The Cyborg's Crusade - Day of the Deus Ex Machina

The Cyborg's Crusade - Day of the Deus Ex Machina

by Benoit Lanteigne

 

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GENRE: Science Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

How did it come to this? My life used to be so simple. Back then, I hated it; I found it boring. Let me tell you: boring’s good. Boring’s great! I should’ve been thankful…

 

It was supposed to be a date like any other for James Hunter, a simple convenience store clerk. Nothing more than watching a movie in the town of Moncton. A place as unknown and unimportant as he considered his own existence to be. And yet, while walking to a cinema, James teleports to another world. There, a hostile crowd surrounds him, including various mutants with strange deformities.

 

Before he can even gather his wits or make a dash for it, a lone ally presents herself in the form of a winged woman named Rose. An important cultural figure in the country where James appeared, she offers him both protection and a home.

 

Soon, James learns that this new world is divided by a cold war. On one side is Nirnivia, home to Rose. The other, Ostark, led by a mysterious cyborg. James is unaware that the cyborg has him in his crosshairs, thinking of him as the Deus Ex Machina that will end the war in his favor.

 

But, the cyborg is far from the only potential threat to James. Soon after his arrival, BRR, a terrorist organisation, kidnaps him.

 

What would a rogue group out for revenge seeking to turn the cold war hot want with someone like James? Is there anyone also aware of this other world who will try to find him? Or is he on his own? If so, how is he supposed to escape? If that's even an option...

 

 

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EXCERPT

The second that James saw the deformed statue, he deemed it painful to look at. The sculpture depicted a man, but not one of normal proportions. The arms were far too long, paired with short legs, and the right eye appeared thrice the size of the left—nothing compared to the elongated spike forming the nose, or the mouth contorted in a grimace. Now that he sat leaning against the grotesque shape, the figurative ache turned literal as the sharp stone dug into his back.

 

Even with the intense heat, James shivered. The recent revelations chilled his blood, and no matter how hard it tried, the sun couldn’t warm him again. He rubbed his chin, pondering all he had learned. His hand brushed against his stubble, and he scowled at the itching sensation. Usually he shaved every day, a habit his unplanned trip had broken. Then again, next to his companion, a bit of extra hair was nothing…

 

The freak still stood a few feet behind, laughing to his heart’s content. What a horrendous chortle. How James yearned to shut him up via his fist. “Gwa ha ah aha ha! Ha ha aha! Ha ha! Come on, why do you take things so seriously? You still don’t get it, do you? Gwha ha ha ha ha! You should laugh more; it’ll do ya good! Gwha ha ha ha ha! Wha ha ha ha! Gwa ha ha!”

 

 

A Word With the Author

What are your favorite TV shows?

I’m not sure what to answer here because I haven’t been watching much TV lately. It’s going to be something old because of that. Since space opera TV shows like Battlestar Galactica (2004) inspired the Cyborg’s crusade, you might expect I’d pick one of those. That’s tempting, but in the end, I have to go with the Simpson. Yeah, the quality fell down a drain for decades now, but that’s expected after over thirty seasons. The first eight seasons’ writing and humor were so sharp, and they contributed a lot to my sense of humor. That’s probably true for plenty of people. And beyond the funny parts, sometimes there were just some emotional moments that were perfectly executed. Some shows made me laugh more. Some shows made me feel more. Some shows made me think more. Still, the Simpson did all three with the best balance.

What is your favorite meal?

I love breakfast food, so I’ll go with breakfast!

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?

Well, I’m already writing a series of novels, so the answer is the series would be The Cyborg’s Crusade. Is that cheating? Either way, that’s my answer. It’s a series about a young man who teleports to another world and finds himself in the middle of a cold war. I hear it’s great. No, seriously, the reviews so far have been very positive.

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?

