Six to Carry the Casket & One to Say the Mass

by Bill Hulseman



reflections on life, identity, and moving forward


LGBTQ+

Date Published: July 8, 2025

Publisher: Peanut Butter Publishing



Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity, and moving forward offers the unique opportunity for its readers to start a new dialogue, take an active hand in creating culture and reshaping the world, and think about making meaning from formative experiences and relationships. From family dynamics and professional challenges that bolstered and battered him to the TV shows, films, books, and people who impacted his queer identity, Bill deconstructs the world that he inherited and begins to reconstruct the person he wants to become through short, poignant, thought-provoking, and frequently hilarious essays. The post-2020 world revealed to Bill that social transformation only comes with individual choices. If he wanted the world to change, he had to truthfully and compassionately understand how choices made long ago brought him to this moment and how the choices he makes now shape the future.

This book is not didactic or instructional; not self-help or psychology; not academic philosophy or cultural criticism. It is an exercise in honesty and a portrait of Bill, his family, and how we construct multiple identities—sexual, religious, philosophical, political, familial, relational—without reducing them to a monolithic whole, without being argumentative.

For anyone looking to make meaning out of their lives and the world around them, this book offers a model.

 


Contact Links

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Blog

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


a Rafflecopter giveaway 


https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js RABT Book Tours & PR

Your Aging Body

and how to care for it

Nonfiction / Aging / Self-Help

Date Published: 06-12-2025

Publisher: The Woodtick Press



Written in understandable language, this book describes the ways in which our body changes with age and outlines some practical ways to counter many of these changes. It begins by discussing the aging process in general terms and why some people seem much younger than others of the same chronological age. After a presentation of general characteristics of the aging body, subsequent chapters focus on what lies behind the aging of specific parts of the body and how the reader can counteract or slow down the aging process through lifestyle changes. The text illustrates how some seemingly quite different aging changes, for example skin wrinkles and high blood pressure, are due to very similar underlying mechanisms. Although not focusing on disease, the book deals with a number of conditions, e.g., hypertension, arthritis, Type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, which affect many older adults. A concluding chapter pulls together many of the details presented earlier in the book and offers some practical advice for navigating the aging process.

As both a professional anatomist and a gerontologist, the author is well qualified to write a book on the aging body. Forty years as a professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, he served as Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and also Director of the Institute of Gerontology. For several decades he conducted research on the aging of muscle. He is a past-president of the American Association of Anatomists and of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairpersons.


Excerpt


How Do We Keep Our Balance?


Our body is never completely stable. Even while standing still, our body sways ever so slightly. Usually we don’t even notice it. The main reason is that we constantly make tiny un-noticed corrections to our stance that keep our body in a stable upright condition. If we are walking and our foot hits a snag of some sort, one of our legs automatically kicks out and our arms spread to counteract the forward lurching of our body. If we are lucky, that action is enough to correct the stumble and we continue walking. If we are unlucky, we fall.

Keeping our balance involves a complex dance among several systems in our body. Most important are 1) a component of our inner ear, called the vestibular system; 2) our visual system; and 3) a large batch of sensory nerves that make up what is called the proprioceptive system. These three systems all send messages to the brain, which sorts them out and then sends appropriate messages to a variety of muscles throughout the body, telling them to adjust their individual contractions in a manner that keeps our body in a stable position.

 


About the Author

 

 Bruce Carlson has had a long and varied career in a number of fields. As an undergraduate student at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, he majored in biology, languages and chemistry. As a prelude to becoming a fish biologist, he worked for the Minnesota Conservation Department (now DNR) as an aquatic biologist during summers except for one when he conducted research at the University of Georgia Marine Laboratory on Sapelo Island, Georgia. He entered a program in ichthyology at Cornell University, but became fascinated with the phenomenon of regeneration. After receiving an MS from Cornell, he entered the MD-PhD program at the University of Minnesota where he conducted research on limb regeneration in salamanders.

