting out Robert Lowell’s family home in Castine, Maine.

The habit continued into the 1990s when he lived in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem and worked as a night clerk in a Palestinian youth hostel. In recent years, he revisited that very journal/idea book and based Anastasia’s Midnight Song on the characters, topics, and themes contained within the writings.

M. Laszlo has lived and worked in New York City, East Jerusalem, and several other cities around the world. While living in the Middle East, he worked for Harvard University’s Semitic Museum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio and an M.F.A. in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.

Website: https://www.mlaszlo.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/AuthorMLaszlo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giacomovenable/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anastasias-Midnight-Song-M-Laszlo/dp/1922329762/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

He. by Gregory Pakis

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A sexually open-minded couple, Lester and Val, have recently moved into a stylish yet eerie apartment building.

Val's curiosity is piqued when she starts to receive unusual messages and requests from an anonymous messenger.

Lester is also cautiously intrigued, as Val starts to fulfill the requests.

A suspected sex club soon becomes media headlines when a former member disappears, and the club is reported to have vacated its last premises.

As the messages persist, Lester and Val start to question whether the anonymous messenger is connected to the clandestine club mentioned in the media, and if there is any link between him or the club and the odd newcomers in the apartment next door.

Read an Excerpt

She walked over to the kitchen and stared out the windows. Everything was still. An uneasy feeling came over her. She looked back at Lester’s door.

was he acting a bit strange lately

he did seem distracted

that night he seemed more excited than usual

wasn’t that a dream

She remembered the things he had said and she felt excited about the possibilities. There was another party in a few weeks. They were also possibly going to meet with a couple Lester had met online. But she felt dread about mixing her and Lester’s energy with others. She wasn’t sure she needed to. She still found Lester compelling; his brooding mysterious presence, his body. He took care of himself. And she wasn’t sure there were many men that could be with her as intensely.

Her phone beeped. She looked down at it on the kitchen table. It wasn’t often she received messages. She preferred it that way. She read the message.

‘the stencil’

It wasn’t from a contact. That was odd.

what stencil

She’d received her share of messages over the years. Notes pressed in her hand. Under her windscreen wipers. Written on napkins in bars or on the back of business cards. But it was usually just a phone number and a name. She then realised which stencil the message was referring to.

did something just click in or out of place

About the Author:

Gregory Pakis is an Australian author, film-maker, actor and wacky vlogger.

He has written the short story, The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night; the soon to be released horror-suspense novellas, The Regressor and He., and Memoir of a Suburban Hoe-Bo, which is partly an account of when he lived out of a van for ten years in Melbourne.

Gregory Pakis is also the writer / director of the feature films, The Garth Method (2005) and The Joe Manifesto (2013), which have won national and international awards and been distributed through Accent Entertainment, Label, Vanguard Cinema.

Gregory's more informal video projects are the feature documentaries, Garth Goes Hitch-Hiking (2007) and Garth Lives in a Van (2011) which have screened at film festivals in Australia.

More recently, he has created the comedy series, suBURPieS and his Wacky Vlog which can found on his socials.

Gregory has been featured in articles in newspapers, The Age, The Herald Sun, Beat Magazine, Inpress, FILMINK, and the Neos Kosmos. He has been interviewed on radio by the ABC, 3RRR, SYN FM, 3CR.

BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/Kmzbq39uREY
AUTHOR CHAT TO CAMERA VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gb76iJdAUak
WEB PAGE: https://www.gpak.org/books/he
WEB PAGE FOR FILMS: https://guerillafilmnite.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gregorypakis/
TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregorypakis
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gpakis
TWITTER: https://x.com/GPakis
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Films_Books._Vlogs

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJYRJK5W FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED OR BUY FOR ONLY $0.99!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flamingo Cafe by Jackie Kang

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A storm is brewing off the coast of Florida, but chaos has already made landfall for four women of Palm Beach society. Abigail, a self-appointed Cuban princess and queen of the WAGs, suddenly finds herself penniless and on the streets. Claudia, a Greek entrepreneur and CEO of a prestigious international clothing line, is entering her golden years only to realize secrets can weigh you down. Cassy, a barista and owner of the Flamingo Cafe, is doing her best to recover from a tragic past. Meanwhile her best friend, Bri, also harbors a secret: a romantic tet-a-tet with Cassy's brother Nick. Each woman has played her part in a society obsessed with appearances and secrecy for years. So, when Hurricane Odette blows through town, exposing those secrets, it's no surprise their lives collide like a clap of thunder. Only one thing is certain: if they don't work together, Mother Nature will teach them the hardest lessons of their lives.

