Giveaway & Review – How To Self Publish by Hank Quense @ireadbooktours @hanque99

Posted on September 29, 2023 by fundinmental

Join Us for This Tour from Sep 25 to Oct 12!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Creating Stories by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 106 pages
Genre: Self Help,
Publisher:  Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: April 1, 2017
Content Rating:  G

Book Description:

Do you have a story in you?

Do you know how to write it or how to tell it? Creating Stories has the answers. Hank Quense, the author of more than twenty books, tells you how to do it. He believes that stories come from the melding of three elements: getting ideas, story design and story-telling. Ideas have to come from the author. Creating Stories covers the last two. The book concentrates on developing characters including such rarely discussed requirements such as a dominant reader emotion and the character’s biography. Plots are also covered in depth and a number of graphics are included to illustrate complex points. Another topic discusses subplots and how to utilize them and how to nest them within the main plot. A separate chapter discusses the relationship between the plot and the emotional arcs. Other topics covered are: character arcs, scene design, point-of-view, writing voice.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

After Creating Your Story:

Book Details:

Book Title:  Self-Publish a Book in 10 Steps: And Market It by Hank Quense
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 88 pages
Genre: Self Help
Publisher:  Strange Worlds Publishing
Release date: Dec 1, 2021
Content Rating:  G

MY REVIEW

Self Publish A Book In 10 Steps by Hank Quense is a nonfiction guide to publishing and marketing your novel. I found the book easy to understand and laid out in a way that makes it easy to follow a step by step process of all the things necessary to make publishing and marketing your book a success.

Hank Quense includes charts, websites, groups, and other bits of information, where help can be found. He includes cost estimates for each step, and warnings about the pitfalls and perils of self publishing. We all know there are many out there wanting to scam you for your money, so do your due diligence.

I found Self Publish A Book IN 10 Steps by Hank Quense to be chock full of vital information and all the things necessary to market and publish your book, but that doesn’t mean you can take a pass on doing your own research. It is a daunting task, but worth the effort to make your book a success.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 5 Stars

Book Description:

Self-publishing a book is difficult.

This book simplifies it by breaking down a self-publishing and marketing project into 10 steps. This step-by-step process will get your book published and initiate the pre-launch marketing.

Hank Quense has written and self-published over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of the Author Blueprint Series of books. The Series concentrates on providing valuable guidance on fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing. Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps is Book 6 in the series.

The book details such vital tasks as developing a compelling book description, building an author platform and getting book reviews to list a few.

Learn the ten-step process that will self-publish and market your book!

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Hank Quense has self-published his books for over 12 years. His non-fiction books cover fiction writing (Creating Stories), self-publishing (How to Self-publish and Market a Book, Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps), marketing (Book Marketing Fundamentals) and author business (Business Basics for Authors).

He also lectures on these subjects in schools, libraries and on webinars.

Hank recently started https://hankquense.podia.com/ The site provides solutions to pain points (problems) for fiction writers, self-publishing authors and authors who are trying to market their books.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ X ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

Giveaway & Review for Creating Stories by Hank Quense @ireadbooktours @hanque99

Posted on September 25, 2023 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

Creating Stories by Hank Quense caught my eye because I have been writing for a long time. Not a novel, or anything like that, but journals. My mind pens a story and I jot down ideas. Isn’t it the follow through that is the difficult part? Where do I even begin?

Creating Stories by Hank Qunense is chock full of everything I need to know to write that novel I feel is buried deep, deep, deep inside. LOL The biggest problem was the amount of information.

That means, taking a step by step process. Beginning at the beginning. Hank Quense gives references, graphs, maps, and his process for writing in a 150 page book. It was not a quick read, because I find myself pausing, thinking. He gave examples of his work to clarify. A bit self serving, using his books for examples, but that’s okay. I would do it too.

