Monday, October 14, 2024

Spirience by various authors



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Spirience: Experiencing Peace and Prosperity through Spirituality and Science is a unique and comprehensive look at the importance of spirituality and science to guide our day-to-day living at a personal level, and to achieve peace and prosperity at a global. The term 'spirience' is a blend of two words: spirituality and science. It captures the essence of spirituality in its prefix "spiri-," and the domain of science in its suffix "-ence".

The importance of such a work lies in the challenges faced by the world today, conflicts between nations and ideologies at the global level and the explosion of mental health issues at a personal level. The book will first set the scene to understand the challenges faced by humanity today and the tools that we have to overcome them. An in-depth look at the treasure trove of texts from India's Vedic past, highlighting the spiritual as well as scientific aspects, will be complemented by a study of the evolution of mankind over the past millennia, changes in the way of life and the current levels of extreme discontinuity brought on by an onrush of technological innovations.

Recommendations for going forward will be presented for the readers to ponder and hopefully incorporate in their personal, professional and social lives. The book will be of great value to anyone interested in or active in personal well-being and global peace and prosperity.

Read an Excerpt

Spirience: A Fusion of Experiences


Early Human Development Through the Ages


The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.

Leo Tolstoy


One of the defining characteristics of human beings, as opposed to other creations, is their fascination with history. From the earliest known human beings, they have made conscious efforts to record evidence of their existence, lifestyle, and beliefs for future generations. Or as time progressed, dug deep into the past for such records and made attempts to ensure that the records were discovered, understood, and shared.

Of course, through ravages of time as well as human conflicts and natural disasters, various elements of the continuum of human civilization were either destroyed, buried, forgotten, and even consciously erased, revised, or have had their ownership reassigned. We will be detailing some examples elsewhere in the book, but it is worthwhile to highlight one example of the reassignment of ownership.

Most historians have by now come to accept that what had been conventionally classified as the Arabic numeral system was really of Indian origin. It was acquired later by traders and invaders from the Arab world, who made it their own, before letting the Europeans have access to the knowledge. It must be admitted that the recent resurgence in the rediscovery of history’s civilizational roots and branches owes much to modern scholarship. Although that admission must be tempered with the recognition that not all rediscovery and scholarship were altruistic and non-partisan. The purpose of this first section of the book, however, is not to revisit historical controversies but rather to present an open-minded survey of many scientific developments throughout the ages and the challenges that have accompanied them. Although highlighting all the diverse views on the history of science would be exceedingly difficult to accomplish in this work, for convenience, we will attempt to integrate various key narratives to present more inclusive perspectives on such development.

Although many historians delimit the origins of Vedic thought and its texts, and practices, Vedic revelation defies such attempts. Foundationally, the Vedas are understood as apaurusheya (uncreated) and accepted as eternal. With every iteration of creation, they are re-revealed and proliferated once again. Despite their antiquity, they are as relevant now as they have ever been. The unfortunate historical events of the past millennium, reflected in the sustained invasions of India by external forces and the eventual conquest and destruction of much of its physical and intellectual wealth, have still not been able to dent the relevance of the everlasting.

About the Authors:

Mahamahopadhyay Bhadreshdas Swami

An esteemed Swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and Head of the BAPS Research Institute in New Delhi, Bhadreshdas Swami’s scholarly work Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya is a profound Sanskrit commentary on the Prasthānatrayī. With a Ph.D. in Sanskrit and multiple honorary degrees, his contributions to the field are widely recognized.

V. I. Lakshmanan, O.C., Ph.D.

Co-founder of Process Research ORTECH and a leader in sustainable technology, Lakshmanan holds numerous patents and has published over 150 scientific works. His accolades include being named an Officer of the Order of Canada and receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the Government of India.

S. Kalyanasundaram

With 25 years of experience in advanced technologies for telecommunication networks and serving as the former Executive Director of the Canada India Foundation, Kalyanasundaram enriches the book’s exploration of the synergy between ancient knowledge and modern science.