Read an Exclusive Excerpt

As I observe Abigail, I notice she is also giving me the once-over. I watch her gaze travel the length of my body, and the skin around her eyes crinkle when she settles on the box half hidden in my arms.

Without missing a beat in Riley’s and my conversation, Abigail says, “we also learned that after mating is over, the male leaves and never takes part in raising the child.” Abigail looks at Riley and scoffs. “Go figure. Mammals of the male variety are all the same.” She glances pointedly at the box again. “But I would bet you already know that little tidbit of information, don't you?”

I resist the urge to fidget or shift my arms. “I suppose I did.” I search the recesses of my brain for something else to add. But instead of producing some witty comment or brilliant conversation, I trail off into silence.

Abigail stares at me silently until I can't take it any longer. “I was just on my way to get some coffee. I guess I'll be seeing you around.” I back down the aisle, away from the two of them, with the box still firmly tucked in my arm, and give Riley an awkward wave. “So anyway, have fun camping.”

Abigail regards me with a look I can't quite place, and I fear I've said something wrong, so I add, “stay safe out there. See you later, kiddo.”

I make haste to the coffee stand and pour myself a steaming cup of French roast before taking my purchases to the counter. As I head out the door, I glance at Abigail and Riley. Abigail is shaking her head at Riley in the negative, and I wonder what she is saying no to.

I'm tucking my coffee into the cup holder of the Jeep when Abigail and Riley exit the store. They cross the parking lot empty-handed and open the driver's side door of a black Mercedes G-wagon SUV. It takes me a few minutes to register the tinted windows, and it's not until they are pulling out of the parking lot and I'm staring at the Miami Sting Rays vanity license plate that it hits me.

“What the hell? It was Abigail?”

About the Author:

When not spending her time creating make-believe people and places, Jackie Kang lives in Kirkland, WA with her very real family of 1 husband, 2 dogs, and 3 children. In her past life, Jackie has held jobs as a personal trainer, a spa manager, a dental assistant, and an office manager, but her true love is writing and sharing a well-crafted story. Jackie is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association.

Website: http://www.jackiekangwritesbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacqulineK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacqulinekang/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flamingo-Caf%C3%A9-Jackie-Kang-ebook/dp/B0DCC4NCJ5/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Goblin King's Mischief by D. Lieber

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. D. Lieber will be awarding a $10 Bookshop gift card (so you can support your local bookstore!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A promise unkept. A love she can’t forget. This wily human will do anything to reclaim the heart of the Goblin King.

Lady Melody Piobaire never lost faith her first love would come for her when she was forced from his side. That is, until she finds out he doesn’t even know who she really is…doesn’t even know she’s human. To make things worse, she’s the promised mistress of the sidhe king. Rather than bear Tir’s heir, she devises a plan to win back her true love in the most goblin of ways.

Orphaned elf Aodh never forgot what it was like growing up on the mean streets of Goblintown. And now, as Goblin King, he’s dedicated to being the just and attentive ruler the neglected goblins deserve. So when a spoiled human who knows nothing of what it means to be a goblin tricks him into marriage, he’ll do anything to be rid of her.

Melody is certain she can win Aodh’s heart again, so she isn’t prepared for his hot and cold hostility. Aodh is unsettled by the forward human in his home and the way she seems to know just how to get to him.

What can Melody do if her only love no longer wants her, or worse, no longer exists?

Read an Excerpt

I looked up at Aodh, taking in the face I used to know so very well. His features had sharpened in the last ten years. His thick hair—which had been quite messy when it was shorter—now fell in long locks that could no longer hide the pointed tips of his ears. The groove between his straight nose and wide lips had deepened, and he still had a tiny break in the hair of his left eyebrow, a scar too small to see if not for the space where the hair no longer grew.