In 1966 he joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Michigan Medical School and became Chairman of the Department and later, Director of the Institute of Gerontology. He taught microscopic anatomy and human embryology and received several major awards for his teaching. His research on regeneration, embryology and muscle biology led him to live for extended periods in five countries – The USSR, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Finland and New Zealand. A prolific writer, he has written over 200 articles and chapters in scientific publications, has edited 15 symposium articles and translations, and he has written twenty books on a variety of topics.

Bruce is an avid fisherman, who is on the water well over 100 days per year, either night-fishing for walleyes or fly fishing for smallmouth bass in northern Minnesota. He has also taken many trips to New Zealand, his favorite country, to fish for trout in a remote lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. For many years he wrote articles for several national fishing magazines. The main theme was that the more you understand the biology of the fish you are trying tocatch, the better will be your results.

Since retirement in 2006, Bruce has reverted to his scientific childhood and has again taken up work on fish and lake biology. In addition to weekly collections of data about the lake by his cabin, he has directed a ten-year study on the growth of northern pike on a nearby lake and has spent hundreds of hours taking underwater videos in northern lakes. This activity has led to his writing two popular books on lake biology and one on aquatic invasive species.

In addition to his outdoor work, Bruce has maintained an active professional writing schedule, with seven editions of his book “Human Embryology and Developmental Biology” and other books on regeneration, the human body and muscle biology. His work in the area of embryology has led him into expert witness work in that area and writing a new book on the abortion controversy – “The Abortion Controversy – An Embryologist’s Perspective.” His background in anatomy and the biology of aging has him thinking about writing a new book on understanding the aging body.


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Blog


Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/YourAgingBody

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Break Free From Burnout

 

The Ultimate Blueprint for High Achievers to Reclaim Your Life, Revitalize your Mind and Restore Well-being to thrive in a Fast Paced World.

Self Help Date Published: May 6,2025

 

Break Free From Burnout is the ultimate blueprint designed to help you reclaim your life, revitalise your mind, and restore your well-being in today’s fast-paced world.

 

Inside this empowering guide, you’ll discover:

 

* The early warning signs of burnout and learn how to identify them before it’s too late.

* Use proven strategies to manage workload and prevent overwhelm.

* Step-by-step guides for long-term recovery planning tailored to your unique needs.

* The transformative power of mindfulness and meditation to reduce stress and boost mental clarity.

* How to set effective boundaries and protect your personal time and energy.

* Ways to improve physical health and reduce burnout symptoms through exercise, nutrition, and sleep.

* Emotional resilience techniques that build confidence and help navigate challenges.

* The importance of community and support networks, and how to build yours.

* Personal success stories that inspire hope and demonstrate the possibility of recovery.

* Self-compassion practices to foster self-awareness and acceptance.

* Immediate stress relief techniques for high-pressure moments.

* Work-life integration strategies to harmonise your professional and personal life.

* How to rebuild relationships and strengthen connections with loved ones.

* The critical role of self-care in enhancing overall well-being.

* Practical exercises and reflection questions to help you apply concepts, track your progress.

* and much more!

 

Even if you’ve tried other books and felt they fell short, this book offers a unique blend of personal experience, expert insights, and practical tools that can make a real difference. By sharing my journey through burnout, case studies, and step-by-step strategies, I provide relatable, actionable advice you can implement today.

 

About the Author


**ROJ Dee, MSc**, is a Swiss-based scientist and versatile author with a passion for turning knowledge into inspiration. With a background in science and a curiosity for the world, she writes across a rich tapestry of genres—from self-help and wellness to history, travel, and cooking. Whether guiding readers through ancient civilizations, helping them navigate burnout recovery, or sharing flavorful recipes, ROJ Dee blends research, insight, and creativity to inform and uplift. Her work reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and demonstrates a deep appreciation for culture, resilience, and everyday discovery.