I’m going to go with JRR Tolkien. While his books might not technically be my favorite, I have enormous respect for how much effort he put into his world-building. I haven’t read anything else with such a large ambition. Sure, some aspects of Middle Earth can feel cliché now, but it’s largely because so many writers were inspired by it. JRR Tolkien’s work inspired me to improve The Cyborg’s Crusade world-building beyond what was necessary. I’d never dare think I reached his level, but he inspired me to push myself beyond what I thought were my limits.

How did you come up for the title of this book?

The first title I came up with was My Skeptical Angel, and that title has some story significance that’s not obvious from the beginning. One of the main characters is a winged woman and the angel part comes from her. The Skeptical part… That might be a spoiler, so I’ll stay quiet. While I like My Skeptical Angel as a title, I worried it might not work well with sci-fi readers.

So, I considered alternatives. The main villain is a cyborg, and I figured that would fit sci-fi better than an angel. My first stab at another title was The Cyborg’s Holy War. A colleague suggested replacing the holy war with crusade and I liked that. Afterward, I did some market research, and turns out I was right: People hated My Skeptical Angel, but The Cyborg’s Crusade had a far better reception. So, I made the title change official.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

 

So, my name is Benoit Lanteigne and I’m a French Canadian (outside of Quebec) who’s trying to write in English. That can be tricky. I’m a computer programmer and I enjoy it. I see many inspiring writers who hate their jobs and hope to quit someday, but that’s not my case. Mostly, I’ve worked on websites and web applications. 

 

Back in school, I enjoyed writing and according to my teachers and classmates; I had a talent for it. Well, not so much for grammar and spelling, but they liked my stories. Once I went to university, I dropped writing as a hobby. There were other things I wanted to focus on, such as my career. Then, in the early 2000s, around 2006 I’d say, I had a flash of inspiration. At first, it was a single character: a winged woman with red hair. I didn’t even know who she was, but the image stuck with me. From there, I began figuring out details about her origins and her world, but I only started writing for real in 2009. 

 

It’s been roughly 10 years now, and it’s not yet finished. That’s in part because I write in my spare time, and in part because the scope of the project is huge. Maybe too much so. Still, I’m getting close to the point where I could release something. The question is what’s next? Self-publishing? Attempt traditional publishing? Nothing? I don’t know the answer yet, I’m trying to figure it out. Frankly, sharing my writing is difficult for me, and whatever I end up doing, as long as I make it available to people I consider the experience a victory no matter what comes out of it.

 

Website: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/ 

 

Newsletter: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/fanclub.html 

 

Social Media Link Hub: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/hub.html

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/people/My-Skeptical-Angel/100055656492122/

https://twitter.com/bl98

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS80WvrsYaBCOKBVgYwsXTA

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecyborgscrusade

https://www.instagram.com/thecyborgscrusade/

 

The book will be $0.99 during the tour. 

 

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Cyborgs-Crusade-Day-Deux-Machina-ebook/dp/B0CBZZRDZ4/ref=sr_1_1

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

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

 

 

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Mamacadabra

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Starting her third year of marriage, Carrie Monroe O’Keefe had already been on the roller coaster of extreme highs and lows of a newly blended family. Thinking she could do a better job of navigating marriage, stepmotherhood, working full time, and all of the things, she embarked on a year of “what if.”

Settling into her role as wife and mom, she tried to find ways to do things better, see things differently, and reframe her thinking to create a better home for her family and to feel more at home herself. With humor, unwavering honesty, vulnerability, and sarcasm, Carrie finds her way through the year and to her true self.

Read an Excerpt

From Chapter: A Real Mom After All

No one can fully prepare you for the journey of being a stepmom. In the early days, I doubted myself daily, suffered from depression, considered divorce, and constantly questioned the meaning and viability of our relationship. My relationship with my little girls that is.

