These Are Not My Words Book Tour

GENRE:  Poetry

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BLURB:

Echoing Chuck Palahniuk’s statement. “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known,” this collection explores identity.

These poems drift down rivers of old, using histories private and public and visit people that I love and loathe.

Through heroes and villains, music and cartoons, literature and comics, science and wonder, and shadow and light, each poem canals the various channels of self and invention.

As in the poem, “Credentials,” “I am a collage of memories and unicorn stickers…[by] those that have witnessed and been witnessed.”

Excerpt:

Refurbished

Susan taught me that poetic energy lies 

between the lines, white noise scratching 

and clawing between images, ideas,

       things…

And like a poem, 

the chair was molded by my Tio’s hands, 

an antique wooden upholstered desk chair. 

My Tio moved from Durango, Mexico 

to Forth Worth in 1955.

He became a mason and wood worker. 

He bricked the stockyards

He built the signs 

He died in 2005.

Now, 

matted. Worn. Faded floral design. Wood 

scarred like healing flesh. 

The arms torn, ratted by the heft of his arms 

and the stress of the days. The foam peeks

out. 

The brass upholstery tacks rusted. I count

1000 of them. With each, 

I mallet a fork-tongue driver under its head.

A tap, tap, tapping until it sinks beneath the tack, 

until the tack springs from its place.

I couldn’t help but think of a woodpecker.

A tap, tap, tapping into Post Oak, 

a rhythm…each scrap of wood falling to the ground

until a home is formed. 

Until each piece of wood like the tacks removed 

shelter something new. 

I remove the staples, the foam, the fabric, 

the upholstery straps 

until it’s bones. 

I sand and stain

until its bones shine.

I layer and wrap its bones with upholstery straps, 

foam, fabric, staples and tacks. 

New tacks, Brass medallions 

adorning the whole, but holding it

all together—

its bones

its memories,

its energy.

Giveaway

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

Click the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5014

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/2024/09/fs-nbtm-these-are-not-my-words-i-just.html

About The Author

Donovan Hufnagle is a husband, a father of three, and a professor of English and Humanities.

He moved from Southern California to Prescott, Arizona to Fort Worth, Texas.

He has five poetry collections: These Are Not My Words (I Just Wrote Them), Raw Flesh Flash: The Incomplete, Unfinished Documenting Of, The Sunshine Special, Shoebox, and 30 Days of 19.

Other recent writings have appeared in Tempered Runes Press, Solum Literary Press, Poetry Box, Beyond Words, Wingless Dreamer, Subprimal Poetry Art, Americana Popular Culture Magazine, Shufpoetry, Kitty Litter Press, Carbon Culture, Amarillo Bay, Borderlands, Tattoo Highway, The New York Quarterly, Rougarou, and others.

Website: http://www.donovanhufnagle.com

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

Author Interview

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

I don’t remember having any imaginary friends; however, my favorite childhood book was Where the Wild Things Are.

I did, however, imagine trudging through a forest, floating in space, or fighting monsters in front of my castle.

I did imagine being in places where time didn’t exist, my own wonderland.

My bedroom, my pillows, my sheets, and whatever things I used to project from to imagine with all formed my worlds. 

Do you have any phobias?

In my introduction to humanities course, I teach monsters and myths. And one of my lessons involves students trying to attach their biggest fear to a known monster.

In my example, I use clowns. I don’t necessarily have a fear of clowns, but I do dislike them tremendously. The clown that started it all was the doll from the original Poltergeist movie.

There’s a scene in the movie that occurs in the boy’s bedroom, under the bed—You know “that under the bed fear.” well, I have it with clowns.

Anyway, ever since that movie, clowns incite my fear of the unknown and the feeling of powerlessness.

Besides, the duality of hiding their faces with smiles doesn’t make me want to smile; it is too Jekyll and Hyde for me.

This duality does come out in my poetry, too. I have a fascination with duality, especially with heroes and monsters.

The poem “Spanish Fly” deals with my perception of Bill Cosby’s duality as hero and monster. And the poem “Secret Identity” uses superheroes like Superman, Batman, and the Incredible Hulk to illustrate a sense of duality. 