 

Contact Links

Facebook

TikTok

Pinterest

BookBuzz


Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Some Call Me Eve

by T. Pike

Genre: Historical Romance

 

Enemies bound by desire. 

Allies torn by fate.

Some Call Me Eve

by T. Pike

Genre: Historical Romance



Princess Evangeline has an insatiate lust for power. As her kingdom’s most feared warrior and heiress to the throne, she plans to one day rule in her father’s place, just as she rules over countless men during secret nights of sin.

But when the castle falls to a new enemy, Evangeline becomes a slave in her own kingdom, forced to obey the heartless queen’s commands to honor her father’s dying wish: to protect her people.

The princess craves vengeance, but can she resist the carnal magnetism between her and Prince Rune, the queen’s son and royal pawn? And as rebellion brews, can she trust Rune, the man with the power to quench her torrid flames, to be her greatest ally?

 

**Releases July 21st – PreOrder Now!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Author’s Site * Bookbub * Goodreads



T. Pike grew up in Northwest Arkansas where she swam competitively for more than 17 years. After graduating from Texas A&M University with an English degree and All-American honors, she returned home to pursue her master’s in English and write her debut novel: Some Call Me Eve. Now a law student, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs and exploring the mountains with her partner.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $30 giveaway!




Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice

Iceni Book 1

by Stephen D Owen

Genre: Historical Fiction

 


The revolt of Queen Boudica and the Iceni against the might of Rome has echoed down the centuries. Nearly 2000 years ago, during the early years of Roman Britain, Boudica, a victim of Roman injustice, raised the Iceni tribe in rebellion against Rome.


Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice

Iceni Book 1

by Stephen D Owen

Genre: Historical Fiction



Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice is the first thrilling instalment in this historical trilogy.

 

60 AD. The death of Prasutagus, the Iceni king, leaves his kingdom divided between Rome and his daughters. The Roman Procurator Catus Decianus seizes the entire territory and brutalizes Boudica and her family.

Driven by vengeance, Boudica rallies the Iceni tribe and allies including the Trinovantes, Coritani, and Catuvellauni. As Roman forces are preoccupied in the north, Boudica’s rebel army advances on Camulodunum, the Roman provincial capital, where a vastly outnumbered Roman defence struggles to hold.

With the fate of Roman Britannia hanging in the balance, the epic tale of sacrifice, rebellion, and fierce determination unfolds.

 

Amazon * Apple * Waterstones * The Book Guild * Bookbub * Goodreads

 


Stephen D Owen, an enthusiast of Roman Britain and the Iceni Revolt, wished to bring the dramatic story of Queen Boudica, a druid priest and the Iceni Revolt to life in his debut novel, Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice.

Stephen explains: “The revolt of Queen Boudica and the Iceni against the might of Rome has echoed down the centuries. Nearly 2000 years ago, during the early years of Roman Britain, Boudica, victim of Roman injustice, raised the Iceni in rebellion against Rome.

On 1st of August 1984, millennia later, a mysterious link with the drama of the Iceni Revolt may have been uncovered. The remnants of a male peat body were found at Lindow Moss Wilmslow Cheshire, England.

At first the peat body was thought to be a murder victim, yet in time the body was proven to be far older. As old as the Iron Age in Britain at the time of the Roman Conquest.

Known as Lindow Man, or Pete Marsh, archaeologists and experts were called in. A theory was put forward, Lindow Man was in fact a high-born sacrificial victim. A druid priest, perhaps close to Boudica herself, who was a witness and key to the Iceni revolt.

The discovery of Lindow Man inspired me to write Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice. Was this man a priest?

Fundamental to the fate of Boudica and the Iceni? Although my version is fictional, I decided a good challenge would be to write my version of what could have happened, but I would encourage any reader to look into the history to form their own opinions!”