I had to look at the kind of mom I wanted to be and the kind of mom I actually was. Because we only have our little girls half the time, I was consumed with worry about what their life was like when they weren’t with us. However, this only led to me being too uptight, too rigid, and too crabby. When they came home, the worry subsided but then I turned into a crazy mom, constantly trying to have everything work perfectly. Which, obviously, isn’t a thing.

It took a while, but eventually everything just kind of fell into place. I stopped worrying what people thought about how I parent. I stopped caring whether others viewed me as one of the little girls’ moms. Most importantly, I stopped trying to compare myself to someone else. Finally, I decided I was one of their parents and I do, in fact, matter. I’m playing an important part in how these little girls will grow up, how they’ll turn out and who they’ll become. I am one of their moms.

About the Author:

Carrie Monroe O’Keefe started blogging about her life by sharing stories of marriage, stepmotherhood, and how to navigate it all on mamacadabra.com in 2012. People said they loved reading the posts, so she kept writing. In addition to blogging, she released her middle-grade fiction book, The Whole Truth, in 2019.

Carrie lives outside of Minneapolis with her husband, two daughters, and dog Finlay.

Website: http://www.mamacadabra.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/monroeokeefe

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144367657
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Mamacadabra-Poof-Youre-mom-now/dp/1733629939/ref=sr_1_1

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Review Time and Tide

 

Blurb:

Will Gillian rewrite history or surrender to destiny?

In 2023, newlywed heiress, 27-year-old Gillian Woodruff, and her husband, Richard Woodruff, are honeymooning on their private yacht. Richard is hiding secrets and is not all he seems. When the boat encounters a strange, violent storm, it is struck by a towering wave, and Gillian is hurled into the sea, washing up on a rocky, deserted Massachusetts beach, close to death.

She’s found by the brooding and handsome lighthouse keeper, Ethan Burke, and learns she’s living in 1900. While struggling to recover and adjust to the shocking truth, Gillian falls for the mysterious, handsome loner. Love, mystery, and deadly secrets collide against the backdrop of the sea, 1900 New York City, and Gillian’s family’s corruption during the Gilded Age.

Gillian must decide if she will change her family’s dark past, a change that could prevent her own future, or let the man she loves be killed, forcing her to return to the future without him.

My Review:

Things I Liked:

This was a time travel novel, and I love time travel stories. Sometimes you get hold of a time travel that doesn’t live up to expectations. This one does. In some time travel novels I was sorry about the way the book turned out, but that didn’t happen with this book. Besides that, the conflict was important. In some novels you get an issue that could easily be resolved by one brief conversation, but not this one. Profound, life changing issues are at stake. 

Refer to the last last lines of the blurb? Would you have the courage to make that choice? Either way, her life will never be the same.

Island Detour

 

Island Detour

by Maria Imbalzano

 

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Falsely accused of wrongdoing at a Princeton Prep school, Sophie Kearns accepts a temporary teaching position at an environmental school in the Florida Keys to wait out her suspension. The time away is meant to be an anxiety-free escape, but her clashes with the hot but arrogant marine biology teacher, Max Heaton, are anything but tranquil.

 

Max is determined to start an environmental research institute at the school, but he suspects the gorgeous new Lit teacher, who lacks even the most basic outdoor skills, is there to hinder that dream. Yet, something about her tames the demons from his past, and he can no longer ignore the fire she’s lit inside him.

 

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EXCERPT

 

How’d Sophie end up working with women who could have been in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue?

 

She glanced down at her own one-piece halter and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle. Not ready to venture back to the bikinis of her college days, she’d chosen a lime-green hue that looked great against her tan. And even though her midriff wasn’t bare, the high-cut detail on her legs showed plenty of skin. At least she wasn’t embarrassed standing next to Maddie. Or the other two.

She’d come a long way from the buttoned-up professor at Valen, thanks to her new friends here. After their shopping spree in Key West, they’d made sure to compliment Sophie on her new look—obviously afraid that if they didn’t, she’d go back to her old ways. And it had worked. Along with the exercise she was getting from boating and swimming, she looked and felt like a new woman.

