Category Archives: Author Tours

Jennifer Lesher, Author of Raising John: On Tour

Posted on by

This post was most recently updated on April 25th, 2014

Raising JohnPublisher: Paperback: Cavu Press (Jan. 18, 2014)
Category: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & Kindle, 322 pages

How do you go on living when you have done the unforgivable? How do you love a mother you barely remember? John is an orphan who misses the mother he hardly knew. Robert is the drunk driver who killed her. As the story opens we meet 4-year-old John, who wonders why his mother had to die. Robert wakes up in lockup, expecting to sleep off a blackout and go home, until he learns of the accident he caused.

John grows up under the care of his devoted maternal grandmother, who grapples with guilt over her daughter’s past. Just as John is on the cusp of manhood, he must confront his mother’s death anew and question everything he has come to believe about himself and the people he loves.

Robert is sentenced to 4 years in state prison. His incarceration begins a journey that will have a profound effect on not only himself, but on the life of the boy he orphaned, and on the legacy of the young mother who died.

Raising John was a semi-finalist in the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Alumni Association Emerging Writers Contest.

Praise for Hungry For Love by Jennifer Lesher:

“Great story and wonderfully created characters!  I truly enjoyed Hungry for Love and am eager for the next story. The character development was great. I was surprised by how I much I liked and disliked Christina in such a short time; one minute I felt bad for her and the next I thought she got what she deserved. This is a really fun and entertaining read.”– Kristin W, Amazon Reviewer

“Fun + Substance.  Funny and frothy in a “chick lit” kind of way, but with heart, and genuine insight into the main character’s emotional life and journey to self-respect. Well written – I look forward to reading this author’s upcoming work.”– Acorn, Amazon Reviewer

“Hungry for Love was tightly plotted and well-written, an easy but satisfying read.“-Twark Main, Amazon Reviewer

“Captivating Read!  I loved how the author introduces the characters and their histories. Great descriptions of feelings and situations. Can’t wait to read more of this series.”-Sara, Amazon Reviewer

About Jennifer Lesher:JennLeHeadshot

Jennifer Lesher is an author, mountain biker, travel junkie, non-sufferer of fools, and graduate of the School of Hard Knocks. Recently Jennifer left her job in the high-tech industry to pursue certification as an airplane mechanic. She will complete her schooling in the spring of 2015 and, FAA willing, will be certified shortly thereafter. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Website: http://jenniferlesherauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferLesher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennlesher
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579266.Jennifer_Lesher

Buy Raising John: 

Amazon

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Mar 14 Review & Giveaway
Crystal’s Many Reviewers Mar 17 Review
Teena in Toronto Mar 18 Review
Bookalicious Traveladdict Mar 19 Guest Post & Giveaway
Manic Mama of 2 Mar 21 Review
SincerelyStacie Mar 25 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 26 Review|
Every Free Chance Mar 26 Guest Post & Giveaway
Mom in Love with Fiction Mar 27 Review
Heck Of A Bunch Apr 9 Review & Giveaway
Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings Apr 14 Review & Giveaway
Deal Sharing Aunt Apr 16 Guest Post & Giveaway
Luxury Reading Apr 18 Review
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Apr 25 Review & Giveaway

Alistair McGuinness, Author of Round the Bend: On Tour

Posted on by

This post was most recently updated on April 5th, 2014

Round the bend book coverPublisher: Matador (November 26, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1780883908
Category: Travel, Adventure Travel, Living & Working Abroad
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 256 pages

From Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, a Search for Life After Redundancy

Three things happened simultaneously. The lioness charged, Alistair fled across the parched savannah and his wife screamed for him to run faster. Stuffed deep inside his tattered rucksack was a guidebook containing advice on what to do in wildlife emergencies, which he planned to read if he survived the next thirty seconds. Future plans to climb Kilimanjaro, teach English in the Amazon and live in Australia were temporarily forgotten as he turned to face the pouncing lioness, thinking back to the words of advice from his mother-in-law. “Don’t do anything silly, and look after Francine.” From deep underground in a remote Bolivian mine to the scorched Australian outback, Round the Bend is an adventure travel story. It explores the turbulence of redundancy, the excitement of travel, the anguish of leaving home and the challenges of starting a new life in Australia.

