Book Title: The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Volume III by Collins Hemingway
Category: Adult Fiction,  338 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Createspace
Release date: November 4, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (Mature themes)

Book Description:

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
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Collins’ passion for literature, history, and science enable him to create complete, sharply drawn fictional characters fully engaged in their complex and often dangerous worlds. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding respect for courage in the face of adversity.

As a nonfiction book author, Collins has investigated topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he co-authored with Bill Gates, he tackles challenging topics with clarity and insight, writing for the intelligent but nontechnical reader.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Collins has lived most of his adult life in the American Northwest, with a career that has spanned writing, high tech, and aviation. He has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Phi Beta Kappa; a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Oregon; and numerous technical certifications in computer technology.

Today, I'm kicking off the tour for Finders Keepers: The Definitive Edition by Russ Colchamiro, the first book in a fun trilogy for those of you who like sci-fi comedy. Russ talks about how he came up with the idea for the book's story and the journey of this trilogy. 

When I launched Finders Keepers in 2010, it was written as a stand-alone story. I did keep it open-ended, thinking I’d revisit these characters someday…maybe… but to my eyes, it was one and done.

Talk about not having a plan! LOL

Yet about 18 months later I was writing my alternate-Universe sci-fi adventure Crossline… and WHAMO! I had that classic A-ha! moment. I suddenly had the blueprint for a Finders Keepers sequel. That novel became Genius de Milo, this time taking our backpacking heroes from the first book across America and Mexico, while caught in a battle for the Earth’s soul.

With the narrative picking up three years after Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo was going fairly well and then... another WHAMO! Like a rush, I could suddenly see the outcome of every character, completing each individual arc, in addition to the overarching story that ties the entire series together.

Talk about empowering! Whoa!

With the scope laid out, I was able to go back to the beginning of Genius de Milo (book 2) and write with more authority and confidence, delivering a novel that was exhilarating and satisfying unto itself but also planting the groundwork for Astropalooza (book 3).

In that series finale, our backpacking heroes have accidentally set in motion two energy waves barreling towards each other across the Universe. If they collide, those tsunami-level energy waves will initiate the next Big Bang, eradicating the Cosmos as we know it. 

Guest Post by Delicia Warren

Reading is one of those things that people all over the world love to do. For some, it helps to bring a sense of solitude which is needed in this busy world. Aside from this, reading has numerous benefits which include helping to improve literacy, expanding your vocabulary and helping you reduce stress. For this reason, it’s a good hobby to have and something you should engage in as regularly as possible. However, there are other ways that you can entertain yourself outside of your love for books. On that note, here simple ideas for keeping yourself entertained as a bookworm. 

Creative Writing
If you happen to love reading books, then you may have what it takes to be a good writer. Seeing as reading is one of the fundamentals of writing, perhaps think about creative writing during your free time. There are different types of things that you can engage in such as short stories or poetry. In order to get into creative writing, start by generating creative ideas. Here are a few ideas for doing so.

1. Listen to conversations - Sometimes, all you need to get your creative juices flowing is to listen to what’s going on around you. Go out for a walk or sit in a café and listen to the conversations around you. Take in the scenery and let your mind wander and write down what you think or feel.
2. Daydream - You’d be surprised at what daydreaming can do to help you come up with creative ideas and beat writer's block. Try meditating before writing to give your mind a clear pathway to wander. 
3. Find a photograph - Another idea to consider to help inspire creative writing would be choosing a photograph and writing about it. This may especially be helpful if there are people in the picture you can turn into characters. 
4. Pick an emotion - To write a good story, you need to be able to use emotions. Choose any emotion and create a story about it. You can continue changing emotions from there.

Watch a show
Another way that you could entertain yourself as a bookworm is to go and watch a theater show. You may like this as this kind of entertainment is usually relatively creative and some even happen to be based on books. If, for instance, you’ve read the book White Christmas by Jody Rosen, then perhaps you seeing the theater show with the same title may be entertaining for you as you can compare notes. By looking on ticketsales.com you should be able to find at least one show you’ll like.