I read an ebook, but if I ever do decide to write that novel that is buried deep, deep, deep inside me, I will be purchasing a physical copy. I love having things at my fingertips, laid out before me so I can easily move from one thing to another, whether it’s a book, a graph, or a Castlesque workboard. I can see myself laying things out like a murder board in a crime movie or TV show. I can see myself with a swivel chair, numerous boards surrounding me, and my computer at the forefront.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Creating Stories by Hank Quense if you are writing. A book like Hank’s is hard for me to rate, as a novice. I didn’t understand some of it. I think it was a bit over my head. So, rating this for an author that is experienced and needs to refine their craft, I think this would be a 5 Star read. For someone like me, I would rate it a 4 Star read. I would think I would grow into it if I wanted to become a full time author.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Creating Stories by Hank Quense.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

After Creating Your Story:

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Blog Tour – Becoming Flawsome by Kristina Mand Lakhiani @pumpupyourbook

Posted on July 13, 2023 by fundinmental

Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawesome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth…

Title: Becoming Flawesome
Author: Kristina Mand-Lakhiani
Publisher: Hay House Publishing
Pages: 280
Genre: Nonfiction

Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, being it…

And it is in the name of perfection that we demonise our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough.

We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows.

In Kristina’s upcoming book Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome, she reflects on her own story, her battle against perfectionism, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawsome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth.

Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world.

In this book, Kristina breaks the mould as she takes the reader on a journey through:

The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it
Self-care vs self-love, and why you need both
What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz
The ‘Hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it
How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick
Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself
Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche
Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers
Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx

Mind Valley Books: https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome

Book Excerpt

The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life

Introduction

Let’s Begin

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a good book has to start with a proper introduction.

And by “proper” I mean that it has to prime the reader for the journey, raise excitement and set expectations, explain the process, and make reading the book an experience both profitable and smooth. After all, we are about to spend some time together on this journey.

Therefore, I was not surprised when on the first meeting with my publisher I was asked if I would consider writing a proper introduction to my book. You see—the original manuscript started with a story of me pondering my future book while standing in the shower, warm water running down my back, and my finger absentmindedly drawing random patterns on the fogged-up glass.

I started this book during the long years of successive COVID confinements, and I was planning to self-publish it because I wanted the freedom to make decisions about the book—how to write, what to write, what stories to include, what kind of experience to offer to my reader. So, naturally, it wasn’t following any universally acknowledged truths or conventions.

Yet, by the time I had to present my book-baby to the world, I felt that I wanted to give it the best possible future, and I had to face the big decision between my heart and my brain: Will it be self-published (heart), or will I work with a traditional publisher (brain)? Going the traditional way meant facing more choices between my quirky and obstinate self-expression and conventional ways of doing things.

This book is about finding your way back to yourself, about understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.

This book has been through the hands of several editors ever since I put the last stop on its original manuscript. This journey has been both emotional and transformative for me. I had to face my biggest dragon by far—my obstinate need for pure self-expression—over and over again.

When do you follow convention, and when do you stick to your own principles and values?

There is no simple answer to this question, except: you have to learn to balance.

If you follow all the rules that your peers expect you to follow, you bet all there is on a slim chance of the grand prize, but you do it at the price of your own unique self-expression. At times, I felt like I had to “sell my soul to the devil” for a chance at success.

But if you obstinately stick to your own unique quirks and principles, you might end up being unheard and misunderstood so universally that there is no point in writing a book. For it is the readers who make a writer. Without the readers, a book is just a private diary.

Reader, will you judge me if I tell you that this book is a delicate balance between convention and my own uniqueness? Of course, I want you to succeed. But I cannot give you the proper introduction to my book because every book is a journey. This book has been my journey, and

now it is yours. I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . .

and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are, but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.

Now I am hoping that you will take this journey with me to your unique destination—to finding the path back to you. I will be your companion on this journey, but it is yours to take.

So why wouldn’t I tell you what’s ahead? Imagine if Gandalf told Bilbo Baggins that on his journey, he would encounter trolls, go through a perilous enchanted forest, and face a dragon in a far-away mountain. Wouldn’t that be a bit of a spoiler?

I want you to take this journey back to you without any spoilers, with an open heart, and trust that the destination is going to be worth your effort. Because becoming flawesome is the best gift you can give to yourself.

So, if you are ready, let’s begin!

More…

About the Author

Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more.

She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.

Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework – “Hacking happiness” – a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.

Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests – “7 Days To Happiness“, “Live By Your Own Rules.” and “The Art of Being Flawesome”. Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.

In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book – “Becoming Flawesome” #BecomingFlawesome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.