I took in the sight of him, memorizing the small changes that had taken place since the last time I’d seen him. He’d grown both taller and wider—his shoulders now the broad and strong shoulders of a man. Though, despite the added years, his eyes had changed the most. They were much darker than I remembered, not in color but in substance. He’d helped me as I knew he would, but he no longer had that carefree glint in his eyes. The lack of that little light of mischief hurt more than anything else.

“Miss?” he called. “Where do you live? What’s your name?”

I let my mouth widen in a smirk of bravado. “Me? My name is Lady Melody Píobaire, daughter of the Earl of Piskishire.” I swallowed my heart. He’s not going to like this. Raising my left hand, I displayed the ring I’d just sneaked from his finger onto mine. “I’m the goblin queen, and you can come for me at Maplecrest, my family home, whenever is convenient for you, husband.”

About the Author:

D. Lieber has a wanderlust that would make a butterfly envious. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She has been many places—from Canada to England, France to Italy, Germany to Russia—believing that a better world comes from putting a face on “other.” She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds.

Lieber lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox).

Website: http://www.dlieber.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/dlieberwriting
Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-lieber

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Goblin-Kings-Mischief-D-Lieber-ebook/dp/B0DF5RBP8M/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Rise Up Trilogy by Henrik Wilenius

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award the winner's choice of an audiobook set via Spotify or a digital book set of THE RISE UP TRILOGY. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I never thought I was going to be an author, although my two older brothers, my sister, my father, my grandfather and my great uncle were writers. In my early twenties, I founded an art servicing company, selling contemporary art, and after an initial success, I ventured out to real estate development and market researched. But something was not right. By living the high life, I was neglecting my spiritual needs. I decided to radically downsize and went back to university to study philosophy, because I was obsessed with the question of why it is so hard for us to expand our understanding. And when I found the culprit, I became a writer. It was supposed to be an essay on Rhetoric by Aristotle, but only after half an hour of writing, I knew it was going to be a full-length manuscript. End of Restlessness, a philosophical study into my own coming-of-age, was published in 2001in Finland. Soon I realized that if I really want to relay my understanding, I needed to write fiction, young adult fiction, because that’s the genre where the post-modernism doesn’t reign, and grand narrative is accepted. In other words, I can tell stories where my characters evolve as spiritual beings. And I’ve been on that road ever since.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

My Muslim characters Hashim and Maryam have taught me how Islam could be a source of strength to fight climate change, animal cruelty and racial equity.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I usually write the screenplay first and then the novel. My system of putting a book together doesn’t involve much professional book editing, because most of the development takes place on the initial screenplay phase of the book. I find it a lot easier to work on the plotlines and character arcs in this stage. I use script doctors extensively. It’s much simpler to move things around in a film script, and all these script doctors are real story-telling professionals. I always pick and choose which feedback to use, but I always make leaps in the character development and plotlines during the process.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a plotter. I’ve tried a few times writing a story without outline or script, and it didn’t go well. I’m a discipline guy and I need to know where I’m heading. I can spend a long time finetuning the plot. I want it to be rock-solid before I let myself to be immersed in writing. However, I leave room for the writing process to bring surprises, because then I dig deep into the emotional and spiritual depth of my characters. One of those was Maryam’s character arc in Collusion, book three of the Rise Up Trilogy. I had already finished writing and send it out to a beta-reader, when I suddenly realized that the ending at the time was a cliché. And I’m glad I did. Now I love it, and it was one of the most satisfying moments in my writing career to rewrite the ending.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

There’s a floor ventilator. I prefer using ventilator to AC, but I guess I could put it in the closet as it is already October, although we could still get some hot days here on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I have three manuscripts in different stages of development in my virtual drawer. All of them are coming-of-age stories with strong social justice issues. I haven’t yet decided if I will continue writing about Hashim, Maryam and Alex, though. I guess I’m still waiting if the Rise Up Trilogy can gain more readers. As it is right now, I don’t see the point of continuing but then again, if this blog tour hits off, the chances of me getting back to these characters increase. Then I would pick a time maybe two or three years after Collusion, book three, ended. I have some ideas already, but I rather not yet talk about except that there are big surprises coming.