 

Stealing a glance at Max, she assumed he’d be staring at Maddie. A slow burn crept across her face when his gaze fell on her.

 

His mocha eyes blazed a scorching trail as they traveled up her legs, her torso, then stopped at her face. She turned and looked out over the ocean, swallowing hard, to banish this erotic discomfort. But try as she might to ignore his scrutiny, she felt it deep down in the pit of her stomach as fingers of heat spread over her skin, doing much more damage than the sun.

A Word With the Author

 1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

No. I hated creative writing in high school and college. It wasn’t until I went to law school that I enjoyed writing – but that was legal writing which is analytical, linear. I was very good at writing legal briefs and memoranda to the court where you state the facts, apply the law and make your arguments by applying that law to the facts. It wasn’t until I was 40 that I thought I wanted to try to write a book. I always read – a lot and one of the authors I was reading was bothering me. I said “I bet I could do this.” Which is what prompted me to try. I had no idea how to write a compelling book of fiction. But I went to seminars, joined NJ Romance Writers, read how-to books and sat myself in the chair and wrote. It took me fifteen years to get published, but it was worth it. 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

My first book published was the fifth book I wrote. The other four sat in a drawer after many rejections. That book is called “Unchained Memories.”  It is still one of my favorite stories about a medical malpractice lawyer and an ER doctor. I sent that manuscript to the Wild Rose Press and they sent me a contract. What a thrill that was after fifteen years of working toward that goal. 

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

I have so many, but one of my favorites is Emily Giffin.  I loved “Something Borrowed” and “Something Blue.” They are fairly old, but one of her newer books, “The Lives That Bind” was also excellent.

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

I love creating a new story—developing the characters, figuring out what their conflicts are, coming up with the plot and character arcs, working toward the black moment when there appears to be no chance of heroine and hero getting together. Everything is new and fresh and fun (from the creative side). 

 

The worst part is marketing. I know I’m supposed to be posting on Facebook, and X/Twitter, and Instagram but I would rather be writing my book than talking about it on social media.  Although I do like doing interviews like this. 

  
5.What are you working on now?

 

I have a series out called the Sworn Sisters Series. Its about four girlfriends from high school who are now in their 30s. Each of them has their own story. The first three books are out, (Sworn to Forget, Sworn to Remember, and Sworn to Fly) but I’m having trouble with the fourth and final book (Sworn to Collide). I’m working on the issues and hopefully it will come out this year. 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states.  Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband--not far from her two daughters and granddaughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

 

Awards 

Maria is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and has received many honors and awards for her work including the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award, the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers Award, The NEST (National Excellence In Story Telling) Award, the Carolyn Award, Book Buyers Best Award, The Stiletto Reader’s Choice Award, Long & Short Reviews Book of the Month Award (3rd Place for Book of the Year), and Still Moments Magazine Reader’s Choice Award.

 

 

Social Media Links 

 

Facebook –

 

https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor

 

Twitter

 

http://www.twitter.com/mariaimbalzano

 

@mariaimbalzano

 

Instagram 

 

Mariaimbalzano_author

 

Website Link

 

http://www.mariaimbalzano.com

 

Goodreads Author Page

 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano

 

Book Bub Profile page 

 

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano

 

Amazon Author Page

 

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FG9RI5K

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

 

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Secret AdmirerPact

                                                       Secret Admirer Pact

by Bernadette Marie

 

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GENRE:   Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

When Will seeks to rekindle a flame with his ex-girlfriend, his best friend Monique reluctantly suggests a plan involving secret admirer notes to divert his ex’s attention. In a surprising turn, Monique finds herself infatuated with her new boss, prompting Will to reciprocate with anonymous tokens of affection. However, as the deceptive game unfolds, both Monique and Will come to realize that the heartfelt sentiments expressed in the secret admirer notes were their own true feelings. So, what happens if the plan works? What happens if it doesn’t?

