Month: December 2024

 A Language App Parody and Whodunnit 

Satire

Date Published: August 15, 2024

Who murdered the mascot and spokes-bear of the world’s most successful foreign language app? Was it an executive, employee, investor, lover, or one of the company’s animated instructors – endearing cartoon personalities invested with the power of Artificial Intelligence? What began as a chain novel prompt along the lines of “It was a dark and stormy night” on a language app fan site morphed into a full-fledged novel and parody by the prize-winning author of Cooperative Lives. The story originally appeared online in thirteen riveting installments but is now expanded and available in book format in both English and German as the definitive parody, page turner, and murder mystery for anyone who has ever studied language with a cast of digital cartoon characters and an anthropomorphic mascot.

About the Author

Patrick Finegan was born during the latter half of the Eisenhower Administration and graduated during the Carter and Reagan Administrations from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School and Graduate School of Business. He worked more than thirty years in law, corporate finance, management consulting and risk management. He has a wife and grown daughter and is an avid student of foreign languages. He is the author of three published novels.

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Book 1 of The Sea Hawkes Chronicles

Historical Fiction/Nautical Fiction

Date Published: February 18th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

The man who fights for his family is far more dangerous than the one who fights for his king.

Colonial sea captain Jonas Hawke returns home to Norfolk after a year-long voyage only to have his ship and its valuable cargo seized by the British Royal Navy. As the royal governor further tightens the noose on trade, Jonas is thrust into the chaos of a growing rebellion. Desperate to support his family, he sets out to find work. When he is denied a commission with the newly formed Continental Navy, he outfits his own vessel as a private ship-of-war and voyages to the Caribbean in search of enemy merchant ships he can capture and friends he can trust.

But dangers multiply on the unforgiving sea. The Royal Navy reacts mercilessly to the threat posed by privateers like Jonas. How will Jonas fare now that he has boldly defied the King of Britain to preserve his family? And what will happen to his loved ones while he is away, engulfed in a war to oppose tyranny in the name of freedom?

About the Author

Naval Academy and Naval War College graduate Thomas M. Wing retired after thirty-two years as a Navy Surface Warfare officer. He served more than ten years at sea and twenty-two years ashore in increasingly important tactical and operational billets. A dedicated sailor for half a century, he created the Continental Navy Foundation, served as its executive director, and commanded its brigantine, Megan D. 

He wrote In Harm’s Way from a desire to explore the topic of America’s early sea warriors and how they struck fear into the hearts of British shippers around the globe. Thomas’s award-winning first novel, Against All Enemies, was released in 2023 by Acorn Publishing. He resides in San Diego with his wife and daughter and a cat and a dog. Whatever free time he has is spent on the water.

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Playbooks and Short Stories

by Lirio Blanco Show

Genre: Literary Fiction

The Moldy Orange Bandage:

Playbooks and Short Stories

by Lirio Blanco Show

Genre: Literary Fiction

As much as we may love our families and friends, they possess the ability to drive us crazy!

In this pair of theatrical playbooks (with a few short stories as an added bonus), two family-friendly plays for tweens and up showcase two different dramas.

In The Moldy Oranges, married life between an American husband and his Latin immigrant wife never proves dull . . . especially when the mother-in-law lives under the same roof. And then, when their trusted neighbor requests a mysterious brown bag be hidden in their closet, it provides the trigger for family secrets, suspicion, and intrigue. What is in the brown bag? A diary? Stolen jewelry? A secret detonator for a kitchen stove, perhaps?

Based on the events of Atlanta’s 2014 ice storm, a group of middle school girls are trapped in their after-school classroom, seemingly abandoned by the last faculty member, who flees to protect her own family during the crisis. Three girls and the class bully must learn to cooperate for survival until help arrives in The Box of Bandages.

From architect/author Lirio Blanco Show, these stories provide a peek into family life with an in-law, stranded girls struggling to cope with a bully, as well as a handful of short animal stories . . . some based on true events, some completely fiction. Who dares to say which is which?

The answers lie within…

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by Lynn Marie Jackson

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #UnexpectedDetour #LynnMarieJackson #HistoricalFiction

When bombs fall on Pearl Harbor, the trajectory of Faye Baxter’s midwestern life takes an unexpected detour. Her fiancé Steve Connor enlists in the Army, and Faye follows him to California for a spur-of-the-moment wedding just days before he ships out. 

Eager to contribute to the war effort, Faye joins the workforce in San Francisco, a city awash with jobs, handsome soldiers, cheap cocktails, and nefarious secrets. When she is recruited to serve as a courier for a government intelligence agency, the assignment leads her into a web of misogyny, deception, and espionage. 