Spirience is available through major retailers. Discover how this book’s unique integration of spirituality and science can guide you toward a more peaceful and prosperous life.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spirience-Experiencing-Prosperity-through-Spirituality-ebook/dp/B0DG17QF5S/ref=sr_1_1

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Thursday, October 10, 2024

Playing High by Beth Pellino-Dudzic



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award paperback copies of both books in the series: Playing Hard and Playing High (US only) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



Gina Will Do Anything to Protect Her Husband and Her Band

Perfection is one of the hottest bands on the rock n’ roll scene and they are being wooed into the seductive pitfalls that come with fame. How will they continue to rise when temptation is all around them?

Lead singer, Gina, is seen as The Sexy Siren of Rock for her onstage heat and glamour, but her true love is offstage—as wife to guitarist Trevor, and mother to their miracle baby, Roxanne.

Keeping a family together while touring with the band is hard enough, but Gina is faced with an even more sinister challenge. Trevor’s old friend, Brian Mayfield is hell bent on separating the couple—using drugs, alcohol, and women as his weapons. But why is he so driven to destroy them? How far will tough-as-nails Gina go to protect the ones she loves?
Read an Excerpt

Gina had never seen her parents dance before and wasn’t about to miss this. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” started to play. Mario and Franny truly displayed their love as they glided effortlessly across the floor.

Watching her parents dance in perfect unison, Gina started weeping and couldn’t stop. Trevor drew her closer, seeing how emotional she was. Mario walked over and dragged Gina to the dance floor. Franny grabbed Trevor and brought him out to the floor as well. Gina continued to cry as she listened to the words, dancing with her father, knowing he would always watch out for her. Everyone started clapping. The emotion was too much for her. The hormones of her pregnancy were kicking in. She kissed her father.

“Princess, you are the daughter every man should be happy to have.”

She tried to get the words out between sobs, “Thank you Daddy. I love you too.”

As the dance ended, Gina turned away and started walking fast to the house. Trevor caught up to her. “That was a beautiful sentiment, and I can see you’re emotional. The hormones are catching up with you. What can I do?”

Gina was sobbing. “Just hold me for a minute until I get myself together. I never saw my parents in love like that. It got to me.”

Lisa came over. “Gina, you okay?” Trevor answered, explaining that seeing her parents dance made Gina a little emotional.

About the Author: Beth Pellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx and grew up in Westchester County, New York. She earned a BA in Business Administration and worked at IBM. She has three adult daughters and a new Granddaughter. She currently lives in Alabama with her husband and their miniature dachshund, Truffle. Although The Perfection Saga is fictional, many of the stories hark back to Beth’s time in the Rock ‘n’ Roll world. Beth’s favorite pastime is football, everything football. She also is an excellent cook and baker.

Website: https://perfectionsaga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558439816678
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bpellinodudzic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethandperfection1

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-High-Perfection-Saga-Pellino-Dudzic/dp/B0DDQ6J8K9/ref=sr_1_1 FREE to read on KU

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Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Choice by Dora Farkas



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.

Val is a young Mexican-American quantum physicist and single mother struggling with an anxiety disorder and financial challenges. Her world is turned upside down when her ex-husband files for full custody of their three-year-old daughter to take her across the country where he was offered a job. The story unfolds as she decides either to stay put in Boston and meet job related deadlines or go on a holiday and visit her parents in Mexico.

Encouraged by her father, Val flies to Mexico with Maya, her service dog, and Daisy, her daughter, and she discovers a world of magic that will change her outlook on life forever. She also reconnects with her childhood friend, Mercedes, who gives her a glimmer of hope. Things, however, are not what they seem to be. As all areas of her life begin to fall apart, Val must explore the power of her intuition and make different choices to change the course of her and her daughter’s futures.


Read an Excerpt

It was magic that led me to Val. The day her mother, la señora María, came into our house, I felt something I had never felt before. This woman and her family needed me. I couldn’t explain why. But as soon as she stepped into the house, I ran up to her and started pawing at her shiny shoes. La señora Luz always wore sandals, but this lady had the most interesting shoes ever, with high heels and colors I didn’t even know existed. She petted all my siblings, but I kept pawing at her shoes until she lifted me and didn’t put me down until she got back to her own house.