 

Website * Facebook *Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Airplanes, Atlanta, & an Assassin

 

 Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries, Book #10

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 07-10-2025

Publisher: Secret Staircase Books



A National Competition and a Deadly Detour

High school teacher Katie Wilk is thrilled when her students qualify for Mock Trial America, a prestigious courtroom competition in Atlanta. Alongside her best friend and fellow teacher Jane Mackey, a team of eager teens, and a crew of devoted chaperones, Katie boards a flight from Minnesota—ready for a week of intellectual showdowns and Southern hospitality. But things go sideways before the plane is even off the ground.

With canceled flights, endless delays, and one particularly obnoxious passenger stirring up trouble, the trip turns into a logistical, almost deadly, nightmare. When that same rude traveler turns up later in Atlanta, the chaos takes a deadly turn—and suspicion lands squarely on the Mackey family.

As Katie digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets: stolen documents, corporate espionage, dangerous toxins, and enough motive to make her question everything. Can she untangle the truth before the killer strikes again?

Luckily, she’s got help—from Maverick, her sharp-nosed, loyal Labrador retriever and trained search-and-rescue dog, who’s always ready to sniff out danger.

Smart, suspenseful, and full of heart, this latest installment in Mary Seifert’s charming cozy mystery series delivers Southern intrigue, tricky puzzles, and the kind of dogged determination only a Lab (and a resolute teacher) can provide.



Excerpt


Weather delayed the incoming plane. We had boarded thirty minutes behind schedule, and forty-two minutes later, after anxious bouts of fits and giggles checking watches and phone screens, we saw our pilot step out of the cockpit to make a brief announcement.

“Good morning, folks. Sorry for the delay, but due to mechanical issues, we’ve had to cancel our non-stop flight to Atlanta.” As the air around me took on a rumble, he smiled uneasily and took a big breath. “We apologize for any inconvenience, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you and get you to your final destination as quickly as possible. Please gather your belongings and check the seat pocket before disembarking. See the gate attendant for more details.”

We exited the aircraft. Our students crowded around me, and I said decisively, “We’ll catch another plane soon and still arrive in plenty of time to take advantage of everything we’ve planned before your competition begins in three days. Don’t worry.”

Famous last words. I hoped I wasn’t constructing a false narrative for our future.

I massaged my temples as we waited our turn and inched our way to the desk for information. The smile glued to the young man’s face never wavered as he checked our tickets. “It’s a very busy Memorial weekend.” His fingers flew over the keys. “It’ll take a bit of maneuvering to get your entire group in the sky, but we’ll get you on the next available flight, however …” He looked up at me, and one corner of his mouth turned down in a bit of alarm. “The operative word is available.

My heart leaped to my throat, and I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“And a nonstop will be impossible.” His eyebrows, cheeks, and lips morphed into one big apology. “You’ll be rerouted first through Detroit.”


About the Author


Mary Seifert is the author of the Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries 2024 International IMPACT Award winner for books in a series, a collection of fun and thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books, including the 2023 American Fiction Award finalist Maverick, Movies & Murder and the 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist Santa, Snowflakes & Strychnine, are must-reads for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a good puzzle wrapped in a heartwarming story.

Set in the charming landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes begin and the criminals are caught, Mary’s stories transport readers to a world of intrigue, humor, and small-town charm. Each book is a delightful mix of suspense and warmth, featuring memorable characters, ingenious puzzles, and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

Busy crafting her next mystery, Mary indulges in her love of research, currently studying the flora and fauna of the Nantahala National Forest and the magnetic call of Atlanta for the upcoming installment of her series. She believes that every great mystery starts with a curious mind and a love for uncovering the truth, but scrupulously scrubs her browsers history of any hint of crime.

Join Mary on her literary journey, where a good story is always paired with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a touch of mischief!


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram: @maryseifertauthor

Threads: @maryseifertauthor

LinkedIn: Mary KG Seifert

BlueSky: @mkgsei.bsky.social


Preorder Links

https://mybook.to/PlanesAtlantaAssassin

Amazon Kindle

Amazon: Paperback

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

ANGUS & ROBERTSON


RABT Book Tours & PR

Whiz Kid

 

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 07-01-2025

Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc.