Website: https://kristinamand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/

Giveaway – Business & Personal Secrets For Getting Unstuck by Frank Zaccari @partnersincr1me

Posted on July 7, 2023 by fundinmental

Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck

by Frank Zaccari

June 19 – July 14, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck by Frank Zaccari

At times we all get stuck. Maybe you feel stuck in a dead-end job; your job was a victim of COVID; you live in an area you do not enjoy; your personal relationship is floundering; the life that you want is moving further and further from reality, you can’t “catch a break,” or maybe you never got the right opportunity. Does any of this sound familiar? Be honest! We have all been there. “Things we didn’t expect!” “We weren’t prepared for this.”

Getting stuck is inevitable – staying stuck is a choice

Praise for Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck:

“Your go-to book for the details on getting unstuck”
~ Joanne Victoria, Life Coach and author of Vision With a Capital V – Create the Business of Your Dreams

Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck “is an excellent read that is full of practical advice for business professionals and entrepreneurs”
~ Debra Holz

“You will not walk away from this book without relevant and practical tips and techniques you can use immediately to get your life unstuck. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book”
~ Amazon Reviewer

” It’s the right book at the absolute right time. Frank has a way of breaking things down while lifting you up and getting you unstuck. A pivotal read for me right now.”
~ LE Gray

Did You Know This Secret for Getting Unstuck?

Book Details:

Genre: Business & Money, Personal Transformation
Published by: WeBe Books
Publication Date: May 2022
Number of Pages: 177
ISBN: 978-1955668231
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Who needs this book?

We all get stuck, frustrated, depressed, anxious, frustrated, and disappointed. This book is for everyone who has ever felt stuck. If we are honest, that includes everyone over the age of thirteen. We are like the car stuck in the mud or a snow bank at times. We keep pushing on the gas, but the wheels just keep spinning. The rut we are in gets deeper until we feel we are running in quicksand. It seems the harder we try, the more stuck we become, and like quicksand, we sink until we simply give up.

Very often, being stuck in an internal issue. It is something we create and allow to occur. Wow! That’s a harsh statement. You should be saying, “You are crazy, Frank. Why in God’s name would I ever create and allow a situation where I am stuck and unhappy to exist.” Well, news flash, folks, it happens every day.

Maybe you feel stuck in a dead-end job; your job was a victim of COVID; you live in an area that you do not enjoy; your personal relationship is floundering; that life that you want is moving further and further from reality; you can’t catch a break, or maybe you never got the right opportunity. Does any of this sound familiar? Be honest! We have all been there. Now the question is, are you going to stay there?

Let’s look at another quote from Mel Robbins:

When you are stuck, the primary task is deciding if you’re going to change at all. The challenge is finding the ability to create a slight change in your life and build on it in the face of an overwhelming amount of resistance. – Mel Robbins – The Five-Second Rule

The magic words are “IF you’re going to change.” Getting unstuck, moving forward, and achieving a positive and productive life is in your hands. Greatness is not primarily a matter of circumstance; greatness is a matter of conscious choice and discipline. Staying stuck is a choice. Justifying that you never had the right opportunity is not a reason or an excuse. It is a choice. Where are you stuck in life, and what choices will you make? Are you going to fall apart? OR are you going to pick up the pieces and start moving forward?

***

Author Bio:

Co-Founder of Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program; keynote speaker; Business Adviser; TV Show Host, 5x Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author

As co-founder of Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program 22 months ago, we have created and executed marketing/promotion plans that achieved 11 consecutive #1 bestselling new releases in multiple categories.

A native of western New York, Frank Zaccari served as a military medic in the U.S. Air Force before spending over 20 years in the high-tech industry. His experience included senior positions with Fortune 50 organizations “re-launching” small and mid-size companies.

Frank is a 5X bestselling and award-winner author who has written and published nine books based on life altering events. The last four books Business Secrets for Walking on Water, Business & Personal Secrets for Avoiding Relationship Landmines, Business & Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck, and Business Secrets from the Battlefield to the Boardroom, were awarded Amazon #1 Best-Selling new release status in multiple categories. They are part of a four-book series. He was just awarded 1st place by The Authors’ Zone for nonfiction business (Business and Personal Secrets for Getting Unstuck) – 1st place for Nonfiction Business for 2022.

He led a workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs at Arizona State University; is a mentor with the Veterans Treatment Court; a mentor and judge with the University of California Entrepreneurship Academy and is an accomplished speaker. Frank hosts a Roku TV and youtube show which, has 235,000 listeners in 42 countries.