The Rise up trilogy is a coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam, three best friends on the threshold of adulthood. Before they can find their place in this world, they must come to terms with their past and learn to confide in each other as they are confronted by intolerance, ignorance, and corporate greed that threaten to rob them of their future. Inspirational, harrowing, intense and deeply moving, this trilogy presents a ray of hope amidst terrible hardship, misfortune and loss.

Book One: Catch You if You Fall

High school best friends Hashim, Alex, and Maryam must confront real-life issues that loom for Gen-Z today, including the climate crisis, corrupt politics, and racial and gender equity.

When Hashim turns eighteen, he receives a grant from his Mosque that will send him to an Ivy League in New York. His devout Muslim family couldn’t be more proud. And to support their young son on his journey, they arrange a wife for him. There’s only one problem: Hashim is gay.

Hashim’s best friend Alex is struggling with a difficult home life, a non-present father, and financial issues that prove particularly painful when all his friends are planning to go off to college and leave him behind.

Standing confidently alongside these two boys is Maryam, a headstrong Muslim girl who bucks her traditional roots by becoming a vegan activist.

It doesn’t take long until certain evil forces start to draw these three even closer, as their futures and the wellbeing of their community and the world is threatened. They are called to act.

Book Two: Merry Farm

In the second installment of the Rise Up Trilogy, best friends Hashi, Alex, and Maryam stumble upon a huge government coverup. When more people get sicker and sicker, and nothing about the outbreak makes news, it becomes clear the corruption goes up high.

As the three attempt to expose and stop a tragedy that could kill thousands, they end up framed as the bioterrorists responsible for this exact crime, and a team of hitmen is dispatched to hunt them down. As they grapple with their own growing pains, Hashi, Alex, and Maryam hurry to outrun the disaster, prove that they are innocent, and do what they feel is right.

Book Three: Collusion

Now a well-known activist, Maryam, along with her two best friends Hashim and Alex, is chosen by the President of the United States to draw up a proposal to help fight climate change, mere weeks before superstorm Roxanne makes landfall in the Northeast.

After the President’s Future Rescue Advisory Board hears their climate proposal to set heavy taxes on meat, dairy and carbon emissions, and someone leaks it to the press, chaos spreads across party lines. A few months since they stopped a deadly virus in its tracks, the three uncover a conspiracy on the highest level of the legislative branch.

While the deadly hurricane wreaks havoc along the eastern seaboard, destroying the U.S. Naval Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and hitting New York City with devastating force, Maryam, Hashim, and Alex grapple with forces beyond their control in the government.

How will their stories unravel? What do their futures hold as they mature into adults in a world that may not accept them? Find out in this last book in the Rise Up Trilogy.

Read an Excerpt from COLLUSION:

“Yes, let’s talk about protecting the American way,” Maryam responded to the reporter. “Let’s talk about the Norfolk Naval Station in his home state of Virginia. We were there only a few days ago. All it takes is some rain and high tide, and a large part of the base goes underwater. And many of the piers were out of operation for that reason. Like Norfolk, many other U.S. navy bases have been built on lowlands by the water, and most of them are literally sinking into the sea as we speak.”

Hashim bit down a smile from the sidelines. Maryam was going head on. She had seen how well it worked with the President when Alex did it.

“But Senator Stevenson and his colleagues refuse to talk about the biggest national security risk of our time, because it’s caused by climate change. Senator Stevenson with his fellow climate change deniers in the Senate are blocking all the attempts to fund any initiatives to address the issue. So I truly wonder what or who is the real threat to the American way?”

About the Author:

Henrik Wilenius is the author of the Rise Up Trilogy, a young adult coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam confronting real-life issues like climate change, corrupt politics, animal cruelty and racial and gender equity.

The Rise Up Trilogy is now available also as an audiobook and a weekly serialized audiobook podcast on all the major platforms.

