Tag Archives: novel

Shields Takes Readers on an Unforgettable Journey Into Loss and Love

What happens when you surrender and trust? This is the question central to Tim Shields’ first novel, “A Curious Year in the Great Vivarium Experiment.”

San Antonio, TX, USA – May 9, 2018 — On the morning of his thirty-sixth birthday, Thomas Furey finds himself alone and jobless. Devastated by the recent loss of his mother, he feels untethered, like he is falling into the depths of something he can’t describe. On a whim, he buys a one-way ticket to India. Possessed by fear, armed with hope, protected by naïveté, and guided by intention, when Thomas learns to operate in alignment with his true self, serendipity intervenes.

Taking inspiration from his own life and travels, Shields says, “After a decade bookended by sick and dying parents, I decided to set out to try and uncover what I’ve always called my ‘soul ache.” He adds, “I think each of us has our own soul ache, and whether we are conscious of it or not, it’s one of the central drivers of our life.”

As Thomas journeys all over Southeast Asia for a year, he learns about becoming a man in the shadow of his parent’s death, surrendering his past and trusting the future that is pulling him forward, and the power of gratitude and intention to shape his reality.

“This book is about overcoming the self, that voice in our head that’s not loving or kind to us. Beyond that, there’s a much deeper philosophy at play about the nature of reality and the role of consciousness to shape it.” Shields adds with laughter, “It’s kind of like a ‘Portrait of the Artist’ as a middle-aged, spiritual man. Thomas is an artist searching for his voice and a writer searching for his story.”

“Sitting on the mountain, it occurred to me that traveling was a lot like writing,” says the protagonist. “When you sit down to write, you have no idea where you’ll be when you get to the end. Sometimes the journey is joyful, sometimes it’s terrifying, and sometimes it reduces you to tears of gratitude or despair. And sometimes the most fantastic, serendipitous events get you to the next chapter when you simply do the work, stay open to ideas, and follow where they lead you.”

As publisher Lisa Michelle Umina observes, “We are releasing this book at a time when, more than ever before, people are inquiring about the nature of our existence. This book challenges readers to find their own answers and seek their own stories.”

Shields’ nephew and godson, Jack Shields, created an original musical score for the book’s theatrical trailer. This collaboration led to the creation of an original soundtrack for the book, which is currently being shopped around to record labels. To view the book trailer and for more information, visit the book’s website: www.acuriousyear.com.

The book is now available globally at Halo Publishing International, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and Books a Million in Hardcover for $26.95, in Paperback for $19.95, and as an e-Book for $9.99.

About Tim Shields:
In December 2016, Tim Shields left behind his career in marketing and advertising for ghostwriting. He has since worked with two New York Times bestselling authors, both of whom write about the nature of reality, consciousness, quantum physics, healing, and more. Born with a curious mind and restless spirit, he heeds the call of the creative muse wherever it summons him. Whether playing in a band, taking improve and acting classes, volunteering at an orphanage in Tanzania, buying one-way tickets to India and Mexico, or attempting to create his own travel show in Europe, his interests can be found at the intersection of creativity, expression, travel, and expansion. He holds creative writing and philosophy degrees from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland and currently calls Seattle, Washington home. To learn more, please visit www.acuriousyear.com.

About Halo Publishing International:
Halo Publishing International publishes adult fiction and non-fiction, children’s literature, and self-help, spiritual, and faith-based books. We continually strive to help authors reach their publishing goals and provide many different services that help them do so. More information is available at www.HaloPublishing.com

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1-877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com
http://www.HaloPublishing.com

‘TIL THE END a Novel of Murder, Addiction, and Lies Set in Shelby Township, Michigan

New Michigan author Joseph Patrick33 brings a story that, though fictional, offers considered views on what happens to our youth as they experience the choices and decisions facing them in schools and in sports that alter their future behavior.

Shelby Township, MI, USA — Coming of age and contemporary sports can produce both benefits and conflicts that have lasting consequences in crossing that bridge into adulthood.

New Michigan author Joseph Patrick33 brings a story that, though fictional, offers considered views on what happens to our youth as they experience the choices and decisions facing them in schools and in sports that alter their future behavior. His debut novel is ‘TIL THE END: A Novel of Murder, Addiction, and Lies (ISBN 978-0997521603), Lexie Enterprises, 216 pages available on Amazon $13.99 paperback, $21.99 hardcover, $5.99 Kindle or the author’s website: http://www.tiltheend.net.