Spend Time in Nature
For those who love books and have a raging imagination, spending time in nature may also be entertaining. It’s an opportunity to find peace within yourself and also soak in the beautiful views around you which is good as research shows people are happier when in nature. Some specific things that you could do in nature include engage in nature photography, have a picnic, or plan a fun camping trip.

Join a Book Club
To acknowledge your love for books, the last suggestion for entertaining yourself would be to simply join a book club. By doing this, you can share your love for books with other people and also discuss your thoughts on each book you read. Alternatively, you could start your own book club by deciding the type of book club you’d like, who you want to invite and where you’ll meet. Also, figure out what books you’ll be reading and how everyone will access them.


Delicia Warren is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. An advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.

Where does thought and inspiration lead one to create a world within worlds and characters that inhabit that idea? Hmm?

Halley's Comet has always fascinated me and one day this thought entered my mind all on its own. What if Halley's Comet wasn't really a comet at all but an intergalactic casino cloaked as a comet? OK. Now what? LOL

The lead character Nebula Yorker was a character that had been kicking around in my head for well over 20 years in different settings, and I was finally able to find a permanent home for Neb with Halley's Casino. From there I weaved in my love for science fiction. Star Trek, Rock n Roll and history, especially ancient Roman history, all fell into place. It turned out to be a very original concept like no other. 

Of course, there will always be and there are many classic sci-fi outlines, but never ever has there been the idea that Halley's Comet is not what it appears to be, an intergalactic casino rushing through time and space carrying along with it a story, fresh, new and perhaps thought-provoking sprinkled with satirical humour and wit. Even John Lennon is amused (spoilers) :-)

I invite everyone to hop aboard this far out rock n roll time travel adventure. Who knows where it might go!

Mark JG Fahey is not an alien, contrary to what you may have heard, though he swears he has been to space. Mark has dabbled in various undertakings throughout his illustrious career, from on-air hosting/reporter/stand-up comic to messenger for the Prime Minister of Canada. Mark also holds a degree in Restaurant Services. His family and friends can attest to his excellent cooking skills. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Mark was raised and still resides in Aylmer, Quebec, Canada. Halley's Casino is the first book in the Halley's Casino trilogy.

​Halley's Casino: 3rd place winner in a worldwide competition with World's Best Story 2017 . Finalist and 3rd place winner with the Independent Author Network October 2018 and is also a finalist for the inaugural Canadian Book Club Awards 2018.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Book Details:

Book Title: Don't Write a Crappy Book by James M. Ranson
Category: Adult Non- Fiction, 210 pages
Genre: Business, Authorpreneurship
Publisher: Master Wordsmith Media, in association with Thanet House Books
Release date: Oct 1, 2018
Tour dates: Oct 8 to 31, 2018
Content Rating: PG for occasional mild swearing (hell and damn, mostly, one instance of "shitty")

Book Description:

A great book can launch your business into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, most self-published business books rank somewhere between “meh” and “flaming pile of crap.” But your book doesn’t have to suck!

In “Don’t Write a Crappy Book,” editor and entrepreneur James Ranson unpacks the most common–and toxic–mistakes that first-time nonfiction authors make. Peppered with wisdom from a panel of industry experts, this book debunks the dangerous myths that can torpedo your text and offers clear, practical guidance for writing a book you’re proud of. This is the resource for the aspiring authorpreneur who wants to write and publish a book with minimum hassle and maximum results.

This book will teach you:

- How a self-published book can make or break your business (and the THREE factors that determine which it does)
- The biggest blind spots no one tells authors about (and how to look for them BEFORE it's too late)
- How to write a first book that will get positive reviews on Amazon (and why that’s a better goal than becoming a bestseller)
- When writing a business book is the right move for you (and when you should NEVER write one)
- How to self-publish on Amazon to actually get good results for your business (a lot of it happens before you even start writing!)
- What NOT to do when you’re looking for an editor (and how to find a great one)
- Why trying to write and publish a book in 90 days or less is a recipe for disaster (and why no one tells you that!)
- How to avoid do-overs, sunk costs, and other self-publishing headaches (and how to get out of them if they sneak up on you)

Stay out of the crap pile! Discover the secrets to creating a highly valuable book that will expand your influence and grow your business for years to come.