Previously, Henrik as published two books (an autobiographical coming of age book and a YA novel) by a major publisher (WSOY) in Finland before switching to English and self-publishing. The Rise Up Trilogy was inspired by his fifteen-year stint as a volunteer in a Red Cross Youth Shelter and by his vegan activism.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVJ1TNFG
Buzz Sprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2264640
Website: http://www.henrikwilenius.com
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/henrikwileniusauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@henrikwileniusauthor

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to React When Woken at 3am by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers While Staying in a Youth Hostel and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips by Simon Yeats

This post is part of a virtual book tour of the LESSER KNOWN TRAVEL TRIPS series, How to React When Woken at 3am by Drunk Argentinian Backpackers While Staying in a Youth Hostel and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips by Simon Yeats. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Book 4 of an original and hilarious book series of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection by Australian author Simon Yeats, who from an early age learned that the best way to approach the misfortunes of this world is to laugh about them. Simon shares his comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living life as an Aussie ex-pat and having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as COVID hysteria in the early part of this decade. From how to negotiate traffic in Los Angeles when your car can only drive at 5 miles/hr, to what to do when locked out of your hotel room in your underwear, to the emotions of attempting the world’s second highest bungee when you have a pathological fear of heights, to how to deal with the trials and tribulations of staying in a youth hostel with travelers who have no respect for the other guests. Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for you to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to empty your bank account, get squeezed sitting in a middle airline seat, or deal with border security at the Ukraine/Russia boundary.

Read an Excerpt

Big Wednesday was my first day at work as a liftie on the Burgess Creek lift at the Steamboat ski resort as a wide-eyed 20-year-old. I do not remember the exact date, but I am absolutely certain it was a Wednesday because everyone who was present at the resort that day referred to it as ‘big Wednesday.’

Overnight, between ‘ordinary Tuesday’ and ‘big Wednesday,’ the town and resort received a mammoth amount of snowfall. It absolutely dumped. A biblical amount of snow. Even though I do not recall snow being mentioned once in either the old testament or the new testament. But I could have missed the reference.

And Moses went up the mountain at God’s direction and there was fresh dump of powder snow, and he cried out, “ye verily, gonna cut me some wicked turns.”

To get to work on my first day, I take the shortcut straight down the hill to the main road and bus stop. I am decked out in my official Steamboat resort onesie ski suit. The snow level is over my belly button. It is like wading through waist high surf for a half mile.

I scramble onto the bus, and I am on my knees huffing and puffing while dripping with sweat.

An inauspicious start to the day.

About the Author:

Simon Yeats has lived nine lives, and by all estimations, is fast running out of the number he has left. His life of globetrotting the globe was not the one he expected to lead. He grew up a quiet, shy boy teased by other kids on the playgrounds for his red hair. But he developed a keen wit and sense of humor to always see the funnier side of life.

With an overwhelming love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and being a passionate advocate of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply that the adventures he has led were survived.

No author has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CBNQLSPW/about
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoryeats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoryeats

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cat Who Chased Ghosts by Nic Minnella

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.

When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.

As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.

The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.

Read an Excerpt

The idea seemed to greatly amuse Jasper. His eyes now sparkled with excitement.

“Alright, count me in.” He laughed, closing his comic book. “After school, we go on the hunt. If there’s something spooky in your attic, we’ll catch it on camera.”

He lifted his hand for a high five.

“Deal.” Timmy grinned, reciprocating. Just as he began to feel the tension in his body ease up for the first time since the night before, a faint rustling sound caught his attention.

“You’ll catch what on camera?” asked someone behind them.

Both boys turned around to see Louisa standing there, her arms crossed over her Born Swiftie sweatshirt, suspicion etched on her face.

“None of your business, Louisa,” Jasper retorted.

“Still breaking into people’s homes?” she shot back.

“We’re planning a science project,” Timmy intervened.

Louisa looked at him with narrowed eyes. “A science project that needs video cameras and voice recorders?”

“We’re doing an experiment on . . . sound properties. Of different spaces,” he made up on the spot, looking over at Jasper, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Listen, we still owe you for helping us last night. If you need anything,” added Timmy, trying to defuse the tension while changing the subject.