Is it a coincidence that la señora María got me right before Val got sick? Not a chance. Like all of us, la señora María was guided by her intuition to get a puppy for her daughter just when Val needed someone the most. Val and I had only been together for a few weeks when Val got so ill that she couldn’t get out of bed except to walk me. If I hadn’t been there, who knows what would have happened? My being there helped her to get through the day until her doctor told her to train me as a psychiatric service dog. I can’t tell you how happy it made me to have a job!

About the Author:


Although Dora was born in Budapest, Hungary, she lived in Mexico for five years during her early childhood. Her connection to the Mexican language, history, and cooking inspired the cultural setting for her debut novel, “Choice.”

After getting her doctorate from MIT, she published her first book, “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.” which paved the way for a six-figure consulting business while she was a stay-at-home mom with two daughters. She has given workshops about writing at MIT, Tufts, Boston University, the University of Connecticut, Ohio State University, the Scripps Research Institute, the University of Calgary, and the University of British Columbia.

Author website: https://dorafarkas.com/
Facebook: Facebook

Buy link: https://dorafarkas.com/Choice

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Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Spiral by Randy Dean Noble



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. 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.



They’re in the number one watched game in the world… or so they were told. But they have no memory of who or where they are. Something beyond their wildest imaginations awaits to mercilessly strike them down. And looming in the darkness is something worse... much worse.

Green—named after the color of car he's driving—awakens on the side of a dark highway surrounded by dense forest. And he's in an old muscle car with no way to tell time, no cell phone, and the radio doesn’t work. When he encounters others like himself, they have to join forces to unravel the mystery surrounding them. Yet, trust doesn't come easily—someone amongst them is a saboteur.

With their lives at stake, they are compelled to engage in a race where being last means certain death. They must disentangle the truth that threatens to consume them, before they spiral out of control.

Spiral is a gripping tale of survival, coalition, and the terrifying secrets that lie hidden in the shadows.

Prepare for a rip-roaring, adrenaline-fueled ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

If you enjoy books by authors like Dean Koontz and Blake Crouch that involve supernatural thrills laced with fast-paced action, then check out Randy Dean Noble's exciting horror thriller, Spiral, today.


Read an Excerpt

A void of consuming gloom surrounded me. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I felt the cool metal of the Maglite in my hand, but it wasn’t working. I fiddled with it, smacked it a couple times, but it offered no assistance, so I pocketed it.

With my hands out, I felt around for anything to grab hold of. There was nothing, like I was in a complete void, space without the view, but I could breathe. I consciously took slow and steady breaths, remaining calm.

“Hello,” I said. “Anyone there? White? Anybody?”

Nothing. Did they not walk through yet?

Something snorted nearby—it didn’t sound human. And then it started breathing heavily, in and out, in and out, moving closer with every breath and a CLICK with every step as if its nails—claws—were too long.

Like nails on a chalkboard, but what I could only picture as claws dragging across a metal surface, a SCREEEEEEEEEE emanated very close by. I walked in the opposite direction, trying to keep my wits about me.

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

I didn’t run, moving slow and steady, hands out, trying not to bash into anything, as the breathing thing followed behind, too close for comfort.

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

Somehow, it knew where I was, could see in pitch black.

Every tweak I made in direction changed nothing. I couldn’t lose it. The thing was close behind me.

CLICK! CLICK!

A low, rumbling growl vibrated through the darkness.

CLICK!

I maintained my path, keeping straight… hopefully. So dark.

SCREEEE!

My confidence waned. I darted forward.

About the Author:

Randy Dean Noble is a supernatural thriller kind of guy. He grew up in Canada on a slew of movies and books (action/adventure, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy), all of which have inspired his writing interests. Working a plethora of minimum wage jobs took Randy into computer science and a career in I.T. (because he didn't want to eat PB&J for the rest of his life). But his passion has always been writing, and his dream is to be a full-time fiction author. He writes stories he wants to read, which end up as fast-paced thrilling escape stories meant for one thing: to entertain the reader from beginning to end. His most recent work, Spiral, is a horror thriller wild ride you won't soon forget.