To read interviews and guest posts, please visit James M. Ranson's page on iRead Book Tours.


​




James Ranson, The Master Wordsmith(TM), is a Wall-Street-Journal-bestselling editor, ghostwriter and book coach who has helped over 200 consultants, coaches, speakers and other thought leaders create high-quality books. Clients of his have gone on to sell thousands of books, receive book deals from publishing houses, and be featured in regional and national media outlets. In addition to his own clients, James is a writer and book doctor for Thanet House Books, and is on recommended professional lists for Scribe Media(formerly Book in a Box), My Word Publishing, BrightFlame Books and Authors Unite. His second book, Don’t Write A Crappy Book!, will be published on October 1, 2018. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, James lives in Atlanta, GA, with his fiancée and a very needy cat.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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Top Tips for New Authors in 2018

by Steve Conway

The literary marketplace is a huge business, with an estimated three million books being available to purchase on Amazon alone. New authors can often feel intimidated by how saturated the marketplace is, but in truth, if your novel is good and is marketed in the right way, there is no reason why it can’t find its audience. 

Make Sure Your Work is The Best It Can Be

The world moves fast, especially now that the internet is so far-reaching and accessible. Society often expects instant access and information, and this is the same for authors. Once you release that first novel, you’ll soon find yourself being asked to release the next one. It can be tempting to go for the high-volume approach, and some writers can pull this off better than others. Whatever suits you is fine, but just make sure that your manuscripts are the best they can be before you send them out into the world. This means having them professionally edited and proofread, and that’s before you go to your publishers. The focus should be on your story once you hand it over, not any typos or story holes you might have, so take the time to get your story straight.

Be Prepared to Fight for Your Work

Authors should take time out from their busy writing schedules on occasion and look to develop themselves as business people, as well as writers. There are inevitably going to be times when you are going to come across somebody who doesn’t agree with something in your work. This could be an editor or a publisher. You have to be prepared to fight for your work, whilst still being professional and not being petty. You have to be a collaborator in the literary world, and some conflict resolution skills might not go amiss either. If you can steer the ship back towards positivity when you find yourself butting heads, it will be better off for everybody involved.

Get Yourself Out There

Once your book is done, dusted and available to buy, the next step is to start marketing your novel. There’s a chance that your publisher will have a budget for marketing, but it really pays to put yourself out there yourself. This could mean anything from reading excerpts from your novel at open mics and writers groups to speaking at events and turning up at writer’s conventions. There is no end to the ways that you can make yourself more publicly accessible, just don’t spend too long away from the writing desk.

Be Social

Many authors use social media to chat with their fans and readers to hear what they like and don’t like about their books and to inform their readership of any events and readings that they are attending. It’s a great way to interact with the literary world, and authors should certainly consider being active on at least one or two social networks. As previously mentioned, there are around three million book titles out in the world, so you have to get the name of yours into people’s minds by any means necessary. At least social media is a fun way of doing so. People want to get to know you and what makes you tick.

Consider Self-Publishing Your Novel

If you feel like the publishing world isn’t for you and you’d like a little more control over your literary career, you can always try self-publishing instead. Being in an indie author is tough because you have to take care of everything which includes the editing, the cover design, and the marketing yourself, but if that seems like your kind of challenge, there’s no reason why you can’t take the DIY approach. 

You can have a paperback and eBook version of your book available on Amazon and other platforms within a matter of minutes, and you can release follow-ups whenever you’re ready. There are plenty of success stories in self-publishing, so don’t be put off by it. The Martian was a huge seller and became a Hollywood film starring Matt Damon. The Fifty Shades series was also originally self-published, and that is a multi-million seller and film franchise. You might not get these levels of success, but don’t discount self-publishing as an option.

Guest Post by Steve Conway:

Steve Conway is a content marketing professional and inbound marketing expert. Previously, Steve worked as a marketing manager for a tech software start-up. He is passionate about discovering new software that will that will advance his already well-honed digital marketing techniques.

Stories are spectacularly successful learning tools. Many studies show that children whose parents tell and/or read stories to them from an early age turn out to be better readers and students later on.

