Blog of Children and Young Adult Author Ellwyn Autumn

The Hotel Guru’s Journey Book Blast & Giveaway

GENRE: NonFiction

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BLURB:

For over half a century, Robert Rauch, referred to as “The Hotel Guru”, has witnessed and made history within the evolution of modern hospitality. From performing night audits on Sweda cash registers in the 1970s to utilizing AI-enabled revenue strategies today, he has seen it all. The Hotel Guru’s Journey combines his fascinating behind-the-scenes narratives with proven operating insights.

This unique operations guidebook shares both the “war” stories and the systems that matter. Rauch shares lessons learned the hard way in trust, crisis management, technology adoption, and leadership. And aside from the entertaining personal experiences, you’ll gain access to tried-and-true frameworks, in-the-trenches checklists, and practical guidance for all aspects of hotel operations.

Whether you’re breaking ground on your first property, expanding a hospitality portfolio, or seeking to avoid costly mistakes, Rauch’s five decades of experience provide your competitive advantage in building a successful and sustainable hotel.

For up-and-coming hoteliers, veteran general managers, and hospitality investors, The Hotel Guru’s Journey is your map to long-term success.

Excerpt:

Paste first excerpt her Wellness

True wellness is about more than just physical health. It encompasses mental and emotional well-being too. Offering a range of amenities designed to help guests relax, recharge, and feel great is the goal.

From spa services to tranquil relaxation areas, providing the perfect environment to unwind and find balance will always score points. We’ve built spas into hotels, but they’re tough to make profitable.

As hotel operators, we knew we didn’t have the skills necessary to operate a successful spa, but the fix was simple: bring in a spa operator as a partner! We chose a spa operator who had a following in the areas of hair, nails, facials, massage, and more.

Professional spa operators are better than most hoteliers at operating a spa and will help make including a spa more profitable in the long run. But that’s not where our wellness desires ended. We continually get involved in each of the wellness modalities.

Nutrition

Eating well is crucial for maintaining energy and vitality, especially when away from home. Menus should be carefully curated to offer a variety of nutritious options, catering to diverse dietary needs and preferences.

Prioritizing whole foods and balanced meals, supporting the body’s natural rhythms and promoting sustained well-being throughout a guest stay is a noble deed. Our chefs are in tune with this, and they shop locally so that everything is fresh.

At our newest hotel, opened in late 2024, our chef was even featured as the top chef in the region! And our menus always have gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Nutrition can include fun activities as well. We’ve often partnered with wineries, chocolatiers, and beer brewmasters.

Nutrition isn’t the focus, but in moderation, wine, beer, and dark chocolate can provide a great combination of mindfulness, delight, and healthy imbibing!

Cooking classes with our chefs are also in high demand, and wine tastings paired with healthy choices are a close second.

About The Author:

With a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Western International University and a master’s degree in Tourism Administration from Arizona State University, Mr. Rauch has served as president and on the board of numerous tourism organizations.

Mr. Rauch is a recently retired faculty member at Arizona State University and taught Tourism Industry Entrepreneurship. He is widely quoted on television and radio and in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times.

He speaks at industry conferences regularly and has developed several leading brand hotels, three of which the firm still owns and manages, and has been a finalist for CEO of the year in San Diego, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.

Mr. Rauch currently utilizes his private company, R. A. Rauch & Associates, Inc., to provide management services for his owned hotels, consulting services for various Wall Street firms and selected litigation support clients, and asset management services designed to provide hotel owners with oversight and review of potential and currently operating hotels.

He also serves as Chairman and Chief Strategist of Brick Hospitality, a company formed by his management team to operate hotels in California. Mr. Rauch recently sold RAR Hospitality, a leading hospitality management firm with 20 hotels under management or development, retaining management of selected hotels where he serves as an owner in San Diego.