View the trailer here: http://bit.ly/TilTheEndTrailer

Looking at the contemporary increased incidence of violence throughout the country and the globe begs investigation as to etiology or cause of the progression of hate, racism, and senseless deaths. A lesson too often forgotten is to turn to history as recorded by the great minds of the past, but equally significant is to find contemporary literature that opens some much-needed windows of insight.

The close bonding that occurs among team players has very positive aspects of learning self-confidence, healthy goal orientation, polished performance as individuals and with teammates; it also can create rules of conduct that include committed bonding to the point of looking out for each other, even if that means altered behavior off the field. This ‘brotherhood’ can allow secrecy about events that should be shared with authorities but is withheld because of the bonding agreement.

Joseph Patrick33 has penned a timely and cogent novel that stands on its own as a tense coming of age story of four high school football stars who risk the benefits of their talent – athletic scholarships, state championships, big money, the dreams of playing in the NFL – by keeping a secret about a tragic event that eventually shreds their individual personal lives and invites alcoholism, drug abuse, involvement in drug cartels, the deaths of two and untimely ending of thwarted lives.

‘TIL THE END may be Joseph Patrick33’s debut novel, but the release of this immensely readable book turns our attention to facts too often neglecting discussion. The author does share that his first novel ‘may be fiction, but within that fiction are the keys to facts that every reader will discover and find universals within the events of the story and the characters that ring true to each of our life journeys.’ And that is one of the many reasons this new author is important to watch.

The setting is Detroit, Michigan, the timeframe 1988-1993, the stage is the football field, and the players are four fast friends and teammates whose lives are inextricably altered by a major error that is tragic. Joseph Patrick33 invites us into this story by saying, ”Young boys dream and old ones ponder. They think about what could be ahead for them and as they get older, it’s not uncommon to wonder about what might have been. That is a constant feeling that all football players have and never entirely shake. They recall the victories and defeats, but mostly they think about those games they should have won. It will always be engrained and the memories will carry over to countless discussions over endless beers ’til the end of their days. In the playing years, in those games, so many great traits are developed: leadership, teamwork, and a razor-sharp competitive edge. However, dark habits can begin to take root. It all shapes young men into the old men they become.”

Amazon Top 100 Reviewer Grady Harp states, “The book allows us entry into the interstices of coming of age, promises of glory, the dark finger of fate, and the impact of misjudged bonds of a lie and strange dissolution of dreams as tainted by those factors we all recognize as deterrents to a happy life. This is not only an important debut novel: this is a very finely written important novel about choices.”

About Joseph Patrick33
Joseph Patrick33 is a Michigan author who grew up in Shelby Township, a suburb of Detroit. He earned his bachelor degree and master’s degree from Wayne State University, and his advanced degree from the University of Detroit. He is concerned about the futures of young people in today’s challenging society of addiction and consequences of actions that lead away from a happy successful and rewarding life.

Media Contact: For a review copy of ‘TIL THE END: A Novel of Murder, Addiction, and Lies or to arrange an interview with Joseph Patrick33 contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Award-Winning Novel Star Racers Could Redefine the Graphic Novel

Sci-Fi novel Star Racers won the prestigious National Silver Medal for Best Science Fiction at the 2016 IPPY Book Awards.

New York, NY, USA — The Independent Publisher Book Awards, affectionately known as the IPPY Awards, is considered one of the highest honors for independent publishers and authors worldwide.

Sci-fi fantasy novel Star Racers is about battle jet pilots racing to save their planet. The novel is unique in that four concept artists created 130 pages of illustrations and artwork, creating a new kind of graphic novel.

Star Racers is a 76,000 word novel intended for teens and young adults.

Author Martin Felando’s debut novel Star Racers is the winner of the National Silver Medal for Best Science Fiction at the 2016 IPPY Book Awards.

Concept artist J.C. Park from South Korea created the front book cover illustration.

Concept artist Piotr Foksowicz from Poland created over 60 in-book illustrations and the back cover illustration of Maelae.