 

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Excerpt 

 

From my pocket I retrieve a paper napkin with writing on it.

 

Will-

 

I’ve been watching you. I think you’re very handsome. I’d love to get to know you.

 

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

 

The note has me laughing. It’s written in Monique’s handwriting, and I can’t even imagine why she—

 

I look back down at the napkin and grin. So this is Monique’s wise idea to get Brandy to notice me? I now have a secret admirer? Am I supposed to leave these little notes around the house?

I can hear Brandy moving around her room. I look at the note again, and consider it.

Instead of taking my coffee mug with me, I set it on the note. She’ll notice that I forgot my coffee, and maybe she’ll see the writing on the napkin. Well, I have nothing to lose with Monique’s little game. Grabbing my messenger bag, I hike it up onto my shoulder and head out to work. As is the norm, my phone rings as I’m leaving my office and heading to lunch.

 

“So now you’re my secret admirer?” I ask as I answer the phone, knowing Monique is on the other end.

 

Her laugh filters through and brings me a bit of warmth as I step outside in the cold. 

 

“Why, Will, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says on another laugh. 

A Word With the Author

1.Did you always want to be an author?

 I’ve wanted to be an author since the seventh grade. But in reality, I’ve always been a storyteller. I just think it took me until junior high to understand how to make that talent something more.

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book. 

My first book was a nightmare, really. I was contracted with a small publisher who did not understand the business of publishing. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good deal. A year later, I opened my own publishing house and published my own works. Those first books skyrocketed up the bestseller charts and encouraged me to continue writing. To date I’ve published 57 of my own titles, and almost 200 titles from other authors. So, even though my first book’s publication was a lesson in what not to do, when I published it myself, when I got the rights back, it was an immense joy!

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

Currently, my favorite author is Emily Henry. I love her banter. Her characters are fun.

 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst? 

The best part of being an author is creating. I love meeting the new people I will spend my time with daily, because really, they don’t follow the rules I give them when I create them. I also love my readers. Without them, this wouldn’t be any fun. I also love my author friends. There is nothing more accepting than a group of authors. 

 

The worst part of being an author is when distributors change their algorithms. Seriously, I’d rather write all the time than figure out how to get my books seen. But, it is part of the job.

 

5.What are you working on now?

 I have a few projects in the works right now. I’m currently writing two more rom coms and a romantic 50+ women’s fiction.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie writes contemporary romances and believes in Happily Ever After. The married mother of five believes in love at first sight, quick love, and second chances. An avid martial artist, Bernadette Marie is a certified instructor and holds a third degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. She loves Tai Chi, traveling to Disney parks, and having lunch with friends. When not writing, or running her own publishing house, Bernadette is probably immersed in a Rom Com, from which she will often quote one-liners.

 

www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie

www.instagram.com/authorbernadettemarie

www.tiktok.com/@authorbernadettemarie

info@bernadettemarie.com

www.bernadettemarie.com

www.5princebooks.com/bernadettemarie

 

 

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP4T78KG

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144426105?ean=2940185950555

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1485967

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Bernadette Marie will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Out of Body

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by < ahref="http://www.goddessfish.com">Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Those weird dreams Abby Kendrick has been having? Turns out they aren’t dreams after all. They’re out-of-body experiences, like the ones her cousin Logan is having. At first Abby has fun with her new ability, using it to spy on her neighborhood crush and spook a mean girl. But when Logan gets in trouble on the astral plane, the game changes, and Abby must bend the rules of out-of-body travel as she journeys to a distant realm. Her mission is a perilous one, and success is not guaranteed. Can she save Logan and find her way home again? Or will the cousins be lost forever on the astral plane?

Read an Excerpt

I strode back to the coffee table and pressed the off button on the remote. Instantly the TV went blind and silent, like a lopped-off head. But I didn’t make it to my bedroom. Before I could take another step, I saw it again, that flitting movement near the recliner. This time there was an accompanying noise—the unmistakable rustling of clothing.