Whiz Kid is a powerful coming-of-age novel set in 1950 Philadelphia, where Jewish Navy veteran Ben Green faces impossible choices.

Pressured by his pregnant wife to finish his novel or take a secure job at a prestigious ad agency, Ben must also navigate the era’s class divisions and antisemitism. His best friend’s elite world clashes with his working-class South Philly roots and Jewish identity.

Temptation, ambition, and loyalty collide—especially when Ilene, a captivating classmate, threatens to unravel his carefully balanced life. As the Phillies’ Whiz Kids chase a pennant, Ben’s own reckoning builds to a climax, culminating in a surprising decision that redefines his future.

Co-written with David S. Burcat, Joel Burcat’s late father, Whiz Kid is a deeply American story of resilience, legacy, and the true cost of following one’s heart.

 

About the Author


Joel Burcat is a novelist and retired lawyer living in Harrisburg, Pa. His previous novels, Reap the Wind, Drink to Every Beast, Amid Rage, and Strange Fire have been award-winning thrillers. He is a Gold Medal Winner from Readers’ Favorite, a Finalist of the Next Gen Indie Book Awards, and a winner of the PennWriters Annual Writing Contest. Strange Fire was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Week.

David S. Burcat was a Navy corpsman in World War II, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (English Literature and Dentistry), and a proud son of Camden NJ and his adopted town of Philadelphia. He worked in advertising in the 1950s before returning to Penn to study dentistry. He wrote Match Point, the novella within the novel, in about 1950. He died in 1998. Whiz Kid- A Novel is his first published book. Dave was the father of co-author, Joel Burcat.


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

LinkedIn



a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
RABT Book Tours & PR

Grave Wind

by Janice Tremayne

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #GraveWind #JaniceTremayne #Horror

Haunting Dahlia Series, Book One
Horror, Supernatural, Paranormal

Date Published: June 30, 2025



A cursed lighthouse, a malevolent shapeshifter, and a deadly game. One life-altering decision could seal their fate.

In Solitary Island, Australia. A malevolent shapeshifter haunts a storm-battered lighthouse. When Dahlia confronts an ancient secret, she must make a life-or-death sacrifice to save herself and Paranormal Jack from a terrifying entity trapped between worlds.

Caught in a twisted game, Dahlia is forced to make an impossible choice—one of them must die for the other to survive.

As Paranormal Jack fights to escape the lighthouse’s sinister grip, he must explore the human fear of death and what lies beyond to uncover the horrifying truth. Betwixt has been claiming the souls of those who enter the lighthouse for centuries, and its curse runs deep.

As fate hangs in the balance, Dahlia must uncover the dark history of the Island and make a desperate bid before the evil grave wind takes hold.

Grave Wind is the first book in the Haunting Dahlia series. This riveting tale, packed with unforgettable characters, heart-pounding paranormal investigations, and shocking twists, will leave readers spellbound. If you were hooked by the eerie tension of Dean Koontz’s Phantoms, this electrifying story is must-read.


About the Author


Janice Tremayne, hailing from Australia, is a celebrated author specializing in supernatural horror. Her novel “Haunting in Hartley” achieved finalist status in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in the category of fiction-supernatural, clinching the prestigious Distinguished Favorite Prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards. Janice’s literary prowess was further acknowledged with the silver medal at the IPPY Awards 2021 in the Australia/New Zealand/Pacific Rim – Best Regional Fiction category, as well as the Bronze Award in Adult Fiction at the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards 2020. In 2023, she secured the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, a testament to her excellence in writing.

Residing in Melbourne with her family, Janice intricately weaves cultural superstitions into her narratives, drawing from her upbringing where such beliefs were deeply embedded in daily life and customs. Her bestselling series, “Haunting Clarisse,” has consistently soared to the top of Amazon Kindle rankings, captivating readers with its blend of occult supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses, and British horror.