Education

UCLA Anderson School of Business – Management Development for Entrepreneurs Certification Program

California State University at Sacramento – Bachelors of Science – Finance

Catch Up With Our Author, Frank Zaccari:
FrankZaccari.com
Goodreads
YouTube – @frankzaccari
LinkedIn
Facebook

Tour Host Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

Don’t Miss This Opportunity to GET UNSTUCK!

This is a giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Frank Zaccari. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Find Your Next Great Read at Providence Book Promotions!

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Happy Book Birthday for Celia Bonaduce’s Smooth @pumpupyourbook @CeliaBonaduce

Posted on July 5, 2023 by fundinmental

We’re thrilled to announce the release of Celia Bonaduce’s new book, SMOOTH: LIFE HACKS TO GET YOU SMOOTHLY THROUGH CHEMO today! To help celebrate, we are asking our readers if you can please pretty please pick up a copy at Amazon and come back and tell us how you liked it? Or, leave a review while you’re there!

Congratulations, Celia, on your new release, Smooth: Life Hacks to Get You Smoothly Through Chemo!

Is Now Available in Paperback!

Title: Smooth: Life Hacks To Get You Smoothly Through Chemo
Author: Celia Bonaduce
Publisher: BookBaby
Pages: 100
Genre: Nonfiction

When cancer got in the way of Celia traveling for her day job as a field producer on the hit HGTV show, House Hunters, she did not let it stop her creativity. While the road to her first nonfiction book was anything but SMOOTH, it was a path that Celia felt compelled to explore. This collection of life hacks comes from Celia’s own experiences living through chemo.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pmQoFa

One test had led to the next and then the next. I’d had two mammograms, an ultrasound, and a biopsy. So when the call came, I was ready.

“Hi, Celia…” my doctor said, her voice trailing off. “It’s cancer.”

“Yeah,” I said, picturing my life as a novelist and a TV producer grinding to an immediate halt. “My village would have to be missing its idiot for me to not have suspected this.”

So then I did the breast cancer thing—lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. I learned a lot about breast cancer (for example, that mine was Stage 1-B triple-negative breast cancer). But here’s a secret: while there are lots of books out there about women’s personal stories during their breast cancer journeys, when you’re going through it, you don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone else’s story. You just want to know how to get through it yourself.

This isn’t a personal retrospective, nor is it a medical journal. But I do have some recommendations I’d like to pass along—just some ideas that might make your life easier during this most stressful of times. All the products mentioned are my personal favorites from my own chemo adventure. No company has endorsed, sponsored, or bribed me. The photographs of the products are beautiful and professional looking because my beautiful and professional friend Justine shot them.

As you start your journey, you will wonder where you will get the mental as well as physical strength to voluntarily show up for chemo month after month. But you will find that strength or that strength will find you. I hope these tips will make your trip easier.

Because it’s all about you.

As it should be.

About Celia Bonaduce

Celia Bonaduce is an award-winning novelist, podcast writer, and television producer. Celia spent fifteen years as a producer-director in lifestyle programming on shows that include ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and HGTV’s House Hunters and Tiny House Hunters. As a novelist with Kensington Publishing, Celia has written three trilogies: the Venice Beach Romances, the Fat Chance, Texas series, and the Tiny House Novels. The Tiny House Novel series won top honors with a Grand Finalist nod from the New Apple Official Selection, first place in the Book Excellence Awards and Gold from both the National Federation of Press Women and the Elite Choice Awards. Celia is also a co-author of A Texas Kind of Christmas, an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Historical Romance that took Gold from the National Federation of Press Women.

Website: https://www.celiabonaduce.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CeliaBonaduce

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBonaduceAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiabonaduce
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/celia-bonaduce

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Reader Giveaways by Jeff Bennington @TweetTheBook

Posted on May 31, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I grabbed Reader Giveaways by Jeff Bennington back in 2015. I don’t know if that was before or after I started following his website, The Kindle Book Review. The book is basically an introduction to his website and how he runs the giveaways, which I participate in faithfully. It is a great example of self promotion while also offering the reader a chance to win some wonderful giveaways. Would I buy it? Probably not. But seeing it is free, I say, if you aren’t already following Jeff Bennington’s websites, give it a shot.