I turned in dread, and at long last there was something to see. I felt the briefest flicker of triumph—Ha! Caught you!—before the horror of the situation thumped me in the chest.

My dad’s jacket had come to life. It was floating in the air beside the recliner, puffy and solid as if inhabited by a body. The sleeves were waving: Hey, look at me!

I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move. My vision darkened as if I was going to pass out, but if I did, that would be the end of me, because that thing would come over and strangle me. It was a disembodied jacket. It couldn’t be up to any good.

The jacket’s sleeves reached down. They bent at the elbows. Up went the jacket’s zipper with a z-z-zip sound.

Somehow I managed to draw in a big, rasping breath, and I screamed. I screamed loudly enough to wake the Halloween dead.

Then I ran for the front door.

About the Author:

Kimberly Baer is an author and professional editor who was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a town marginally famous for having endured three major floods. She even lived there during one of them. She enjoys power-walking on days when it’s not too hot, too cold, too rainy, too snowy, or too windy. On indoor days, you're likely to find her hard at work on her next novel or binge-watching old episodes of Survivor, her favorite guilty pleasure.

Kim has had her nose in a book practically since birth. Her first story, written at age six, was about a baby chick that hatched out of a little girl’s Easter egg after somehow surviving the hard-boiling process. These days she writes in a variety of genres, including adult romantic suspense, young adult, and middle-grade. Her books are published by The Wild Rose Press and have won several awards.

Out of Body Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYzqrZ2gl-I

Website: http://www.kimberlybaer.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimberlyBaer14
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlybaer_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyBaer/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimberlybaer_author1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Baer/e/B08D3RVKCH/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kimberly_baer
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-baer

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Body-Kimberly-Baer-ebook/dp/B0CQ34D8H5/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144460559?ean=9781509253074
Apple books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/out-of-body/id6474144928
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/out-of-body-by-kimberly-baer
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Tales of the Yankee Clipper

 

TALES OF THE YANKEE CLIPPER

by Jonathan Weeks

 

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GENRE:  NonFiction Sports Biography

 

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BLURB:

 

There has probably never been a professional baseball player more of a puzzle than Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio had a talent for keeping his emotions suppressed and his innermost thoughts to himself. Few could say that they really knew him. And even the ones who did found him to be unpredictable. He was a walking contradiction. He was quiet, but not necessarily shy. He could be both gracious and abrupt, approachable or aloof depending on the situation. Although he came across as humble, he had a tremendous sense of entitlement. He was complex, secretive, inscrutable. There were many layers to the man who came to be affectionately known as the “Yankee Clipper.” DiMaggio always felt that his actions on the field should do the talking for him. And for the most part, they did. To many, DiMaggio personified elegance, style, and grace. An impeccable dresser, he was married to two glamorous actresses. On the field, he glided almost effortlessly, never having to dive for a ball and rarely (if ever) making a mistake on the basepaths. He became the living embodiment of the American dream and a symbol of the country’s so-called “greatest generation.” But as time marched on, DiMaggio grew increasingly distrustful of the people around him. It was understandable—inevitable even. The third book in Jonathan Week’s Yankees trilogy contains an abundance of anecdotes, statistics, and other little known facts about the Yankee Clipper.

 

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EXCERPT

 

CASE OF THE PURLOINED BAT

 

DiMaggio suffered a major scare during his 56-game hitting streak. On June 29, 1941, the Yankees traveled to Washington for a double-header against the Nationals (often referred to as the Senators). Joe had hit in 40 straight games and was poised to break the modern record set by George Sisler in 1922. His double in the opener tied Sisler’s mark. In the first inning of the evening game, Tommy Henrich was on his way to the plate when he heard DiMaggio shouting across the diamond. Joe couldn’t locate his favorite bat and wondered if Henrich had done something with it.