Do you listen to music when you’re writing?

Music plays a major role in my life as well in my writing. I don’t really listen to music while I write, but music influences almost all aspects of my writing, including content and form.

My current book These Are Not My Words (I Just Wrote Them) has several poems influenced by blues music and musicians. “The Spirit of Deep Ellum” is a tribute to Blind Lemon Jefferson, for one example.

Lemon would walk to Deep Ellum in Dallas and play on the conners. I also “misuse” song lyrics all the time.

I am sure that you have experienced this, too, but I will sing lines from a song that I thought I knew but really didn’t, and I will use those lines as influence in some of my poems.

Even the experience of music enters my poetry. The poem “Sussudio Saves, The Day After, #6” uses the first five songs I heard in the car after January 6th.

The songs that played from my iTunes: Living On the Edge by Aerosmith, Eye of the Beholder by Metallica, White, Discussions, Territorial Pissings by Nirvana, and Dead Bodies Everywhere by Korn were legitimately the first five songs I heard and the sixth, of course, Sussudio

Do you ever read your poetry out loud?

Only if I must. Joking. I read them out loud to hear the cadence and rhythm.

Some poems have a stronger musicality to them, but all my poems have some form of rhythm or tempo, a pulse that either moves quickly or slowly.

Certain words, phrases, or lines play fast while others slow the poem down. If it is a traditional formed poem such as the villanelles sprinkled throughout the book, hearing them out loud helps me hear the repetition and to understand how it is working or not working.

I even have a short poem “Chorus” toward the middle of the book. Though the two lined poem “Nothing you imagine is better than the real./Being here and now is all you need to feel” do not represent my overall style of writing (I don’t typically rhyme in poetry), the chorus of the book is about reality and authenticity, weaving fantasy and imagination with an actuality.

It could be “sung” throughout the reading of the book. 

Tell us about your theme and what inspired it.

The book These Are Not My Words (I Just Wrote Them) is about identity.

I like to think the poems not only represent the different influences on my life, on my perceptions and thinking in which certain situations or people have formed who I am, they are also representative of my journey as a writer.

Many of the poems use personal experiences that I hope resonate with those that read the book. I think we all have had childhood loves or childhood dislikes, for example.

Or maybe we have had issues with family—fathers, mothers, siblings, or other. If anything, I hope readers can see how exposing and revealing these poems are.

The other poems use influences from the outside like influences from pop culture that shape identity. From the personal to the public, these poems tell the story of identity.

At the same time, I use many different forms and styles of poetry that have shaped my own style of writing. I would argue that this latest book uses more variations of style and forms than any of my previous works. 

Thank you, Donovan, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck with the These Are Not My Words.

Katie Walsh Book Blast

GENRE:  Historical Romance

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BLURB:

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

Katie doesn’t expect her father to be murdered, or his will to leave their farm to Guy Knowles, the man she hoped to marry, and order her to another state.

Betrayed by the men she trusted, what should have become a love like no other withers and dies.

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

Excerpt:

When our neighbor, Guy Knowles, began to drop by and take me for long but mostly silent walks across Papa’s pasture, I wondered if my parents had done the same thing and if my excitement mirrored what my mother’s might have been.

Did she, like me, translate every quiet step into tender words? Did she see lifelong devotion on Papa’s face then, like I watched for it now on Guy’s?

I expected my love story—the one I would write and the one I would live—to be like theirs.

What I didn’t expect was that both stories would begin the day a stranger came to my door and told me my father had just been killed. Killed, not died.

Nor did I expect this tale of “A Love Like No Other” to reach full bloom in a tiny jail cell far away.

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Click the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5040/

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/2024/10/book-blast-katie-walsh-by-colleen-l.html

About The Author

Colleen L Donnelly was born and raised in the US Midwest but ventured to other parts of the country as an adult to experience life from other perspectives.

Besides writing, she spends time outdoors, antique hunting, reading, or watching a good movie.

Even though she retired from a career in laboratory science, she is never bored and always busy at something. 