Will she learn to trust her instincts, value her own opinions, and raise her voice against injustice? Or are the risks too great?

About the Author

Lynn Marie Jackson has spent many years engaged in the creative process working as a marketing strategist, copywriter, podcast producer, blogger, and novelist. Raised in California and Washington, DC, she is a long-time San Francisco Bay Area resident. When not writing, she’s on the hunt for inspiration; she can be found visiting museums, hiking new trails, or exploring any place well outside her comfort zone.

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by Julian Mercer

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheAlgorithm #JulianMercer #Fiction

For readers of George Orwell’s “1984” and Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Klara and the Sun,” Julian Mercer’s “The Algorithm” is a deeply philosophical speculative novel that explores the boundaries of truth, morality, and societal control. With a world teetering between progress and tradition, this story invites readers to question the systems they trust, their values, and the fragile balance between harmony and freedom—a profound and thought-provoking work for those seeking more than just a story.

About the Author

Julian Mercer has written extensively under another name and lives in the mountains of Colorado. His novel The Algorithm, 15 years in the making, represents his most ambitious work yet, blending deep philosophical inquiry with speculative storytelling. With a career steeped in exploring the intersection of technology and society, Mercer invites readers into a world where truth and harmony collide.

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The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 8

By A.L. Hawke

Genre: Paranormal Holiday Fantasy 

Candy Crone

The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 8

By A.L. Hawke

Genre: Paranormal Holiday Fantasy 

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@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #DearStarvingArtist #RansfordDoherty #Memoir

by Ransford Doherty

 Memoir, Personal Development, Entertainment

For every dreamer who’s ever been told it’s impossible—this one’s for you.

In Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat, Ransford Doherty shares an honest, humorous, and deeply inspiring journey from aspiring dreamer to working actor. Born into a family with high expectations shaped by a rich Sierra Leonean heritage, Ransford felt the pressure to pursue stability over passion. From a pivotal decision to switch his college major to theatre to the audacious leap of moving to Los Angeles, this memoir chronicles his trials and triumphs in the pursuit of his artistic dreams.

Ransford reflects on the challenges of breaking into the entertainment industry. He navigates financial struggles, moments of self-doubt, and the delicate balance between staying true to his vision and meeting life’s practical demands. With wit and candor, he introduces readers to the mentors, friends, and serendipitous encounters that shaped his path, offering valuable lessons for anyone daring to follow an unconventional dream.

With a blend of resilience and relatability, Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat is a call to action for dreamers everywhere. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration to take a leap of faith, this book is a testament to the courage it takes to embrace your true self and persevere against all odds.

When the world says ‘be practical,’ Ransford Doherty says ‘be bold.’

Get inspired to pursue your passion with grit and determination—grab your copy of Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat today and start writing your own success story!

About the Author

Ransford Doherty is an opportunity creator whose career is in a category by itself. Ransford uses his high energy, sense of humor, personal stories, and perspective to inspire and encourage audiences to make the impossible possible.

Ransford draws on his 20 years of experience of being a working actor in Hollywood, the many lessons he learned spending 9 seasons as C.I. Kendall on TNT’s top-rated cable series, THE CLOSER and MAJOR CRIMES while pursuing a Master Degree and working as a high school Special Education teacher in South LA, to deliver a message that has helped a plethora of creatives not so much focus on being a star on the stage and screen, but being a star at life.

He is also using his teaching and speaking skills to promote a program he co-founded alongside a curriculum he created called Winning at The Money Game that teaches elementary, middle, and high school students financial literacy through the game of basketball.

In 2020, he launched an online masterclass for actors called Actforaliving.com, and is currently releasing an autobiography he co-wrote with Angie Sanders called Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat.

Ransford lives in Los Angeles.

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by Mitchell Sanders

Climate of Monsters: Book2

Mystery, Thriller

Date Published: October 31, 2024

Saga and George against all odds must embattle the mistress of disease, Pesta, a creature of bone-chilling nightmares that resurfaces from black waters of Merrimack to the Chalrles River to bring a new plague and pestilence upon the world.

Saga Gunderson is a medical doctor that was trained in Sweden Special forces to combat terrorist groups around the world. She currently is a senior officer in Special Joint Operations Consortium (SJOC) Task Force in Sweden and Italy to track down and protect civilians from supernatural encounters. She was also tasked with protecting and serving George Fiori, the world’s last master swordsman to fight these monsters that seem to popup out of nowhere as climate change spirals out of control and the evolution and aggression of these monsters is untenable. George is a complex anti-hero who uses his deadly weaponry (armi mortali) training and neurodivergent gifts of clairvoyance and autism to unravel the mysteries and get to the source of these supernatural encounters to prevent evil from resurfacing and killing innocent victims.