Praise for Round the Bend:

“An inspiring, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable story of the journey of a lifetime.  Definitely recommended, particularly if you’re planning such a trip or thinking of emigrating.“-Sue Magee, The Book Bag

“A cracking marriage of travel adventures and challenging life decisions makes for a great read!  If you are looking for inspiration on the direction of your life journey or are dreaming of wild travels in remote foreign lands, Halfway Round the Bend, by Alistair McGuinness, is the read for you!
Packed with quirky anecdotes and tales of jungle trekking, mountain scaling and safari survival, this action packed adventure is woven around real life following redundancy and some difficult decisions to leave family / friends and finally emigrate to Australia.
I really enjoyed the read and must admit that I am just a little jealous of some of the places Alistair and his wife Fran experienced on their remarkable extended expedition!”– Rich Packard, Amazon Reviewer

“A great travel adventure book.  A great read. As well as thoroughly enjoying the tale of the authors adventures in South America and descriptions of amazing places I have only ever dreamed of visiting, I loved how the book was more than just a book about someone’s travels. The relationships, people within the book and obvious soul searching which spurs the author on to his quest for adventure are what made this story a real page turner for me. Can’t wait to read the sequel!”- Lara Clark, Amazon Reviewer

” A heartening, entertaining travelogue.  I stumbled across this as a ‘New Release’ and catching sight of my hometown, Luton, in the author’s bio. I’ve always been a fan of travelogues, and this didn’t disappoint.
The journey Alastair relates struck a chord – I found myself quite carried along with Alastair and Fran’s brave adventure and leap from ‘normal’ life into the Amazon and beyond. So many of the other travelogues I’ve read are by seasoned travellers, but Alastair’s ‘fish-out-of-water’ is believable and endearing, and his relaxed style allowed me to share in the wonder and realisation that they seemed to experience on their trip.“-Craig Fisher, Amazon Reviewer

“A cleverly written book with a light and humorous tone throughout.  A collaboration of thrill – seeking times and life changing moments. Not only is the reader able to indulge in some mind blowing travel adventure they are also able to read and understand the pure emotion and challenges of leaving family and friends to start a new life down under.  This is a very unique novel and a very interesting book and a fantastic read. And what’s more exciting there are more installments to come of this marvellous book.”-Simon Barclay, Amazon Reviewer

About Alistair McGuinness:Alistair McGuinness

Alistair grew up in the UK in a town called Luton, which lies 30 miles north of London. Family holidays were spent in County Donegal, Ireland, staying with his Grandmother in their large family home where she had once raised fifteen children.

It was these annual trips that made Alistair realise his Great Uncles were Seanachaís (Irish story tellers). After a few pints of Guinness in the family bar, brothers Barney and Francis would entertain the evening crowds with their recitations of life in rural Ireland. As their rustic voices carried across the crowded room, Alistair would watch and listen as the animated tales mesmorised the overseas visitors.

44 countries and four decades later, Alistair now calls Australia home and in the tradition of Great Uncles Barney and Francis, loves to recite stories. He lives between the beach and the forest with his wife, two young boys and a fun puppy called Peppi. After decades of adventurous escapades Alistair is calming down and has decided to write more and bungee jump less!

He works as a Business Improvement Specialist and has just spent three years as a fly in fly out employee at a remote iron ore mine site in Western Australia. As a trainer and facilitator, he has worked in Europe and Australia and is passionate about helping people and organisations to become successful.

A fun family day for Alistair would be fishing from the local jetty with his boys, taking the puppy for a walk along the beach at sunset and cooking a scrumptious curry in the evening with his wife.

An ideal adventurous day for Alistair would be a days walking and scrambling in the Lake District with friends, followed by a visit to a village pub nestled deep in the English countryside.

Website: http://www.thecreativenomad.co/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amcguinness1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amcguinness1/

Buy Round the Bend:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Mar 13 Giveaway & Feature
Crystal’s Many Reviewers Mar 14 Review
Bookalicious Traveladdict Mar 14 Guest Post
I Feel So Unnecessary Mar 17 Review
Reader’s Muse Mar 18 Review
Reader’s Muse Mar 19 Guest Post
Luxury Reading Mar 20 Review & Giveaway
I’d Rather Be At The Beach Mar 24 Review
So Many Precious Books Mar 25 Review
From L.A. to LA Mar 26 Review & Giveaway
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 27 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 28 Guest Post
Bless Their Hearts Mom Apr 3 Review & Giveaway
Cassandra M’s Place Apr 4 Review & Giveaway

Stephan Collina, Author of Muffin Man: On Tour

Posted on by

This post was most recently updated on April 21st, 2014

Muffin ManPublisher: Analytical Media, Inc. (October 1, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1480078062
Category: Political Thriller
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 368 pages

The President’s wife has a premonition, setting in motion a transatlantic story of love, sex and betrayal.