Furthermore, you are twenty times more likely to remember information if you learn it in a story than if you learn it simply as data to memorize. In part, the more stories we encounter, the more effectively our brains learn to work within the structure that most stories follow. We not only absorb the stories’ contents but at the same time, our brains get used to organizing what we learn into a usable form. We learn how to learn through stories.

Other brain researchers have found that different parts of the brain kick in when we encounter a story that comes with a visual image, such as on a TV or computer screen, versus when we encounter a story for which we fill in the visuals with our imaginations, as when we read alone, are read to, or listen to an audio. These different parts of the brain link with different forms of creativity, visualization, and imagination. They even help us build the ability to empathize with other people by “visualizing” ourselves inside characters. We must “exercise” these different parts of the brain in order to acquire these skills, so introduce stories to a child through a mix of technologies.

As a professional author and storyteller, a father, and the husband of an award-winning schoolteacher and counselor, I can attest firsthand that one of the most effective and most engaging ways to teach and to learn is through stories. Here are a few tips I want to share to help you integrate storytelling into your child’s daily routine:

1. Start with picture books when your child is very young. Reading to children not only offers the value of the book’s contents but also visually demonstrates that you value books, which reinforces your child’s interest in reading. Read aloud to your child, or try telling a story you already know in your own words, as you turn the pages. This allows you to keep eye contact with your child while offering you the security of having the book to refer to if you feel you’ve lost your way.

2. Introduce stories of historical or fictional people who do what they love. There are endless resources: books and websites that tell stories of famous artists, composers, engineers, athletes, scientists, etc. You never know which one will resonate with your child and open up a lifetime passion, so offer a variety. I’ve had many people tell me “I’m a scientist/artist/author now because I listened to your recording about scientists, etc.”

3. In addition to telling stories to your child, try to tell with her or him. First, tell an old favorite together. It gives the child a sense of mastery, particularly if every so often you ask, “What did she do then?” Next, try creating a new version by asking, "What if Cinderella hadn't dropped the glass slipper? Can we think of another way she and the prince might have found one another?" If you reach a dead-end, go back to an earlier moment of decision in the story, have the character make a different choice, and go on from there.

4. Another form of storytelling is family stories. Sharing incidents from your life, or those of your ancestors gives the message to your child that s/he is important enough to share in this family history, and imbues your child with a sense of her/his own roots and identity.

5. Always consider to whom you are telling the story, and think of yourself as “translating” the intent of the story onto a level this person can understand. You can tell a story differently at different developmental stages. Think about what you most want the child to remember. Start simply with what you know, and tell it in your own words. If you make a mistake say, "I forgot to tell you that…" and go on; kids find that endearing. Another way to handle having left out a part is to say, "Now what Aunt Joan didn't know yet was that Uncle Bill had already bought the tickets." This presents the information you forgot as a dramatic element of the tale. Storytelling reinforces reading, too, and adds a rich oral language element, but it demonstrates something additional.

6. One powerfully positive element of storytelling is that it fosters a strong bond between parent and child. Through our stories, and the manner in which we choose to tell them, families and entire societies pass on what matters most to them. Children come to recognize that you are sharing your true self, not through a lecture but through a story. Your child may not retain into adulthood every single detail you taught him/her, but always will remember that “Mom/Dad loved me enough to share what s/he thought really mattered the most.”

If you are fortunate, there will come a day when you see your own child, now grown up, carry on this story tradition with his/her child. It all starts and ends with love -- and a good story.

About Jim Weiss:

Jim Weiss founded Greathall Productions in 1989. To date, Jim is the producer and reader of 58+ Greathall storytelling recordings featuring classical literature and history, as well as masterful and thoughtful, unabridged readings of Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham; Men of Iron by Howard Pyle; and more. He is also the recipient of 100+ national awards from numerous prestigious sources. Jim travels extensively across the United States, Canada, and international destinations performing and teaching at community events, theatres, libraries, stores and schools; teacher and parent workshops; and at a wide variety of educational, literary and family conferences. For more information and to view Jim’s entire catalog, please visit, www.welltrainedmind.com.