GOODREADS BLURB

Reader Giveaways Rock!

If you like the idea of getting an entry into a drawing for Amazon gift cards or a Kindle Fire every time you buy a new title, you need to read this FREE ebook. Reader Giveaways: How you can win Amazon products from your Kindle Fire or digital device is a simple and informative guide that explains how easy it is for YOU to win Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, an Amazon Prime membership, or up to a $500 Amazon shopping spree (during the Holidays) with just a few clicks on your digital device. These “Reader Giveaways” are designed for readers who enjoy their Amazon shopping experience and want to add a little excitement to the way they buy their books. It’s easy, fun, and a cool way to meet new authors. But the best part is winning!

NOTE: This booklet is short, and it will lead you to the author’s website where they giveaway Amazon gift cards and Kindles on a weekly basis (see Winners Page). This is not hype–it is a fact. The website is NOT an amazon affiliate. All our winners are real people just like you. The booklet/guide/whatever you want to call it, will also show you a few other giveaway sites. So if you want to enter giveaways strictly designed for readers, get this book!

Don’t delay. New reader giveaways are starting soon!

NOTE #2: The independent websites and reader giveaways listed in this book are NOT associated with Amazon in any way.

Grab a FREE copy now and you could start winning today!

ABOUT JEFF BENNINGTON

I’m the bestselling author of REUNION, Twisted Vengeance, Creepy and The Indie Author’s Guide to the Universe.

I live in Central Indiana with my wife, four children and two stray cats. I obsess over details, dream strange dreams and teach a creative writing course for a homeschool co-op. Look for my upcoming paranormal thriller, Act of Vengeance, coming in late 2011.

I grew up in Saginaw Michigan, moved to Aurora, Ohio in 78′ and finally settled in Central Indiana where I met my wife and graduated from Indiana University. I’m an occasional runner, life long drummer, and household handyman. Over the years, I’ve done everything from working on an assembly line, installing HVAC units, teaching Sunday school, to running my own business. But through it all, I’ve always loved to write.

In 2006, something finally clicked when I heard the calling to begin writing novels – and write I did. Like many writers, I have a book or two that the world may never read, so don’t ask about those. It is my hope, however, that the ones you do read will be good, inspiring you to think about life.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / The Kindle Book Review / The Kindle Romance Review

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review & Blog Tour – Her Alibi by Mary L Schmidt @pumpupyourbook MaryLSchmidt

Posted on April 19, 2023 by fundinmental

“Her Alibi is another example of where reality trumps fiction and Schmidt must be commended for finding the courage to pen this book.”

– Readers Favorite

Title: Her Alibi
Author: Mary L. Schmidt
Publisher: M. Schmidt Productions
Pages: 76
Genre: Forensic Memoir / Forensic Psychology

MY REVIEW

Her Alibi by Mary L Schmidt is one of those books that jump out at me. It may be only 76 pages in print, but the evil that oozes off the pages is endless. How could a mother do the things Marguerite does to her children? A psychopath wants what they want, regardless of the cost to others. Mary is one of those people whose inner strength keeps them moving forward, sharing their past so others may know they can have a future too.

I grew up in the sixties, so I can see how child abuse would go untreated. We had a big family, six children and my parents. The haircuts are familiar, as are the clothes. We entertained ourselves a lot, but never did I feel the need to hide from my mother. I remember The Beatles, The Monkeys and playing Cats Cradle, and the occasional treat.

I want to thank Mary L Schmidt for having the courage to share her story.

ABOUT HER ALIBI

Visions of her Cherokee grandmother, Cordie, flashed through Mary’s mind as her mother, Marguerite, informed her that her stepfather shot himself and was in the hospital. Oh no! Did she use me last night? She’d never use her scapegoat! No, she couldn’t! Even Marguerite wouldn’t sink that low! Or would she? Marguerite had always been abusive and vile to most people, and especially to her children and husbands, but would she shoot Paul? Chills raked Mary and triggered her shuddering. Was she more shocked that her mother shot her stepfather with murderous intent, or that she left Mary as her alibi?

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mKRbOw

Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-alibi-mary-l-schmidt/1142118167

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62218232-her-alibi

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/her-alibi/id6443334045

Book Excerpt

“Chills raked Mary and triggered her shuddering. Was she more shocked that her mother shot her stepfather with murderous intent, or that she left Mary as her alibi?”