Louisa shrugged, mollified. “I think you two are up to something. And I think I know what. But you’re right, it’s none of my business,” she said and turned away, shaking her ponytail in silent disapproval. “Just remember that some things are better left alone.”

About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.

"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.

Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

How to handle negative criticism.

This is a toughie! When I was younger, I shied away from writing because I was worried about what people would say. I thought I couldn’t handle the criticism and rejection. But over time, I realized that writing is a creative endeavor, an art form. And like all forms of art, it’s incredibly subjective. What one person sees as a masterpiece, another might find just average—or worse.

This subjectivity is actually what makes art so fascinating. There are countless styles of art, fashion, design, and books out there. Each one appeals to different tastes and preferences. This diversity means that there’s something for everyone, but it also means that not everyone will love your work. And that’s perfectly okay.

Once I embraced this idea, writing became much more enjoyable. I stopped worrying so much about what others might think and started focusing on what I wanted to create. This shift in mindset was liberating. It allowed me to explore my own voice and ideas without the fear of judgment holding me back.

Another thing that helped was understanding that criticism isn’t always a bad thing. Of course, some feedback might sting, but it’s often a valuable tool for growth. Constructive criticism can point out areas where you can improve, helping you become a better writer.

So, my advice to anyone struggling with these fears is to remember that art is subjective, and criticism is not a reflection of your worth or talent; it’s just a sign that you’re putting yourself out there. So, write what you love, embrace the feedback, and don’t take rejection personally. Focus on your passion for writing and let that drive you. What matters most is that you’re creating something that’s meaningful to you. And who knows? Your work might just resonate with someone else in a way you never expected.

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Too bad there's a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions…and find time to search for her missing father (who just might be harboring a dangerous secret of his own). Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Publishers Weekly calls THE LEGENDARY MO SETO “Adrenaline pumping”, Kirkus Reviews says it “Packs a punch”, and Booklist calls it “Remarkably relatable.” Leap in and join the fun!

Read an Excerpt

I tap the arm of a boy next to me. He’s around my height, though he looks like he’s probably a good couple of years younger. “What’s everyone looking at?”

The boy cocks his head toward the crowd and frowns. “There’s a poster about auditions for a Cody Kwok movie, but—”

Cody Kwok? Cody Kwok! Aaaaaaaah! Every thought inside my brain disappears, except for the words “CODY KWOK” in capital letters, surrounded by flashing lights.

I need to see that poster.

I crane my neck, but it’s no use. What would Cody Kwok do? Cody wouldn’t let buildings or bridges or trains or nuclear explosions stand in the way of what he wanted—let alone a few people.

“Nacho, meet me out front. I’ll be right back.” Slipping through cracks, under armpits and between legs, I duck, crawl, and push my way through until I’m standing in front of Cody’s magnificent face. I’d recognize it anywhere. His black eyes are narrowed, and his lips are curled, as if daring his opponent to strike. His fists are held in a classic fighting stance.

“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.”

Below the picture are the words:

CASTING CALL FOR THE PROTEGES
PRESENTED BY FLYING FIST STUDIOS
Inviting all young martial artists to participate in our open auditions to star alongside CODY KWOK in his next movie.
Sign up for an audition spot on Sunday, July 7
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Auditions begin Saturday July 13.

Sign-ups are—I double-check my phone—in a week.

About the Author:

A. Y. Chan grew up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area reading all the middle grade and young adult books she could get her hands on. To this day, those remain her favorite genres. After achieving her black belt in Taekwondo, she explored other martial arts, such as Wing Chun, Hapkido, and Muay Thai. These days, she continues her martial arts training some mornings, writes in the afternoons, takes long walks to muddle out plot points, and falls asleep reading.

Book Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Mo-Seto-1/dp/1665937327
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legendary-mo-seto-a-y-chan/1144226905
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-legendary-mo-seto-ay-chan/20699961

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AYChanWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aychanwrites>
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aychanwrites>
Website: http://www.aychanwrites.com
Simon & Schuster Author Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/A-Y-Chan/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/9781665937320

a Rafflecopter giveaway