Website: http://www.randydeannoble.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyDeanNoble
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@randydeannoble
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randydeannoble/

Buy Link: https://mybook.to/BMTJgXQ

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Thursday, September 26, 2024

The Scheme by Amethyst Drake



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon GC and a signed book to one randomly drawn winner, a $10 Amazon GC and a signed book to a second randomly drawn winner, and a signed book to a third randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I write mysteries because I love mysteries! I've always enjoyed reading mysteries and watching TV crime drama. No as a writer, I love the thrill of crafting intricate puzzles that keep readers guessing. I also love exploring the complex motivations and interactions of the characters. The genre is a balance between engaging the reader and keeping them on their toes. It’s a challenge to weave a logical yet unpredictable plot, but it's incredibly rewarding when everything comes together, creating that "aha" moment that mystery lovers crave.

What research is required?

There is a lot of research required for the mysteries I write. I am writing in a setting that is not my local area. I’ve done a lot of research into Baltimore and surrounding areas. I’ve also chosen to set my novel in the recent past. Even though I have a lot of memories about how things were in 2009, I still have to fact-check that information because technology has advanced and changed so much since then. Then there is a lot of research involved into people’s occupations to increase the realism and depth of the story. I also have to do research to confirm whether certain plot points are possible and believable. A lot of this research can be done online, through other books, or by talking to people who have personal experience with the subject.

Name one thing you learned from your heroine.

I've learned that true resilience requires perseverance. Katherine Carson has been through many tragedies and seen things that most of us can't imagine. She is very resilient, but her past still comes back to haunt her. Katherine's journey shows me that strength is in the choice to rise each time we're knocked down. It's to keep going when the battles seem endless. Katherine inspires me to see courage isn’t always winning—it’s about continuing to fight.

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

A: My most interesting writing habit is plotting in the bathroom. I have a big white board on the door of the bathroom for taking notes. I do some of my best thinking in the shower or brushing my teeth.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I consider myself a discovery plotter! I start with a general, loose outline of key points or scenes. Then I layer in more details and spend a lot of time thinking about the plot and asking myself questions. For example, I might know exactly how the villain commits the crime, but I have to mull over what clue will lead the detectives to that conclusion and how they will find that clue. I keep layering details into my outline and making changes as needed until I am happy with the story. The outline keeps me of track, but the freedom to discover new character details and twists keeps it exciting for me.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

There’s a stack of books I use for reference: Self-Love Workbook for Women by Megan Logan; The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi; and Reclaim your Author Career by Claire Taylor. There’s also a stack of different colored and sizes of post it notes and colored pens.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I’m working on book 2 of the Carson Crimes Files series, of course. But I’m also starting a new series focused on Margaret Mitchell, the lawyer who is Katherine’s childhood friend. Margaret Mitchell Mysteries will be shorter and cozier, and we will get to learn more about the budding relationship between Margaret and Jake.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Carson Investigations has four detectives: Katherine, Jake, Lee, and Sammi. Which one is your favorite? Which is your least favorite? And why? Comment on this post or send me an email at amethyst@agswordsmiths.com

Katherine Carson, a former intelligence operative turned private detective, has never been in it for the money. But when a desperate CEO offers double her usual fee to find his missing daughter, she can't refuse.

Set in Baltimore, 2009, what begins as a simple missing person inquiry transforms into a complex case of espionage, financial crime, and deep-seated grudges. For Katherine, this case strikes a personal chord, stirring up haunting memories from her own past. As unexpected connections emerge, she must confront her unresolved guilt.

Can Katherine and her team of private detectives solve the case before it's too late, or will the turmoil of her past consume her?

Read an Excerpt

Katherine’s mixed emotions reflected the muddle of the Ames’ case. The chilly silence was broken by the ring of her BlackBerry. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Katie."

"Hi, Jake." Katherine unbuckled her seatbelt and straightened up in her seat.

"Did you make it inside your apartment?"

Katherine slumped back. "You always know, don't you?”