Social Media Links:

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly

Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/ 

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

Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly 

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4

Twitter:   https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/ 

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/3YQIFP2

Jury Duty Is Murder

GENRE:  Cozy Mystery

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BLURB:

The verdict is in; a famed athlete is headed for prison. The jurors have done their job and are free to go back to their lives.

But after being sequestered for four months, life as some knew it no longer exists.

HAROLD ASHMAN’s house is almost destroyed by a careless driver. Exotic dancer, CEECEE LAINE, discovers that her boyfriend is two-timing her, and she no longer has a job.

Actor ALEX MANNING learns his career is down the tubes, and 72-year-old, HELEN RYDER, discovers her family is plotting to put her in an old folks home.

Then things take a turn for the worse. When former jurors start dropping like flies, CeeCee, Helen, Harold, and Alex are convinced there’s a killer on the loose.

Now the feuding foursome must find him before he kills them—or before they save him the trouble by killing each other.

The ringing telephone woke me up. Without opening my eyes, I felt around until I touched the nightstand and finally, my phone. “Hello.”

“Wake up.”

I groaned. “Alex, what do you want?”

“I need you to wake up.”

I forced myself to sit up. The clock on the radio said it was after ten. “This better be important.”

“Something is terribly wrong,” Alex said. “It’s the thirtieth and nobody’s dead.”

“Hallelujah.” I hung up and dived back into my pillow. The phone rang again, and I groaned. Only Alex would think that no dead bodies meant something was wrong.

I rolled over and grabbed the phone. “Now what?”

“No one’s dead.”

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

Click the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5032/

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/2024/10/blurb-blitz-jury-duty-is-murder-by-kate.html

About The Author

 When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy RVing, spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge.

Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.

Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.

Links:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katejuryduty

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/juryduty17

Tiktok: http://www.tiktok.comKatedamon1

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565155275435

Borderland Blurb Blitz

GENRE:  LGBTQ Poetry

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BLURB:

Borderland is not just a poetry collection—it’s an invitation to explore the most vulnerable corners of the human experience.

Award-winning author Ross Victory takes readers on an emotional journey across the intersections of masculinity, race, bisexuality, and grief.

In a fearless blend of narrative and free verse, Victory dismantles societal expectations, offering a space where identity can exist fluidly and unapologetically.

Through its evocative imagery and bold storytelling, Borderland tackles life’s most complex themes—love, loss, strength, and defiance.

Each poem immerses readers in raw emotion, from tender vulnerability to fierce defiance.

This collection is perfect for readers seeking honest, unfiltered reflections on what it means to exist at the crossroads of identity and experience.

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

Step into the borderland, where identity knows no boundaries.

BRAVEHEART 

Faithful mothers pray for blessings and protection

over the steps of their beloved sons

*

At four, little toes painted red, he dons her wig and

time stops—

She stands,

a sentinel at his doorway, her eyes aglow with quiet alarm.

Laughter escapes him, and her prayers flow,

“My child, oh Lord, please God, protect my queer child.”

Each year, her love fortifies him against a world so callous—

A world at battle with his every step, his every breath, his every kiss.

She casts prayers over his sleeping body,

A mother’s vow

to shield,

to wrap his spirit against the venom of bitter tongues,

ready to take bullets aimed at him.

Her faith, a lighthouse amid ferocious storms; 

Her deeds, steeped in the words of Christ, 

Guiding him through tempests, 

imbuing him with grace and self-advocacy.

*

Twelve years shine, he kisses a girl — a burst of youthful fire,

“Treat her like a queen, my brave boy,”

“She, like you, is a masterpiece.”

“Why do I still like boys?” he asks, 

his heart tangled in distress.

“Because you see beauty everywhere,” she soothes,

“Since you were four, you’ve known color…”

Though days may darken and shadows lengthen, 

her faith remains his anchor.

“Your mama’s joy—let it flow,

For anger and violence are born in silence and darkness.”

*

Crafted by his mother’s devotion, a warrior is formed,

Forged from love, buoyed by prayer, tempered in battle.