Before I get to this shooting, I want to fill in background so that you understand sociopathic people and the rage they can present to another person or persons. My mother was a sociopath. Her rage was uncontrolled, and she acted fast, aggressively, and with vengeance. It’s important for the reader to have a full background.

As I grew up, I wanted to believe that my mother was a good mother, but sadly that never happened, she never was. My mother, Marguerite, always seemed to think that she was the best mother, perfect even, but not all mothers are made the same as I found out from a very young age.

I remember my second Christmas at age two years. We had a cedar Christmas tree with lights and tinsel. Somehow, I found some small, glass Christmas lights and I had them in my hands. No one stopped me. Possibly no one noticed. I took my pretty treasures and sat behind the heating stove in our small house on North Grand Avenue. For some reason only a two-year-old would understand, I put one of the light bulbs in my mouth and bit it down. I broke the glass, and I didn’t get hurt, and I thought oh that was a cool sound and so I broke the other one in my mouth! My mother, older brother and sister were in the same room, and my mother found me bleeding from my mouth behind the heating stove. She went into a ballistic rage! I was in trouble. She beat my butt and yelled at me all the way to the hospital in Lyons, KS, and she was quiet only while my stomach was pumped. No glass was left inside me, and I had one little cut on my tongue, and no stitches needed. I will never forget her rage at me, and that is probably why I remember the incident.

More…

About the Author

Mary L. Schmidt writes under her given name and a pen name, S. Jackson, along with her husband Michael, pen name A Raymond. She grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and has lived in more than one state since then. At this time, Mary and her husband split their time between homes in Kansas and Colorado as they love the mountains and off-road four-wheeling. Traveling is one of their most favorite things to do and Mary always has a book to read on her Kindle. Books are one of her favorite things. When she was younger, it seemed like every time she turned around, a new library card was needed due to the current one being stamped complete. Diving into a good book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books she read over and over.

As a child, Mary drew paper dolls, and clothes for them, using watercolor as her medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. She continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of mediums such as jewelry making, ceramics, leather works, drawing, painting and more! Her creative loves to be an amateur shutterbug and she has an online art gallery.

In college, she went into the sciences, and received a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing. Throughout her nursing career, Michael assisted Mary in her work with The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, and sponsored children alongside his wife on music trips. Mary’s nursing career was highly successful, and she hung up her nursing hat in December 2012.

Mary and Michael love to read, fish, play poker, go Jeeping, and travel, especially to visit their grandson, Austin, and granddaughter, Emma.

Website: www.whenangelsfly.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLSchmidt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMSchmidtAuthorGDDonley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschmidtphotography/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marylschmidt/

Art Gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtartwork/gallery

The Spotlight Is On Face Value by Christine MacDonald @thatgalkiki @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 13, 2023 by fundinmental

Book Details:

Book Title:  Face Value: From Working the Pole to Baring My Soul by Christine Macdonald
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 320 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher:  Wordee
Release date: Mar 8, 2023
Content Rating: R: Story of days of stripping to now better life.

Book Description:

Face Value: From Working the Pole to Baring My Soul is Less Than Zero meets Miami Vice but with more make-up and hairspray. It is the story of a beautiful, free-spirited, wide-eyed little girl from the island of O`ahu who has no childhood memories before the age of nine. What trauma could have erased her early life, she may never know. What she does know is that for as far back as she can remember these events influenced her unusual life. Christine tells her story with raw, honest, relatable, and no holds barred writing, taking us through the pain of her adolescence compounded by a rare skin disease that left her face permanently disfigured. Her darkest moments include drug addiction and dancing nude on stages in Waikiki. In Christine’s personal story, we experience life behind the tropical island backdrop of coconuts and palm trees, falling headlong into the underground world of adult entertainment where Christine spent nearly a decade trying to find her self-worth.