"You okay? Seems like this case is getting to you.”

"I guess so. I wanted this to be easy money…find a run-away heiress, let the family figure out the relationship mess." Katherine got out of her car and climbed the steps to her apartment.

"I suppose nothing is ever that simple."

"I suppose not.” Katherine unlocked her apartment door and stepped into the nearly bare living room. “I just wish we had more to go on. The clues we do have seem to conflict with each other. And I think Sammi is on strike.”

“Again?” Jake chuckled.

Katherine huffed as she removed her coat and bolted the door. “What does she think detectives do? We can’t find missing people by looking into a crystal ball.” Katherine lowered herself onto the soft couch, the only piece of furniture in the room.

"Even if we could, she’d probably think that was spying, too.” Jake chuckled louder. “Cut her some slack, Katie. We were all young and naive once.”

Jake knew better than most people exactly how young and naive Katherine had once been. He was the closest thing to family she had.

“Anyway, I’d like to believe Olivia wouldn’t run off..."

Jake finished her thought. “But it’s possible that this Robert character manipulated her into doing something she would not normally do."

"If that’s the case, then I want to find Olivia before she does something she’ll regret. I hope it’s not too late."

About the Author:
Amethyst Drake is a passionate storyteller. She excels at crafting delightful characters and enjoys developing com-plex relationships among them. Mystery has always been her favorite genre to read, making it a natural choice for her writing. She aims to blend her personal experience with mental health and the moral complexities of intricate interpersonal relationships into engaging novels.

Amethyst loves reading all kinds of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers and enjoys watching classic detective and espionage dramas like "Murder, She Wrote," "Perry Mason," and "Mission: Impossible."

She also loves hearing from readers! Connect by signing up for her newsletter at amethystdrake.com or email amethyst@agswordsmiths.com

Author Website: https://amethystdrake.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amethystdrake.author
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M5lmJO
Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3Z3VsOv

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Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Men of the 65th by Talia Aikens-Nuñez



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Talia Aikens-Nunez 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.

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

Read an Excerpt

The Borinqueneers successfully defended the 1st Marine Division’s retreat, but they soon realized this was only part of a much larger withdrawal of UNC [United Nations Command] troops. As the retreat continued into mid-December, news came that the enemy buildup had accelerated. Chinese and North Korean forces were gathering and converging on Hungnam. The UNC’s worst fears were coming true: they were losing ground in the war.

They had to accelerate their plans in response to protect their troops and evacuate the Korean refugees that had fled to Hungnam. They ordered troops to board ships, division by division, and sail south to Pusan… Meanwhile, the 65th and the 3rd Infantry Divisions would hold the main line of resistance, providing enough cover for everyone to make it safely out of Hungnam…With each withdrawal, the enemy continued to push the Borinqueneers and the 3rd Infantry Division.

…They were exhausted from several days of fighting…The soldiers of the 65th were some of the last to leave Hungnam. They were hurried and squeezed tightly onto the final boats. Finally, they could rest and relax. Once they left, the military would destroy the port so the enemy could not use the equipment and facilities against them.

…After they loaded onto the final ship and set sail, the dynamite detonated. The soldiers looked back and watched the port explode…everything – erupted in smoke and flame.

About the Author:
Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B0BNT3ZRZQ/

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Monday, September 16, 2024

Cover Reveal: Stellar Heir by Scott Killian



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.



Jael Ked’Korhva hadn’t anticipated becoming the galaxy’s most wanted.

He hadn’t planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage that would spell the end for others, which was a boon, considering he was just a derelict scavenger.

That was until forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jael’s artifact for themselves, and they’ll stop at nothing to take it back. What initially appears as a boon swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the relic fall into the wrong hands.

Prodded onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion.

An action-packed space opera, perfect for science fiction fans of Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio or The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey.


About the Author: Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Story telling, in any form, is his greatest passion.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott.E.killian
Twitter: https://x.com/authorsekillian
Email: saltnsulfurpublishing@gmail.com
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/9f595cbdc394/author-scott-killians-newsletter
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DF1RLYLB

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