As a student, teacher, and mentor in the hospitality industry over a six-decade period, Mr. Rauch continues to be active at industry conferences, in key meetings, and when needed to support the hospitality sector.

Website: https://hotelguru.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertrauch/

Twitter: https://x.com/truehotelguru

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20244045.Robert_Rauch

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Gurus-Journey-Excellence-Industry/dp/B0FQBTH878/ref=sr_1_1

Giveaway:

Robert Rauch will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. https://kingsumo.com/g/1wgngrm/the-hotel-gurus-journey

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2025/11/book-blast-hotel-gurus-journey-by.html

Interview With Author Austin Camacho

By way of intro, here is Austin Camacho’s bio:

Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel Beyond Blue.

His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey.

He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

Hello, Austin, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.

Thank you for having me.

When did the writing bug ensnare you?

I was first bitten by the bug in high school. I became a comic book fanatic and wanted to write them. That evolved into short stories in which my friends and I saved people and solved mysteries. Of course my friends loved the stories so I kept at it.

Is writing your full-time profession?

Now that I am retired from my career as a communications professional for the Defense Department, writing is my only activity, so I guess it is my full time job.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote short stories since high school but never tried to get published until I was in the army when I decided to try a novel. I was writing for my own amusement for about 5 years until my first novel was published in 1999.

How many published books have you written?

I have written 8 novels in the Hannibal Jones detective series, 5 Stark & O’Brien international thrillers, the stand alone detective story Beyond Blue and now True Target.

Which genres do you write?

I move back and forth between writing clue-laden mysteries and action filled thrillers. There’s a good deal of crossover between those genres.

What are you working on now?

I am immersed in the world of Skye Maddox, the assassin star of True Target, so now I am working on building the series that will deepen our understanding of her. In the next book Skye will face another assassin who thinks she is the best.

Who is your favorite character that you’ve created? Why?

My current lead character, Skye Maddox, is my current favorite because of her complexity.

Skye is no ordinary assassin—she is meticulous, principled, and views her work as both a profession and a challenge. Her therapist Jayla is the only person who glimpses her conflicted psyche. Her assignments are never just about pulling the trigger.

Skye prides herself on precision, creativity, and leaving law enforcement baffled in her wake.

But her professional detachment is tested as she confronts echoes of her traumatic past, the ghost of her first kill, and the dangerous possibility of trust and connection in a world where both are liabilities. Ultimately Skye must decide whether she’s fulfilling a contract, enacting

Who has influenced your writing the most?

My greatest influences are writers from the past. My writing style has been most influenced by Raymond Chandler, whose prose reads like poetry. My plots are most inspired by Ross MacDonald who created the great detective Lew Archer. My characters are most influenced by Elmore Leonard whose most famous character appeared in the TV show Justified..

Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?

Yes, my Website is at https://ascamacho.com/ . You can also find me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/, Instagram – ascamacho135, and LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-camacho/

Where can we find your books?

You can request my novels in any bookstore – if they’re not on the shelf they will order them. They are also all on Amazon and at BN.com . However, if you want an autographed copy you can order those at my website – https://ascamacho.com

Thank you, Austin, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck.

To learn more about Austin’s book and the Giveaway click the link.

True Target Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway

GENRE: Thriller

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BLURB:

Skye Maddox is a contract assassin driven by both personal demons and professional discipline. Hired by grieving father Milo Williams to hunt down the chain of men responsible for his son’s death, Skye takes on a mission that escalates into a war with Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous underworld figures led by a man known only as Hetman. As she climbs Milo’s ladder of revenge, Skye uncovers a web of corruption that links drug dealers, judges, mobsters, and even international crime syndicates.

The story escalates through brutal shootouts, betrayals, and psychological games, as Skye pushes deeper into Hetman’s empire. Each success makes her a bigger target. In the end, she must weigh the cost of finishing Milo’s revenge against the danger of becoming just another expendable weapon in someone else’s war.