With liberation as his birthright,

he strides forth as a man made of starlight—

a protector, a healer…

a Braveheart,

carved through the trials and triumph of the Borderland.

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
Click the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5029

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/2024/10/blurb-blitz-borderland-by-ross-victory.html

About The Author

Ross Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, music artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade, American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writing after losing his father and brother.

A former English teacher, Ross creates immersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” a father-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles and a music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure, bisexuality, and family.

In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze” and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa’s Cabin.”

Ross also publishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse on Medium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference.

This fall he will release his first poetry collection titled, “Borderland,” exploring the intersection of race, masculinity, and sexuality.

Licensed To Rear Tour

GENRE:  Family Fiction

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BLURB:

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

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

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

Excerpt

Mila ran to the side of the bed and plucked a glossy brochure off the nightstand. It had been folded and curled to reveal a particular page, as if waiting to be pointed out. “See?” She set her slender index finger on a small ad at the bottom of page nineteen. “I think we should move here.”

“Coolbeensia? Huh, an odd name.” Jason looked off into the distance. “But I think I’ve heard of it before. Isn’t that the place where you need a license to have children?”

Mila smiled, nodding emphatically. He’d heard of it, which eliminated the first hurdle and pushed them one step closer in the right direction. “Yep, it’s perfect.”

“How’re we going to get a license to raise a family?” His shoulders inched up. “It’s unheard of.” 

“But brilliant.” Mila patted her husband on the arm. Naturally, he showed concern, as they’d discussed having children long before they officially tied the knot. Having a full house was important to them both. Children would complete their family, plus a furry pet or two, besides the giant stuffed bear.

“It’s no biggie. It’s just like earning a license to drive. You’ve done it before, and so have I. We’ll be assured that we’re surrounded by qualified parents who know how to keep their kids safe. Isn’t that like what a driver’s license is for?” She gazed at him, hoping her brief but logical answer would convince him.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER

The author will be awarding a book-themed T-shirt to a randomly drawn winner.

Please use the following Rafflecopter code on your post: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5013

About The Author

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

Author Website: http://www.riyapresents.com

Social Media:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aarinibooks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aarinibooks

Buy Links:

Book is available everywhere books are sold, including

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Licensed-Rear-Novel-Riya-Aarini-ebook/dp/B0DGFGDZYT

Author Interview

When did the writing bug ensnare you?

I’ve embraced writing since junior high. I loved piecing together words and presenting my ideas on paper. I studied English Literature in college and continued to write throughout my life.

Which genres do you write?

I write absurdist fiction, satire, and paranormal comedy.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on promoting Licensed to Rear: A Novel. It’s got a good message presented in a satirical manner, and I hope people read it.

Where do you find inspiration for your characters?

I find inspiration from my characters all over the place, from television sitcoms to movies to real life and inside my own head.

What spark started one of your stories?

Seeing all these news stories about kids being neglected or mistreated sparked the storyline in Licensed to Rear.

What is one of your favorite scenes that you’ve written? Why?

I really enjoyed writing the scene in Licensed to Rear where Mila and her husband Jason argued about the fifth amendment in the Coolbeensian Bill of Rights. I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of presenting both arguments.

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

I liked creating Peter Losor in Licensed to Rear. He’s the typical obnoxious, irreverent guy out to make trouble, making him fun to write.

What are your favorite books?

I enjoy Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I’m reading the book right now and it’s filled with laughs and witticisms.

If you could create an author’s group with writers from any time period, who would you invite?

I’d invite Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein), Lord Byron, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allen Poe.

The firs three authors are from the Romantic period in England and the other two American authors are familiar household names.

I’d love to hear about Mary Shelley’s approach to conceptualizing and writing Frankenstein, which is considered the first science fiction novel.

When you’re not writing, where can we find you?

I’m on Instagram and Facebook: @aarinibooks

Thank you,Riya, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck with Licensed To Rear!

Catch You If You Fall Book Tour

GENRE:  Young Adult Contemporary

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BLURB:

The Rise up trilogy is a coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam, three best friends on the threshold of adulthood.