19 year old concept artist Zheng Wei Gu from Singapore created in-book illustrations for characters Sashi Oon, Pinky, and a warrior princess Waif Doll.

Concept artist Gordon Studer from San Francisco created over 20 abstract sci-fi icons. His artwork is appears in each of the 65 chapters, as well as the front cover and book spine.

Over 42,000 likes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starracersnovel

E-book and paperback available on Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01BXYM8C4

Website: http://www.star-racers.com

Media Contact:
Martin Felando
Star Racers
917-855-4075
martinfelando@gmail.com
http://www.star-racers.com

EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing Announces Europa Journal, the First Science Fiction E-Novel under their EDGE-Lite Imprint

Bermuda Triangle. Jupiter Ice Moon. Missing World War II Pilot. The history of humanity is about to change forever…

Calgary, Alberta — EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing are delighted to announce the release of the first book under the new e-Book imprint, EDGE-Lite.

Europa Journal, is a science fiction adventure novel by real-world adventurer, stuntman and author, Jack Castle.

To learn more about Europa Journal watch the author’s welcome video: http://edgewebsite.com/books/europajournal/europajournal-catalog.html#video

And read the first chapter (Chapter One) of the book: http://edgewebsite.com/books/europajournal/chapter-one.html

About the Novel (Europa Journal):

On 5 December 1945, five TBM Avenger bombers embarked on a training mission off the coast of Florida and mysteriously vanish without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle.

A PBY search and rescue plane with thirteen crewmen aboard sets out to find the Avengers… and never returns.

In 2168, a mysterious five-sided pyramid is discovered on the ocean floor of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Commander Mac O’Bryant and her team of astronauts are among the first to enter the pyramid’s central chamber. They find the body of a missing World War II pilot, whose hands clutch a journal detailing what happened to him after he and his crew were abducted by aliens and taken to a place with no recognizable stars. As the pyramid walls begin to collapse around Mac and her team, their names mysteriously appear within its pages and they find themselves lost on an alien world.

Stranded with no way home, Mac decides to retrace the pilot’s steps. She never expects to find the man alive. And if the man has yet to die, what does that mean for her and the rest of her crew?

About the Author:

Jack Castle loves adventure. He has traveled the globe as a professional stuntman for stage, film, and television. While working for Universal Studios, he met Cinderella at Walt Disney World and they were soon married. After moving to Alaska, he worked as a tour guide, police officer, Criminal Justice professor, and certified weapons instructor. He has been stationed on a remote island in the Aleutians as a Response Team Commander and his last job in the Arctic Circle was protecting engineers from ravenous polar bears. He has had several Alaska adventure stories published along with articles in international security periodicals. Europa Journal is his first science fiction novel.

ABOUT EDGE-Lite:

EDGE-Lite is the new digital imprint of Hades Publications, parent company of EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing. Europa Journal is the premiere release. To see forthcoming releases, please visit http://www.edgewebsite.com.

To learn more please visit: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0105CW4ME/edgescienceficti.

Europa Journal by Jack Castle
E-Book
ISBN: 978-1-77053-091-1
$2.99 US/CDN – is now available for KINDLE pre-order.

For further information, e-review copies, or to book interviews with the author please contact:

Janice Shoults
Marketing and Events
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
P.O. Box 1714, Calgary, AB
Canada T2P 2L7
Email: events@hadespublications.com
http://www.edgewebsite.com
(403) 254-0160 (Calgary office)
(780) 569-1756 (Edmonton office)

Discover a Great Spy Novel: ‘Cockroaches!’ by Serge Lapytski

“I look average and act average, that is what I do best and that is what I was trained to do.”

New York, NY, USA (July 28, 2013) — Love a good thriller or thrilled about love? Looking for a new spy novel or spying for the latest catch? Enhance your detective skills with an intriguing story about a young military cadet who gets thrown into a world of espionage, lies, tricks and political games. Welcome to the world of “Cockroaches!”.

This book unveils the attempts of one Foreign Intelligence Service to illegally acquire top secret technology through a third party. Eight undercover agents, including the cadet, were sent into the foreign country to find proof of the prohibited activities and uncover the truth. This is a very dangerous task and the agents have to overcome many challenges, all while outplaying the Foreign Counter Intelligence Service, which is trying to prevent them from making things right.