~Excerpt:

When Jayla stood, Skye raised a palm to stop her. “Yes. Yes, all right. I just finished an assignment, but it was part of a larger contract so I’m feeling like both the situations you mentioned. I’m on the job, and I just took a player off the board.”

Jayla jotted in her notebook. She always collected the euphemisms Skye used for her profession. “So, tell me about this latest assignment. How do you feel about this player you’ve taken off the board? Was it, in your mind, a just action?”

“You always want to go there,” Skye said, shaking her head. “What did I tell you? The first rule of the assassin’s doctrine. The target has got to deserve it.”

“Oh, yes,” Jayla said with a half-smile. “Your job, while criminal, does have rules.”

“I misspoke earlier,” Skye said, sliding a slim dagger out of her boot. “It’s not a job. It’s a profession. All professions have their rules. For doctors, rule number one is ‘do no harm’, right? For an assassin, it’s that the target has got to deserve it.” Skye began to absently flip the dagger in the air, catching it by its tip each time. “In this case, this bastard kidnapped my client’s son. I don’t know how they got him. My client kept his family totally under the radar. But once he got the ransom demand, the client agreed to pay, and the ransom money was in transit but not fast enough to suit the kidnappers. They killed the boy, I think just to make a point. Just to be snotty. The action took place overseas and no way the police would ever have gotten close to the killer.”

Jayla nodded. “I think I understand. So, you were hired to…”

“Correct the balance,” Skye said, standing.

About The Author:

His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey.

He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

Website: https://ascamacho.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572508767550

Instagram: ascamacho135

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-camacho-1a5a622/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FV6FYVZK

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-target-austin-s-camacho/1148461145?ean=9798988533351/

Giveaway:

Austin S. Camacho will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Please use the following code on your post: <a href=”https://kingsumo.com/g/3l5k2l1/true-target”>Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card</a>.

Lauren Ranalli’s Cozy Holiday Book Sale

Books are my favorite thing to give and get around the holidays! No surprise there. I’m an author and a retired reading teacher.

To quote Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. “That’s the gift that keeps giving the whole year, Clark!”

These days, I really enjoy supporting fellow Indie Authors. I’ve read and reviewed two of Lauren Ranalli’s picture books. Super cute and tons of fun!

Snow Day at the Zoo Review & Let’s Meet On The Moon Review

Lauren’s sale on The Great Latke Cook Off and Snow Day At The Zoo is happening now until 12/19. 15% off with the code COZY.

They’d be a wonderful addition to your seasonal or everyday collection. To purchase, click the link.

Lauren can wander for hours in bookstores. She absolutely loves a freshly sharpened pencil (like realllly loves it). And she has found so much joy in pursuing my dream of being a children’s book author. Inspired by her own high-spirited children, she aims to create stories that excite curiosity and broaden our sense of community.

She wrote her first book, The Great Latke Cook Off, shortly after her oldest child was born. As part of an interfaith family, her son received a number of lovely Christmas books during his first holiday season. She went out with the intention to purchase some Chanukah books for him, but she couldn’t find any stories that resonated with her own cultural experience. So, she decided to write her own.

Flash forward several years, and she is now working on her fourth self-published book, with many other stories rolling around in her mind! She has been fortunate to have the opportunity to share her work with readers across North America, as well as support other aspiring and self-published writers in their own author journey.

If you’d like more information on her work, scheduling an author visit or interview, or signing up for her online course, please get in touch! She would love to connect with you.

Tamanrasset Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway

GENRE: Historical Fiction

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Blurb:

TAMANRASSET is historical fiction set on the edge of the Sahara as the ancient world begins to fade and great empires collide.

Four strangers—a mature Foreign Legionnaire, a Sharif’s wrathful son, an ambitious American archaeologist, and an abandoned Swedish widow—become adrift and isolated, but when their paths intersect, the fragile connections between them tell a story of survival and fate on the edge of the abyss.