Before they can find their place in this world, they must come to terms with their past and learn to confide in each other as they are confronted by intolerance, ignorance, and corporate greed that threaten to rob them of their future.

Inspirational, harrowing, intense and deeply moving, this trilogy presents a ray of hope amidst terrible hardship, misfortune and loss.

Book One: Catch You If You Fall

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

When Hashim turns eighteen, he receives a grant from his Mosque that will send him to an Ivy League in New York.

His devout Muslim family couldn’t be more proud. And to support their young son on his journey, they arrange a wife for him. There’s only one problem: Hashim is gay.

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

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

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

Book Two:  Merry Farm

In the second installment of the Rise Up Trilogy, best friends Hashi, Alex, and Maryam stumble upon a huge government coverup.

When more people get sicker and sicker, and nothing about the outbreak makes news, it becomes clear the corruption goes up high.

As the three attempt to expose and stop a tragedy that could kill thousands, they end up framed as the bioterrorists responsible for this exact crime, and a team of hitmen is dispatched to hunt them down.

As they grapple with their own growing pains, Hashi, Alex, and Maryam hurry to outrun the disaster, prove that they are innocent, and do what they feel is right.

Book Three: Collusion

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

After the President’s Future Rescue Advisory Board hears their climate proposal to set heavy taxes on meat, dairy and carbon emissions, and someone leaks it to the press, chaos spreads across party lines.

A few months since they stopped a deadly virus in its tracks, the three uncover a conspiracy on the highest level of the legislative branch.

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

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

Excerpt:

From CATCH YOU IF YOU FALL

“And it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Hashim said as he crouched on the couch. 

Alex drew his brows closer, but soon his forehead smoothed. “Seriously?” he said and studied Hashim’s face. “Wow. We need to get you out of this mess.”

Sharing his predicament with his best friend had calmed Hashim’s nerves. Not that he had told the whole story, like the fact that he was gay. However, that was a piece of information he had only shared with God, though unwillingly, because from Him, you can’t hide a thing. 

Alex’s eyes grew wide. “But you’re just turning eighteen, for God’s sake. Isn’t it a little early to get engaged?” 

Hashim pressed his lips together and winced. You tell me. 

“His mom knows that once Hashim has committed to an engagement, he won’t break it,” Maryam said. She had been following the conversation from the other side of the room, giving the guys some space after she saw how upset Hashim was when he came in. “Without a solid religious reason to back out, that could shame the whole family,” she added. “People won’t greet you anymore or return your calls. You become a nobody.”

GIVEAWAY

The author will award the winner’s choice of an audiobook set via Spotify or a digital book set of THE RISE UP TRILOGY.

Click the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5003

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/2024/09/virtual-book-tour-rise-up-trilogy-by.html

About The Author

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

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

Previously, Henrik as published two books (an autobiographical coming of age book and a YA novel) by a major publisher (WSOY) in Finland before switching to English and self-publishing.

The Rise Up Trilogy was inspired by his fifteen-year stint as a volunteer in a Red Cross Youth Shelter and by his vegan activism.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVJ1TNFG

Buzz Sprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2264640

Website: http://www.henrikwilenius.com

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/henrikwileniusauthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@henrikwileniusauthor

Author Interview

When did the writing bug ensnare you?

    I never thought I was going to be an author, although my two older brothers, my sister, my father, my grandfather and my great uncle were writers.

    In my early twenties, I founded an art servicing company, selling contemporary art, and after an initial success, I ventured out to real estate development and market researched.

    But something was not right. By living the high life, I was neglecting my spiritual needs. I decided to radically downsize and went back to university to study philosophy, because I was obsessed with the question of why it is so hard for us to expand our understanding.

    And when I found the culprit, I became a writer. It was supposed to be an essay on Rhetoric by Aristotle, but only after half an hour of writing, I knew it was going to be a full-length manuscript. End of Restlessness, a philosophical study into my own coming-of-age, was published in 2001.

    Is writing your full-time profession?

      I write full-time, although I’m still involved in some business ventures, but the latter doesn’t take much of my time. For me, writing is a very intensive process, first energizing, and then after an hour, I’m exhausted and famished.