Set against a backdrop of drug dealing, covert political manipulation and murder the Muffin Man is an authentic and atmospheric tale from the 1970s. Based on real events, the story begins with a premonition that leads to the formation of a secretive political organisation. The plot unfolds in twists and turns through the ordinary lives of innocents who are sucked into an accelerating and dangerous vortex of drug dealing, assassination and murder.

A former high-flying US Army Colonel, his alienated daughter, an accidental drug dealer, his beautiful but manipulative girlfriend and a corrupt police inspector all become sucked into the secretive organisation, initiating a succession of assassinations. Rewards lead to arrogance and an early death, or do they?

The “Muffin Man” motion picture is under development by Analytical Media.  The scripting is now complete so expect further announcements soon.

Praise for Muffin Man:

“The Muffin Man is an authentic and atmospheric tale from the 1970s, mostly set in the UK and the east coast of the USA. The tale begins with a premonition that leads to the formation of a secretive political organisation, but the story unfolds in twists and turns through the ordinary lives of innocents who are sucked into an accelerating and dangerous vortex of drug dealing, assassination and murder that leads up to the present day.  Solid writing and interesting plot. Good characters, dialogue and pacing. Worth a read.”-James A. Anderson, Author of DEADLINE, and The Scorpion

“I really liked the era the book was set in and enjoyed discovering the personalities behind various characters. My favourite was the inspector.”-Amazon Reviewer

“The novel is a complex story about the damaging effects of war on an individual and his family. One of the main characters `Ed’ has demons to wrestle with and this alienates him from his daughter `Anne’, who ends up running away and unknowingly working for her dad’s secretive organisation. There are several complex relationships throughout the novel, which all gravitate around drugs, sex, politics and cross between countries over time.  My favourite character was David as he was likeable and reminded me of similar people I have met in my own life. I can only hope that their private lives are as intriguing and complex. All of the main protagonists were believable and were well developed.  The story bounced back and forth between the UK and the US and there was sufficient twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.  I particularly liked the ending and certainly didn’t guess it until the last few pages. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy political themes, complex relationships between characters and twists and turns.  I would certainly consider reading more books by this author.”-Lisa C., Amazon Reviewer

About Stephan Collina:Stephan Collina

Stephan Collina grew up in the 1970s: a troubled time of recession, poverty, industrial disruption, political tension and terrorism. But for younger people, it was also a post-1960s wide-flared, drug-enhanced and extravagant-haired innocence.

Stephan later became a prominent businessman, acquainted with a number of high-ranking politicians. Stephen ran international technology businesses, spending a great deal of time in the USA and various European and African countries.

The Muffin Man grew from a combination of these unique experiences: his early knowledge of the sometime innocent business of drug dealing (although he never inhaled), and of the much dirtier businesses of covert political and military action, and of international business practices.

Stephan’s first novel explored the nefarious and complicated emotional and sexual relationships of a remote village in Wales, where he had spent his early years.

Stephan holds a degree in Philosophy. He is also a qualified commercial ship’s captain. He now lives quietly by the sea, and concentrates on his writing and related filmmaking activities.

Website: http://www.stephancollina.com/muffinman.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephan.collina
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephan_collina

Buy Muffin Man:

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books  Mar 17 Giveaway & Spotlight
Room With Books Mar 18 Excerpt
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 19 Review
Literary, etc Mar 21 Guest Post & Giveaway
Reader’s Muse Mar 24 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 25 Guest Post
Reader’s Muse Mar 26 Guest Post
Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews Mar 27 Review
Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews Mar 28 Guest Post
Tic Toc Mar 31 Review
Manic Mama of 2 Apr 1 Review
Cassandra M’s Place Apr 2 Review & Giveaway
Books, Books, & More Books Apr 7 Review
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Apr 15 Review
Sweeps for Bloggers  Apr 18 Review & Giveaway

Nathan Gross, Author of The Freeing of Jonathon Mark: On Tour

Posted on by

This post was most recently updated on April 1st, 2014

Freeing of Lonathan MarkPublisher: Paperback: Nathan Gross. Ebook: 7write (Dec 8, 2013)
ISBN-13: 979-1093074016
Category: Thriller, Paranoid Fiction
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 324 pages

Jonathon is a Taker, some type of modern day psych in the growing industry of modern grief. Takers treat people for all that ails them just by listening. In session, a Taker doesn’t speak. A Taker doesn’t move. A Taker doesn’t even blink. They take till their patients have got no more negativity to give.