About the Author

Mitchell Sanders is just another ordinary individual. As a scientist and serial entrepreneur, in his spare time he enjoys reading and writing horror books. His inspirations come from his lovely wife and best friend, Elisabeth, and three children and three grandchildren, who encouraged him to write and finish his first book. Mitch spent a good portion of his life studying biomedical sciences and advanced wound care. He has a BA in biology from Boston University with a minor in Latin language and literature, and an MS in molecular biology and a PhD in biomedical sciences, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Mitch did two postdocs at the Whitehead Institute / MIT, a world-renowned nonprofit research institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. Mitch is a worldwide expert in wound repair and regeneration. Mitch was formerly founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of a diagnostic company for sixteen years and is currently the chief scientific officer (CSO) of an international health-care tech enabled services firm. His biggest achievement is having three amazing kids (Jake, Mia, and Ben), three exceptional grandchildren (Emma, Corey, and Geo), and an endearing wife, Elisabeth.

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by by Dr. Jacquelyn Bobien-Blanton

Discover the ultimate resource that every educator, teacher, parent, and child mentor should possess to promote a student’s success. Based on her research and dissertation work “Reading Fadeout”, the experienced and respected Dr. Jacquelyn Bobien-Blanton authors this transformational and in-depth research study that formulates a strong case and need for a child’s reading proficiency; and how their learning infrastructure and living ecosystem can hinder or promote it. Based on her foundational research, Dr. Bobien-Blanton shows you why and how children must be capable and competent readers by third grade.

Unlike other individual research theory books, this collective and holistic analysis is exactly what is needed to modify reading instruction and positively change the educational trajectory and future of our children. Don’t miss out on this vital and essential guide to shape young minds.

About the Author

Our LHM Author:  Dr. Jacquelyn Bobien-Blanton is a distinguished educator with nearly three decades of educational experience. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Early Learning for Orange Township Public Schools, and holds a doctorate degree from Walden University, as well as a master’s degree from Montclair State University and an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. Certified in Preschool-Third Grade, Elementary Education, Supervision, and Principalship, Dr. Blanton oversees early-learning education, professional development, curriculum programming, budgeting, and coordinates governmental mandates. Recognized as an Exemplary Elementary Educator, she contributed to early childhood education protocols and revised teaching standards for the New Jersey Department of Education; and was also recognized by the Senate and General Assembly for dedication to scholastic achievement. Actively engaged in professional organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Dr. Blanton is committed to educational advancement. Among many other efforts, her dedication extends to community service, having assisted in creating the Shiloh Rainbow Academy in Newark, NJ. Beyond her professional achievements, “Jackie”, a devoted wife and mother, values family closeness and believes in the transformative power of education for a fulfilling life.

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by Caroline S. Fairless

Growing Up Girl, Book I

Fiction

Date Published: September 10, 2024

In Growing Up Girl: Book One, a young Bernadette Aller floats through her life – job to job, lover to lover, place to place. She is an untethered spirit trying to find her way in a world that’s not been too kind.

Now, as she barrels toward her seventies, she wants to tell her story, not because it’s hers alone, but because it’s a surprisingly common story. It’s a story much of which happens behind doors that display the word unspeakable. Bernadette hires Scully Trippe to ghost write, translating Bernadette’s personal experience into the third person, in what might (or might not) be a misguided attempt to extend the story’s reach.

The time frame is malleable, with the storytelling moving back and forth through several stages of Bernadette’s life.

In this first book of the Growing Up Girl trilogy, BernadetteWorld is populated with Patience, her housekeeper; Maddie, a former lover and now a ghost; and Lucinda, a time traveler who drops in and out.

It’s a quirky group.

Cover artist is Matt Smith. The image of the five-year-old on the cover is Matt’s mother whom he never met. In his own words, “Although I have no memory of her, I treasure the stories of Lynn’s strength, stubbornness, and ferocious loyalty. My hope is to bring her from the muted mysterious shadows into the light with love.”

About the Author

Caroline Fairless is a writer and a ceramic sculptor. She is a retreat facilitator with a focus on the interdependence and connectedness of every being, visible or not. She served several congregations as an ordained pastor for twenty-five years, publishing several books during that time. Now in her retirement, Caroline is writing fiction and learning new art forms.

Over the past twenty years, Caroline and her partner Jim have been fortunate to stitch back together three land parcels that once were one. One of them borders on one of New Hampshire’s many small ponds. The other two border a marsh that hosts otters, beaver, herons, turtles, geese, ducks, and an occasional loon passing through.

In the New Hampshire summers, Caroline gardens and walks the dogs she and Jim have rescued. New Hampshire winters will find her at her computer, still walking dogs, and camping in front of the wood stove.

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