      The key question here is how you can do it without becoming an alcoholic, recluse or just generally cynical and bitter person in life. Unlike in the times past, nowadays successful writers share one predisposition and that’s discipline. You need routines to keep yourself in line.

      Even when traveling, I still follow my daily schedule and try to write at least in the morning. I start every day with an hour of Ashtanga yoga and follow it up with clear set of routines until after second spurt of writing, I finish with half an hour cardio or intensive kettle bell training.

      Rest of the day I spend taking care of practical stuff, doing research, and running errands. During the week I’m a hermit but on weekend afternoons and evenings, I become a social animal, still writing in the morning though. For me, physical exercise is very important for releasing all the inner tension that writing brings on.Without it, I would be stuck in my fantasy world and unable to cope with reality.

      How many published books have you written?

      I have two books published in Finland in Finnish by a major publisher before I switched to English and self-publishing the Rise Up Trilogy

      Which genres do you write?

        My first book was a narrative non-fiction but now I’m happy to write young adult. 

        What are you working on now?

          I have three manuscripts in my virtual drawer, but I might still continue writing about Hashim, Alex, and Maryam. I haven’t decided yet what will be my next project. 

          What is a favorite quote from one of your own books?

            “While the words ricocheted in the grand dome, Hashim kept his head low and said a silent prayer asking for mercy like had done thousands of times since realizing he was gay.” A quote from Catch You if You Fall, book one of the Rise Up Trilogy.

            What is your favorite book review from a reader?

              It’s from a 18-year-old American beta-reader:

              Overall, I loved how the three books each explored different themes and issues and the strong bond of friendship throughout.

              I found that I also learned a lot about Muslim culture and faith while reading and I really enjoyed how this aspect was tied into the characters’ identities. 

              The characters were beautifully crafted and each had a unique identity. I loved the way they complemented each other and balanced the story.

              Additionally, I found that each book focused on one of the three main characters, and I really liked this idea. After reading all three, I truly felt like I knew each of them personally. 

              The first book was probably my favorite of the three only because I could connect to it the most. It really reminded me of the movie “Kill Your Darlings”.

              There wasn’t a dull moment and I was eager to read more the entire time. I felt the action was really dispersed well and blended beautifully with the more gentle moments.

              The second book really showed the development of the three friends the most I think. I loved to learn more about Alex and also see Hashim become more “himself”.

              My favorite character was Alex from the start and I really liked that his story was more concentrated on. I liked that the friends took on more non-personal challenges as they navigated New York.

              It felt just as exciting and powerful to read and I was left with a sense of empowerment after finishing this story. At times, I felt there was too much concentration on romance but that could be just a personal preference, as I see how that intertwined with the characters actions and development.

               The third book was also a very exciting read. I feel it really completed the trilogy and I felt I knew the characters inside and out by the end.

              The plot twist was incredible and I really liked how this story played out. It was a very satisfying end and I found that it perfectly closed out this coming-of-age adventure.

              I also want to note that a trigger warning is necessary for all three books due to the mentions of suicide, abuse, assault, etc. For some readers this information can be sensitive and hurtful.

              However, I really loved that these very difficult topics were included and addressed in a way that was not overdone and also developed the main plot. 

              I have never seen topics such as climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and animal cruelty presented in a book like this trilogy was able to accomplish. It is very common for author’s to glaze over these topics or concentrate on them too much. 

              I truly appreciated that the characters’ beliefs were presented in the same way that I think about these topics. These books captured both the challenges often encountered and the spirit of activism and for change that I could definitely relate to and I think many readers will as well. 

              Though each book seemingly focused on completely different issues and was placed in a different setting, the characters and their relationships definitely grounded and unified the books.

              I think this series is perfect for YA readers and would likely most be enjoyed by high school age readers. I think this trilogy could definitely be related to and loved by many readers and has great potential to inspire.

              Thank you, Henrik, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck with the Rise Up Trilogy.