A chance meeting throws a new patient into Jonathon’s life. A girl whose carefree lightness of being is in complete contrast to the average patient. She makes Jonathon realise he can no longer refuse to deal with how his job makes him sick, nor his own destructive vice.

Murder is his only way out, an action that leads him towards his own death and beyond. It is a path he hopes will lead him to his freedom.

Read Sample Chapters Here

View the trailor:

Praise for The Freeing of Jonathan Mark:

“Small book but great story!  It’s more and more rare to find a book like this one.”– dvdchrono, Amazon Reviewer

“Loved this book, can’t wait for the next one!  I had not heard of this author but I do not think it will be long before the world has heard of him. Do yourself a favour and buy this book, you will not be disappointed.  I judge a book on its ‘cannot put down factor’. I found myself quickly intrigued and fully immersed in the book and could not put it down.  It is really well written and does not follow other writers safe templates.  Hurry up and release your second book ! I am glad I jumped on the Nathan Gross bandwagon from the beginning. I suggest others follow suit.”– Ben Mitchell, Amazon Reviewer

“With the publication of his first novel, The Freeing of Jonathon Mark, Nathan Gross has announced to the literary world that he has arrived and demands attention. This book is a psychological thriller that compels the reader to keep reading. The almost dystopian world it portrays is both disturbing and fascinating, and displays Gross’ novel viewpoint of where society is headed. We become partners in Jonathon Mark’s nightmarish journey into the depths of despair and hope for some form of redemption for him, although that seems unlikely. The book is a little too long, but it is a wonderful achievement for a first-time novelist. I look forward to his next book to see where his fertile imagination has led him, and to follow his further maturation as a writer.”- Morry Frenkel, Amazon Reviewer

About Nathan Gross:Nathan Gross

Nathan is passionately obsessed with scratching the itch that is his absolute need to write. Whether it be in the form of novels or short stories, film / video scenarios, scripts or songs: writing keeps the demons at bay.

Nathan draws on and interprets the events that transpire around him, transforming minute observations and a distant, large view of the world into prose. He expresses at once his hopes and despairs, and equally his surprise and complete comprehension of events before, or as they unfold, if not always as everyone else sees them.

If his book ‘The Freeing of Jonathon Mark’ is part of his journey as a writer, then perhaps it traces his experiences chasing the plastic happiness of consumerist dreams. Perhaps it is also a study of how he opted out of these pursuits for a fresh start, in order to forge a new life where he can be free from empty conformity; to discover and further himself in the journey that is his life. New beginnings bring new ideas to draw upon and it goes without saying that we will find these thinkings in his subsequent writings.

His other published works include Ginger the Carrot, the first in a series of picture books for adults entitled Rotten Veggies, and the song and music video Tais Toi for the musician Monsieur Grandin. He is also the director and scenarist for a number of award winning short films. A collection of his works both written and visual are to be discovered at zamsteepa.com.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Nathan now resides in the south of France.

His short story ‘Grampy Joe’ won third prize in the Odyssey House Victoria 2012 short story competition.  You can read ‘Grampy Joe’ here.

Nathan Gross Website: http://zamsteepa.com/
The Freeing of Jonathan Mark Website: http://thefreeingofjonathonmark.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zamsteepa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nath.gross

Buy The Freeing of Jonathan Mark:

Amazon

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Mar 4 Giveaway & Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 5 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt  Mar 6 Guest Post
A Dream With a Dream Mar 7 Review & Giveaway
Let’s Talk About Books Mar 12 Review
Aspired Writer Mar 13 Guest Post
Princess & the Gummy Bear Mar 17 Video Review
fuonlyknew Mar 20 Review & Giveaway
Manic Mama of 2 Mar 21 Review
I’m A Voracious Reader Mar 24 Review
Little Black Marks Mar 25 Review
Giveaways & Glitter Mar 26 Review
The News in Books Mar 27 Interview
The News in Books Mar 28 Review
Room With Books Apr 1 Review & Giveaway