 

Joe was very attached to that particular piece of lumber, naming it “Betsy Ann.” He had been using it throughout the streak and worried that he might fall into a slump without it. A frantic search turned up nothing. The bat was gone. Forced to hit without “Betsy Ann,” DiMaggio flied out. Two innings later, he switched bats and lined out to short. In the seventh inning, Henrich gave Joe his own bat to use. Averting disaster, The Yankee Clipper lined a clean single to left field, claiming Sisler’s record for himself. Still, the loss of his favorite bat vexed him.

 

“Of course the guy had to pick out the best one,” Joe told reporters after the game. “I had three of my bats on the ground in front of the dugout but he got the one I wouldn’t take money for...the bat was just right for me. I liked the feel of it. I hate to lose it.”  

 

About a week later, “Betsy Ann” was delivered by courier to the Yankee clubhouse in a plain brown package. Behind the scenes, one of Joe’s assistants—a wise-guy named Jimmy “Peanuts” Ceres—had spent five days looking for the bat. As it turned out, the thief had ties to the Newark underworld (which was Jimmy’s domain) and also happened to be a braggart. When the thief’s identity was revealed, Jimmy paid the guy a visit with one of his associates. Specific details of how they persuaded the man to return Joe’s prized bat have never been disclosed. 

A Word With the Author

1.Did you always want to be an author?

No. When I was a kid, I had many different aspirations. I was around for the Apollo moon missions in the late-‘60s and early-‘70s. So the first thing I wanted to be was an astronaut. When I realized how dangerous it was, I set my sights on studying the planets and stars. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that being an astronomer involved a lot of complicated math, so I bailed on that dream and started playing multiple sports.  I wasn’t tall enough to be a good basketball player. I couldn’t skate well enough to play organized hockey. And I couldn’t hit a curveball to save my life. So I eventually decided to write about sports. Those who can’t DO, write (I don’t think that’s how the saying goes but it’s true).  

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

My first book was published back in 2012. I had tried my hand at writing novels, short stories, and screenplays, all of which were rejected by multiple publishers. And then, someone I really trusted told me to “write about what you know.” I figured I had been following baseball for more than three decades and had a pretty good working knowledge of the sport. My first acceptance letter came as a complete surprise to me. You get so used to being rejected, you expect more of the same. But an editor from Scarecrow Press (an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield) stood behind my work. Her name is Kristin Karniski and I’m forever grateful .  The name of that book is Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History. It was a really fun project to work on. 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

There are quite a few authors I really admire. Roger Kahn, Jane Leavy, Peter Golenbock, and Roger Angell for starters. Two of the best baseball books I have read in recent years are: The Wax Pack: On The Road in Search of Baseball’s Afterlife by Brad Balukjian and Cardboard Gods by Josh Wilker. Both of them incorporated baseball card collecting into the narrative and that is one of my passionate hobbies. 

4.What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

I ‘ve been asked this question before and I always say the same thing: The best part of writing is the escape it provides. When you’re at your keyboard, it’s just you and the subject matter. Life’s worrisome details are temporarily put on hold (at least for me). The worst part of being an author is the process of writing itself.  I’ve admitted many times that writing is not always a smooth activity for me. Sometimes I have it and sometimes I don’t. On days when the proper words elude me, I have to hammer away at it like sculpting stone. It can be frustrating. 

5.What are you working on now?

I just finished a book about the World Series that will be released through Lyons Press next year. I’ve moved on to another baseball topic that is near and dear to me. But I’ll keep that under wraps until I actually sign a contract.  

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jonathan Weeks has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his father. He grew up in the Capital District region of New York State and currently works in the mental health field.

 

BLOG: http://www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com

GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Yankee-Clipper-Reflections-DiMaggio-ebook/dp/B0CKBLVMM5/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Jonathan Weeks will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.

 

 

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