“Cockroaches!” follows the many adventures of this young cadet, some of which include new relationships, dangerous situations, love scenes, betrayal, counter surveillance lessons and much more!

This is a very captivating and practical novel. It is a fiction book, however, the methods of surveillance and counter surveillance, the close combat fighting rules and message traffic, military lessons and encryption keys used, they resemble the truth and that is what makes the story appear so real.

Keep learning while progressing your secret agent skills, but most importantly just enjoy the story!

For more information or to view other titles by the same author please visit:

http://www.lapytski.com

http://youtu.be/QBroVujWEtw

http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/human-relationships/1439.

Media Contact:
Serge Lapytski
706-509-8422
serg335@hotmail.com
http://www.lapytski.com

Mystery Novel GEM by Naida Reynolds Released Worldwide

GEM, a twisting muddle of mystery, lies, deceit, Nazis, spies, revenge, lost love, and a skewed romance is now available worldwide in ebook and print versions.

Duluth, MN, USA (March 25, 2013) — In Naida Reynolds’ (http://www.NaidaReynolds.com) breakout novel, titled Gem — Gem Forrester is an Agency courier on a secret mission to find out what happened to her twin sister, their parents, and a dear family friend, who disappeared without a trace. As Gem begins to piece together what happened one fateful night, she will have to discover what happened to Nazis who had disappeared over sixty years ago.

Gem Forrester’s life consisted of her family and her career with the Agency – until both are cast into tragedy, mystery, chaos, and pain. A chance meeting in Barcelona further complicates her life in a way she could never foresee or even imagine. Readers will be caught up in the mysteries and chaos in Gem’s life. But will question if Gem can resolve these issues without losing her sanity.

“We never know during our busy daily lives how our words, choices, or actions might affect other people with whom we come in contact,” says Reynolds, (http://www.NaidaReynolds.com). “Every ‘story’ has two or more sides, and sometimes the most seemingly insignificant moment in one person’s life can cause an unintended domino effect in other people’s lives.”

Gem has found herself in this new hellish mission where she is thrown an emotional life-line in the appearance of a fascinating, handsome man – Wyatt Grantham. While Gem pursues her private mission to find her family, Wyatt pursues her for his private agenda. Gem’s once well-organized life is now a muddle of mystery, lies, deceit, lost love, and a skewed ‘romance’.

“Naida Reynolds gives you a combination of Nazi spies, mystery, history, romance and revenge all with a little bit of humor added. This was a great read and highly recommended. This book kept moving and the interaction between the characters was superbly developed. A true page turner,” says reviewer James Summer.

The ebook version of Gem ISBN 9781622872619, published by First Edition Design Publishing http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, is available online wherever ebooks are sold. The 768 page print book version, ISBN 9781622872626, was published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.

Media Contact:
Naida Reynolds
E-Mail: adian1@charter.net
Phone: 218-213-1691
Website: http://www.NaidaReynolds.com

Reboot: A Novel of Bipolar Disorder is Released – A Moving Story about a Woman who overcame Bipolar Disorder

Join author Jane Thompson on a journey through the frustrating, agonizing and deeply personal world of mental illness in her new novel, Reboot: A Novel of Bipolar Disorder.

Georgetown, Texas, USA (August 28, 2012) — Join author Jane Thompson on a journey through the frustrating, agonizing and deeply personal world of mental illness in her new novel, Reboot: A Novel of Bipolar Disorder (now available through Amazon and Kindle).

In a candid style and with compassion for bipolar disorder sufferers, Thompson chronicles the struggles, failures and, ultimate triumphs of her protagonist as she slowly learns to live in the world of bipolar disorder.

“It is not a tale of climbing the ladder of success, but of a winding trail that is sometimes upward, but that ultimately leads to the goal of stability and understanding of an illness the heroine of my story must live with and manage the rest of her life,” writes Thompson.

“Marie” was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder until middle age. In Reboot: A Novel of Bipolar Disorder, she reveals the uphill battle to fit in and to function at work with the undiagnosed disorder. Failed relationships are detailed, and readers are given a firsthand look at life through the eyes of one afflicted with manic-depression. Marie’s wake-up call came in the form of a sudden revelation that something was wrong with her and that she needed help.