BUY THE BOOK:
Wordee
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Bookshop
Kobo ~ Lehmanns ~ Walmart

Meet the Author:

Macdonald is a Los Angeles-based author who grew up on the Hawaiian Island of Oʻahu. At 13, she was diagnosed with Acne Conglobata, a rare and severe skin disease that left over 80 percent of her face scarred. Adding to her trauma of an emotionally and psychologically neglected childhood, it led her to Hawaii’s underworld as an exotic dancer in Waikiki. For the first time, she felt beautiful and partially fulfilled her dream of becoming a Fosse dancer. Through her writing, Macdonald uses her voice, a unique blend of cutting-edge truth, and self-deprecating humor to inspire others to release their shame and tell their story. She is public about her struggles with addiction and mental illness—and her road to recovery. It is her passion to speak to people with self-esteem issues and, rather than judge them for their choices, help them find value in embracing what they consider to be their flaws.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

The Spotlight Is On Been There Got OUt by Lisa Johnson & Chris Barry @BeenThereGotOut @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 7, 2023 by fundinmental

Book Details:

Book Title:  Been There Got Out: Toxic Relationships, High-Conflict Divorce, and How to Stay Sane Under Insane Circumstances by Lisa Johnson and Chris Barry
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+)
Genre: Self-Help
Publisher:  Wordeee
Release date:  Mar 7, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: Self-help book for adults going through a divorce.

Book Description:

Been There Got Out offers practical advice for anyone suffering from or struggling to get out of a relationship with a narcissist or other toxic personality types. Packed with practical facts, tips, and advice, this book covers everything from identifying the problem, committing to take action and legal/custody battles to navigating a co-parenting relationship with a hostile spouse.

BUY THE BOOK:
Author Website ~ Wordeee
Amazon
add to goodreads

Meet the Authors:

Lisa Johnson is the co-founder of Been There Got Out, a high-conflict divorce coach and certified domestic violence advocate who has successfully represented herself through scores of court appearances. Her case was published in the Connecticut Law Journal in March 2021 and is now being used as a legal precedent. Her live testimony helped pass Jennifer’s Law in Connecticut, the third state in America to expand its legal definition of domestic violence to include “coercive control.” She and Barry, the male half of Been There Got Out, coach people in high-conflict relationships, divorce, custody battles, and co-parenting hell so they have the chance of the best outcome in family court and beyond. They also offer a weekly Legal Abuse Support Group for those dealing with narcissistic opponents in legal matters.

Chris Barry is a certified high-conflict divorce coach and the co-founder (and male half) of Been There Got Out. He developed the Been There Got Out podcast, and manages BTGO’s website, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and all the background technology they use to run the business. He also specializes in writing high-conflict parenting plans.

connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ twitter

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Race Against Time by Claire Eckard @ireadbooktours #claireeckard #nonfiction

Posted on March 3, 2023 by fundinmental

Book Details:

Book Title:  Race Against Time by Claire Eckard
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 192 pages
Genre: Creative Non-Fiction
Publisher:  Cedar Fort Press
Release date: Jan 10, 2023
Content Rating: G for all readers

Book Description:

Flash was a pony that had fallen between the cracks-too small for most to ride, even for a Hackney pony, and too feral to be shown. What he needed was a person as small as he was-who had the guts and the patience to give a wild pony a chance. Then along came a little girl with a sensitive soul and a big heart.

Kyla Law was just nine years old when she met Flash, and neither of them could have anticipated that their partnership would make history.

In an inspiring true story of family, faith, and perseverance, Kyla and Flash’s relationship mirrors the journey we must all take in life: one of highs and lows, successes and failures-theirs just happens to be along a hundred-mile historic trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains-the setting for the most famous endurance race in the world. From the moment they met, to the moment they crossed the finish line, their tenacity exhibits pure spirit: the human spirit, the Holy Spirit, and the fire-in-the-soul kind of spirit that helps us climb mountains and cross rivers, literally and figuratively.

This story is about a girl and her pony, and how in one amazing day they inspired an international community, as Flash became the smallest horse to ever finish the Western States One-Hundred-Mile, One-Day Ride-the Tevis Cup.

BUY THE BOOK:
Claire Eckard
Amazon ~ Target
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Claire Eckard is an award-winning author and songwriter who lives in Arizona. Claire loves to write inspirational stories, both fiction and non-fiction that have an impact on the reader. Often her books revolve around the amazing bond between animals and humans. She grew up in England and is obsessed with clotted cream teas and the tranquil English countryside of her youth. Claire is a frequent speaker at schools, events, bookstores and on various podcasts. More information on Claire and links to her latest projects can be found at www.claireeckardauthor.com.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~instagram ~ goodreads ~ bookbub