Janice’s journey as an author began with a simple cup of coffee, sparking the inspiration to translate her fascination with cultural superstitions into gripping tales of horror. Her books are renowned for delivering heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking paranormal experiences, each narrative offering a fresh twist that keeps readers enthralled worldwide.

Stay updated on Janice Tremayne’s latest releases by following the author.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

BookBuzz


Purchase Link



RABT Book Tours & PR

The Brothers Brown

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheBrothersBrown #RGStanford #BiographicalFiction

Native American Literature, Family Saga Fiction, Western, Biographical Fiction, Western

Date Published: 06-01-2025



You can almost feel the red dust clinging to your skin and catch the faint scent of jasmine in the air. This is Indian Territory at the edge of everything—law and lawlessness, hope and heartbreak, where the lines between right and wrong blur with every sunset.

Told with vivid detail, this is the story of a man caught between loyalty and his past, between a brother’s shadow and the light of his own becoming. A tale of love, betrayal, and the quiet courage it takes to change your fate.

From a stagecoach town in Tennessee to the first railroad towns of the Indian Territory, we delve into the lives of the charismatic and flawed brothers, Matt and Robert. Their sibling dynamic shapes the lives of the entire Brown family, steering them down a road of familial struggles and cultural clashes.

Matt always idolized his oldest brother, Robert – a smooth-talking charmer who taught him at a young age to live hard and win big. Following Robert’s footsteps, Matt is drawn into a life of high-stakes games and deception. Then he meets Milla. Sharp-eyed, brave, and unafraid to speak the truth, Milla is a woman rooted in her Choctaw heritage, carrying both strength and sorrow in equal measure. For the first time, Matt imagines a different future. But the past doesn’t let go easily and buried secrets never stay buried for long, clawing their way back to the surface when you least expect it. Now, Matt must choose between what consumes him and the life he wants to build. 

Set against the raw beauty of the Choctaw Nation, this is a powerful story of blood ties and hard choices, of the people we love and the ones we betray. Gritty, tender, and unforgettable—this is where redemption begins.


Excerpt

 

Albert kicked the door once, twice.

The window lit up with the light of a lamp. Through the window he saw Milla jump out of bed. He kicked the door harder.

Milla wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and stood at the bedroom door. “I told you I don’t want you here anymore,” she yelled. “You can just go…”

“Milla, open the door! It’s Albert!” He kicked again, struggling to hold Matt upright. “Matt’s hurt bad!”

She dashed to the door and let her brother-in-law in.

Albert held Matt tight around the waist and draped Matt’s left arm over his shoulder as the pair stumbled across the threshold. “Help me get him to the bed. I’m going for Doc Poor.”

Milla lifted Matt’s other arm over her shoulder and sat him on the bed, holding him steady. “Hurry,” she gasped.

Albert grabbed the coat hanging by the front door and ran out of the house.

“What have you gotten yourself into, Matt?” Milla pulled his coat off and unbuckled his holster, laying it on the nightstand. The sight of his shirt and pants covered in blood and dried mud sent a chill through her veins. He fell sideways on the bed and then she saw it—the cut on the back of his shirt.

“Owww!” Matt cupped his hand protectively over his wound, but the pain was too intense. He cried out again.

“You hold on, Matt. Albert went to find Doctor Poor. You just hold on now.” It was an order.

Matt gasped for air, then spoke in fits of agony. “They… got… Robert.” He strained to sit up and failed. His body fell limp, then he fell silent.

“Who got him?” Milla tried to roll Matt over, but he wouldn’t budge. Gasping at the sight of the blood on the bed, she backed away, hands trembling.

Is he dead?

Did he die?

Albert bolted straight up in bed and strained to listen. What was that? He thought he heard a horse neigh, but all he heard now was the creaking of the loose shutter and his own breath. But there it was again, the sound of a horse.