Blending the sweep of classic adventure with the horror of a great historical calamities, Edward Parr’s TAMANRASSET is a saga about the crossroads where nomads meet.

Excerpt:

The Sun had not yet risen above the ruins of the Mechouar Palace, but at the mosque nearby many Muslim people of the city of Tlemcen were already at their morning prayer.

It was a great privilege to be admitted to one of the oldest mosques in Algeria, over eight hundred years old, and an even greater privilege to be allowed to pray before the mihrab there among the great white columns that lined the enormous hall.

As the prayers ended, there was a gentle rustling of movement as the faithful rose and exited to the open and airy marble-tiled courtyard of the mosque, still quiet in the twilight of dawn.

Isabel retrieved her leather boots and exited a side door beneath the shadow of the towering brick minaret. Covered by her tightly drawn dark brown burnouse, khaki pants, white shirt, and a black hijab, Isabel walked along the great stone wall to the main gate of the palace.

The few buildings in the complex that were still usable had been made into offices for the French army, but the pool and gardens of the central courtyard were peaceful and shadowy.

She passed an alcove that featured Islamic calligraphy carved into the stucco, and Isabel stopped to read it: “Allah is God, there is no god but He: the King.”

A quiet voice behind her asked: “Madame Pedersen?”

She turned to find a short, elegantly dressed French officer approaching her. His flat-topped white hair was soldierly, but his crisp, tailored uniform, polished boots, and wide waxed mustache displayed a carefully composed appearance.

“Peace be with you,” she said, casting her eyes downward and crossing her arm over her chest as she nodded.

“Peace be with you, Madame. I apologize if I disturbed you; will you come inside?”

“As you wish.”

She followed the French colonel to a charming wood-paneled room overlooking an orchard of citrus trees bearing large green fruit. The colonel sat on a bare wood chair beside a wide wooden table, crossed his legs, and twirled the end of his wide mustache. Isabel stood silently before him in a respectful posture.

“I have the greatest respect for your beliefs, my dear, but it would be helpful to me if you would sit and speak to me informally. Would you be so kind?”

“Of course,” she said and she sat on the chair beside his. Her demeanor now expressed more of her experience and self-assurance, her hijab more a symbol of her confidence than of her humility. The colonel raised an eyebrow in appreciation of her serene face and brilliant blue eyes.

About The Author:

Edward (“Ted”) Parr studied playwriting at New York University in the 1980’s, worked with artists Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, and the Bread and Puppet Theater, and staged his own plays Off-Off-Broadway, including Trask, Mythographia, Jason and Medea, Rising and an original translation of Oedipus Rex before pursuing a lengthy career in the law and public service.

He published his Kingdoms Fall trilogy of World War One espionage adventure novels which were collectively awarded Best First Novel and Best Historical Fiction Novel by Literary Classics in 2016.

He has always had a strong interest in expanding narrative forms, and in his novel writing, he explores older genres of fiction (like the pulp fiction French Foreign Legion adventures or early espionage fiction) as inspiration to examine historical periods of transformation.

His main writing inspirations are Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Bernard Cornwell, Georges Surdez, and Patrick O’Brien.

Socials:

Website: https://edwardparrbooks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-parr-5808b15/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369165.Edward_Parr

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Edward-Parr/author/B00GACO3NC?ccs_id=a023fe74-dd9a-429f-b56a-5cfe148dafc5

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/DryCar9119AB/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576965808471

Amazon: https://a.co/d/44XsoJU

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tamanrasset-edward-parr/1148255148

Giveaway:

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

https://kingsumo.com/g/3q5vpg3/tamanrasset

https://kingsumo.com/js/embed.js

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2025/09/nbtm-fs-tour-tamanrasset-by-edward-parr.html

Captive Dragon Book Tour & Giveaway

Can a dying dragon trust a poisoner to save him?