              Falling From The Nest Book Tour

              GENRE: Historical Fiction

              BLURB:

              Spring 1946–Following four years of war on the heels of the decade-long Great Depression, Americans are finally feeling a sense of hope that begins sweeping the nation…

              Jo-Jo Anderson feels that optimism too. Slipping the reins of her Iowa farming town, Jo leaves to make her mark on the entertainment scene in Manhattan. Audiences are clamoring for new musicals on Broadway, nightclubs are flourishing, and NYC is the beating heart of the radio networks.

              After arriving, Jo-Jo quickly realizes that thousands of would-be stars are following her same ambitions, making opportunities scarce, but her luck begins to turn when she hears about Talent Jackpot.

              Her twin, Sarah, finds success with her studies as a scholarship student at the University of Iowa. But Sarah is adrift socially, finding it difficult to forge friendships. Her perfectly planned life is upended when her hometown boyfriend announces he’s suddenly joined the navy.

              Sarah’s top grades draw the attention of a crusty biology professor and after accepting his offer of a lab position, her rigid lifestyle gets a lot more complicated.

              This novel tells a story of unexpected change. The twins make their way through multiple challenges with humor, ambition, and heartbreak but remain tied together by the bonds of sisterhood, winding their way through the seedier backdoors of the entertainment business, and into college dorm life and love nest apartments.

              With the historical backdrop of the post WW2 era, Falling From The Nest, reads as a stand- alone story but also serves as a sequel to author Bobbie Candas’ previous novel, The Lost and Found of Green Tree.

              Excerpt:


              The last of the audition line moved forward and I was suddenly thrust up on the stage of the Imperial Theater. There were three lines of ten on stage, filled with nervous male and female hopefuls auditioning for chorus line spots for a new Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun.

              I could smell my fear as it branched out within me in tingling connections from my frozen face down to my feet. Feet that now felt like dead weights attached to heeled dance shoes whose soles were glued to the floor.

              I’d arrived late and was in the last group of an open-call audition and purposely nudged myself into the center of the middle line, hoping for a hiding spot. But hiding is hard when you’re a leggy, five-foot-nine, pale blonde female in a string of short, muscular dancers. Kinda like a spotted giraffe among the lions.

              After lining up, our executioner and choreographer took about sixty seconds to show us a dozen linking steps to an opening dance sequence. His arrogant face, slim body, and searching eyes leaned back appraising the lines. “OK, boys and girls, this one’s simple. Think you got it?” Everyone around me anxiously nodded yes.

              No, I wanted to shout. Repeat please!

              The orchestra in the pit began cranking out a tune, as the choreographer yelled out…”And a one, and a two–knee up, kick left, circle back, hop, hop, knee up, kick right…” Then he motioned for the music to stop.

              An exasperated expression covered his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, these are the basics, the easy connections. Let’s start again on three. And a one, and a two–knee up, kick left, circle back, hop, hop…” He stuck his arm out, motioning again for the music to stop.

              “Alright, first cuts.” His long arm and dismissive finger pointed to the guilty dancers. “Tall blonde, center middle row, thank you. You…guy on the end, first row, that will be all. Back row, green sweater, left side, you may leave.”

              He sighed deeply, clapped his hands, and said. “Let’s go again, cue music…repeat.”

              The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click the link to enter.

              http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5009

              About The Author: Bobbie Canda

              I’m a Texas girl: grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin where I earned my degree in journalism, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, two kids and a few cats.

              My husband, Mehmet, and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m a sucker for a robust discussion.

              For years I was involved in retail management, but in 2014 I refocused on my writing, taking deep dives into the lives of my characters. When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I enjoy entertaining, sharing food and drink with friends and family.

              I enjoy shopping, usually on the hunt for apparel, with a special weakness for shoes, and will frequently jump at the opportunity of an unexpected trip to a far-away place.

              And I always make time for reading. I keep a stack of novels ready and waiting on my night stand, with a few tapping their toe in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m always ready for a good recommendation.


              Facebook: Author Bobbie Candas: https://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasauthor
              Good Reads author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292457.Bobbie.Candas
              Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Bobbie-
              Candas/s?3A283155%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABobbie+Candas
              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas
              Website: http://www.bobbiecandas@gmail.com