He stretched to look out the window. And there it was, the shape of a horse in the front yard.

Throwing off the blanket, Albert fumbled for his pocket watch on the nightstand and held it to the window. In the moon’s light, he saw it was near two in the morning. The horse was neighing again, louder and longer this time.

Albert glanced out the window as he slipped on his pants; it was Matt’s horse, Girl. The moon lit the corner of the yard where she stood, stomping her front right hoof on the frosted ground in distress.

In his bare feet, he flung open the door and rushed to the panicked horse. Matt sat slumped in the saddle, unconscious or dead. He couldn’t tell.

“Matt?” Albert touched Matt’s leg, but he nearly slid from the saddle at Albert’s touch. “Matt?”

The blood on his coat and shirt told Albert all he needed to know. It was bad, and it looked like he’d been bleeding for a while.

Without thinking, Albert mounted the horse, wrapping his arms around Matt to hold him steady, and rode as fast as he could to Matt’s house. Doc Poor lived on the back side of the field behind Matt’s place. He would take Matt home, then go wake the doctor at once.


About the Author


Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram


Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheBrothersBrown

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback




Lost Before I Could See

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #LostBeforeICouldSee #VictoriaMolta #SelfHelp

 

Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness


Self-Help

Date Published: March 28, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



Victoria Molta is a person who has lived with a diagnosed serious mental illness for over forty years. But more than that, she is a writer who has chronicled her life journey in her book, “Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness.” In her book, she has chosen to write about her adventures and challenges, and though there have been setbacks, losses, and failures along the way, she never gives up. She continues to grow and learn, no matter how terrifying it can be to start new episodes of life with very little knowledge or experience, as well as a disability. She never ceases to go forward, with strength and courage, and wants the reader to know that whether living with a disability or not, life is hard. But the main point she wants to make clear is that she never gives up and never loses hope.

Victoria takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic tour beginning with her childhood in southern California, living in the San Gabriel Valley with her family. She describes her father’s mental illness and alcoholism, and how, eventually, she succumbs to mental illness as well, as a young adult. She describes her family as one born of privilege and wealth, though definitely not exempt from tragedy and dysfunction. Through all her breakdowns and setbacks, she continues to rise and find meaning from chaos. From that, she develops empathy for people who have been marginalized by society and finds deep connections. In her 30s, she marries Bill, a man she had met in a halfway house where they both were living during the 1980s. It turns out to be a wonderful life partnership where they support each other in their work experiences as well as find joy in adventurous travel experiences.

Later in life, they buy a house and settle down near the shore of Long Island Sound with their rescue dog, Mandy. They appreciate the simple things in life. Peace that once seemed boring is now so appreciated because drama, which had dominated her life for so many years, no longer matters to her.


About the Author


Victoria Molta is an author, mental health advocate, and television producer at East Haven Connecticut Public Television. With over four decades of lived experience with serious mental illness, Victoria brings a deeply personal and empowering perspective to her work. Her memoir, Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness, chronicles a lifetime of challenges, recovery, and hope.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Vermont and has written extensively about mental health recovery, housing advocacy, and social inclusion. Her essays have appeared in mental health journals, anthologies, and newspaper editorials across the country.

She was the first person in recovery to be openly hired by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Connecticut, where she coordinated over 130 public presentations in a single year. She later worked as a peer mentor at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health and held support roles at mental health clubhouses, warmlines, and public housing sites.

Victoria also created and hosted the award-winning cable show You and Your Mental Wellness, highlighting the voices of Connecticut’s mental health leaders and community members. The show became a valuable resource and was featured on the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website.

She lives with her husband of over 30 years and their rescue dog, Mandy, near the tranquil shores of Long Island Sound. Today, she continues to advocate for awareness, dignity, and healing for all those impacted by mental illness.


Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

RABT Book Tours & PR