Captive Dragon

Dragons of Reverie Book 1

by Elisa Rae

Genre: Romantasy, Noblebright Fantasy Romance

Storm, born of an esteemed lineage, avoids the violent politics of his species until the power struggle comes to him. After being attacked while traveling home, he overcame his assailant. Wounded and vulnerable, Storm retreats into a cave to heal, only to be woken from a healing sleep by a band of cutthroats intent on taking his hide.

Selah has been kidnapped. The thugs wanted an elven mindhealer, but she is only an apprentice. Now her captors are insisting she slay a dragon for them by addling its mind. To refuse means death for her, but to comply would be death of a different kind.

Captive Dragon is a noblebright fantasy romance novel about a relationship between a dragon shifter and a warrior elf. It features an alpha/cinnamon roll of a reluctant hero and his feisty heroine being forced into close proximity on a road trip to figure out both their pasts and futures.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHPVTKCK

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/captive-dragon-dragons-of-reverie-book-1-by-elisa-rae

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219427596-captive-dragon

About the Author

A reader of fairytales and folklore, Elisa Rae loves a happy ending. Noblebright characters, dastardly villains, and chemistry between characters delight her. When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch superhero movies and literary dramas.

Elisa Rae is the pen name of Rachel Rossano.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.authorelisarae.com/

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elisa-rae

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elisa-Rae/author/B09NV5XYMV

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22120721.Elisa_Rae

Giveaway

$20 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/CaptiveDragon

Direct link:

https://gleam.io/Mdeeg/captive-dragon

Thanksgiving Overruled Book Tour & Giveaway

Cozy up this season with the newest Pinegrove FD Romance book!

Thanksgiving Overruled

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 3

by Libby Kay

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Firefighter Sapphic Romance

Everyone wants to hear those three little words during the holidays…

Where’s the casserole?!

Winnie Kerr wants to utter another three-word phrase to her girlfriend, but Thanksgiving has other plans. After spending far too much time on work, this legal eagle decides an impromptu road trip to visit her sister is the perfect time to tell her girlfriend she loves her. What could go wrong during a few days away from work, right?

Mari Balogh has a problem, she’s madly in love with her girlfriend and cannot get those three little words off her tongue. After being burned before from her unsupportive family and a string of bad breakups, this paralegal is guarded. She happily agrees on a road trip to Pinegrove, eager for the space to profess her affections. How hard can it be, right?

From a little trespassing and a kitchen nightmare to a surly cat and a series of misunderstandings, the road to I love you is rife with hiccups. Can these two find their way to happily ever after? Or will their relationship go up in a puff of sweet potato casserole scented smoke?

But Pinegrove has proven that love is never overruled!

Return to small-town Pinegrove, Georgia, the romantic setting of Libby Kay’s endearing novels, When Sparks Fly and Old Flames, as well as the 2026 novel about another of the hunky firemen in town. Don’t miss any of the action or romance!

**NEW RELEASE!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FNQQG6B6

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/old-flames/id6751304688

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thanksgiving-overruled-libby-kay/1148113289?ean=2940184336824

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/thanksgiving-overruled

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/thanksgiving-overruled-a-pinegrove-fd-novel-book-3-by-libby-kay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240639772-thanksgiving-overruled

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

When Sparks Fly

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 1

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2RDP5T7

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/when-sparks-fly/id6743040817

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-sparks-fly-libby-kay/1147110733

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-sparks-fly-23

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-sparks-fly-a-pinegrove-fd-novel-book-1-by-libby-kay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228927226-when-sparks-fly

Old Flames

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 2

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDN9B639

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/old-flames/id6751304688

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/old-flames-libby-kay/1148081500?ean=2940184708874

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/old-flames-20

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/old-flames-a-pinegrove-fd-novel-book-2-by-libby-kay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240422917-old-flames

About the Author

Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.libbykayauthor.com

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/libby-kay

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Libby-Kay/e/B07VGY8SCH

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19377638.Libby_Kay