A woman’s struggle to deal with bipolar disorder as it affects all of her life’s aspects; her jobs, her relationships, her ability to live her life normally: her diagnosis is not the end of her quest to find out what is wrong with her life. She has to then find a doctor and medications that will work in her individual case. The journey is long and the destination is in doubt. Bipolar disorder is a common, often undiagnosed mental illness that affects about four percent of the population. It is a challenge to get diagnosed, to find a doctor who understands and is able to treat the disorder, and to find the right combination of medications.

“The target audience is people with bipolar disorder who have traveled this road, especially those who are having difficulty accepting their diagnosis or who have lost faith that they can ultimately reach stability and peace,” she writes.

Thompson has worked as a social worker, teacher, paralegal and writer. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma. She wrote for the publisher of a political encyclopedia and served as a medical writer for a training corporation. She has had 20 short stories published, has written about bipolar disorder in Sugar and Salt: My Life with Bipolar Disorder and The Rookie’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder. A person with bipolar disorder cannot control his or her moods and consequently their lives spin out of control as they self-medicate with alcohol and drugs and make poor judgment calls. Many do not recognize that they have an illness and do not seek treatment. This book is an introduction to some of the problems and some of the solutions that can be found for bipolar disorder. It is fictional, but the situations are often found with people who have the disorder.

Media Contact:
Jane Thompson, Writer
1100 Leander Road apt. 927
Georgetown, TX 78628
Tel: 512-818-0157
E-Mail: jtokc@yahoo.com

Harmony Bay, a novel by Tom Gahan, breaks top six percent in Kindle sales

Long Island NY author Tom Gahan’s novel, Harmony Bay, hit the top six percent in sales on Amazon.com’s Kindle Edition in January 2011.

Riverhead, NY, January 29, 2011 — Long Island NY author Tom Gahan’s novel, Harmony Bay, hit the top six percent in sales on Amazon.com’s Kindle Edition in January 2011.

“I was pleased to see Harmony Bay do so well so soon after its release thanks to Amazon’s Kindle Edition,” Tom Gahan said. Amazon reported that Harmony Bay, published by Outskirts Press in Denver, Colorado, hit the ranking in Amazon Kindle Store’s more than 750,000 titles. “There’s been a shift in the traditional book publishing industry. I’m told that in August 2010, printed hard-copy book sales fell thirty percent while e-reader edition sales grew by 138 percent. This was before the holiday shopping rush that saw e-readers and Kindle readers given as the most popular gift. It will only be a matter of time before traditional publishers and booksellers are a thing of the past.”

Gahan further pointed out the disparity between authors and traditional booksellers. “Self-publishing guru Dan Poynter has said that bookstores are a lousy place to sell books. He’s correct. Historically, many traditional publishers, agents and booksellers have taken advantage of authors. It is still the case, with some booksellers charging local authors a stocking fee to sell their book. Even some POD (Print On Demand) publishers aren’t without criticism. Some charge exorbitant amounts to authors for marketing materials and certain services. The tables are about to turn, led by the introduction of e-readers.”

309 pages in length, Harmony Bay: An Adventurous Slice of Waterfront Life Where Mystery Surrounds History… is being aggressively promoted to appropriate markets with a focus on the action and adventure category. With U.S. wholesale distribution through Ingram and Baker & Taylor, and pervasive online availability through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and elsewhere, Harmony Bay meets consumer demand through both retail and library markets with a suggested retail price of $18.95.

About the author:
Tom Gahan has run the gamut from feature writer to newspaper columnist to speechwriter. His freelance writing has helped build the image of various corporate clients. Additionally, many know Gahan as the creator of New York State’s largest outdoor music festival. This accomplishment earned him accolades and numerous awards including the prestigious Gold Key Award from his hometown Chamber of Commerce and two citations from the U.S. Congress. He was also named the 2009 Civic Leader of the Year for his humanitarian work. He is happily married and lives on Long Island’s East End in New York. Visit him at http://www.tomgahan.com.

Press & Media Contact:
Terrence McDonough
TomGahan.com
46 Riverside Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-369-0063
harmonybay1@gmail.com
http://www.tomgahan.com