Thursday, March 23, 2023

Guest Post: & Giveaway: Introvert or Extrovert by Valerie Taylor #WhatsNotLost

Hello my readers,

Today I have a guest post from author, Valerie Taylor. She is a multi-winning author with her most recent book, What's Not Lost.  Welcome to my blog and take it away. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network


Introvert or Extrovert?

By Valerie Taylor

Multi-award-winning author of the What’s Not trilogy — What’s Not Said, What’s Not True, and

What’s Not Lost


Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs personality test? Perhaps in high school, college, or through your

employer? If not, it’s possible, though, that you’ve heard about it. The test starts with “an introspective

questionnaire” in which the individual indicates their psychological preferences, how they perceive the

world, and ultimately make decisions.

The output of the test is a four-letter acronym that slots the test-taker into one of 16 personality types

outlined on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® “test table.” You may be—or heard someone referred to

themselves as—an ISTJ or and ENFP, as examples.

I think my first exposure to this test was in college, where I took it several times as required by the course

I was enrolled in. And then throughout my career with various companies, Human Resources thought it

was a great tool to help build teams. And, oh yes, a couple of times when I was in therapy. Um, yes,

therapy. Sorry for TMI! Another acronym, yikes. Too much information?

I have no intention of explaining all of the 16 personality types, or defining each of the letters, except for

two—the “I” and the “E”—which form the first letter of each of the types. Not surprisingly, “I” means

introvert; and “E” means extrovert.

What do you think you are? Introvert or extrovert? Does it matter in your daily life?

For most of my years, I was a writer in some fashion; either in a supporting role where I wrote memos

and articles for my managers, or in a lead marketing and communications capacity where I created my

own original content. All these years I tested mostly as an introvert, but not a flaming introvert. Almost

always, my results vacillated in the center, almost like a scale tipping back and forth before settling on

either characteristic. One time it tilted toward extrovert, but that was a fleeting score. I must have been in

a sociable frame of mind the day I tested and checked off one outgoing indicator too many.

Since I retired in 2016 and moved back from Seattle to Boston and then CT, I’ve taken my writing to

another sphere. I’ve penned and published three dramatic comedies in five years. It is true, as you may

have heard, writing novels is definitely a solitary undertaking, which I enjoy immensely.

Even the production process—working with cover and interior designers, copyeditors, and

proofreaders—is well within my introverted comfort zone. Once published, though, I discovered a

personality change is necessary.

Today, whether traditionally, hybrid, or self-published, an author is expected to not only publicize their

work, but also to market it. Marketing includes digital where introverts like me can hide behind our

keyboards and screens, as well as public events like book signings, fairs, and talks.

How is that possible for a shy person like me?

In all honesty, it isn’t easy. I’ve discovered that as I approach a public gathering I need to take a deep

breath, dig deep inside myself, and find that one bit of extroversion that tipped the scales on the Myers-

Briggs test from years ago.


Smiling helps. So does asking questions such as, “What types of books interest you most? What are you

currently reading? Do you gift books?” Or even a quantitative question, like “How many books do you

read each year?”

Anything to get the people at ay table to talk! Over time I’ve realized I’m better at continuing a

conversation than instigating it. However, once engaged, my inner self relaxes and the beat goes on. In

fact, I quite enjoy being out there with readers.

What I’ve learned in the process is that introverted authors are really extroverts in disguise. No

personality test required.

Please contact me at: www.valerietaylorauthor.com

Come along with me in my journey. Subscribe to my newsletter: Behind and Ahead at

www.valerietaylorauthor.com/subscribe

Follow me: Facebook.com/valerietaylorauthor

Twitter: @ValerieEMTaylor

Instagram: ValerieETaylor



Giveaway: WHAT'S NOT LOST Book Tour Giveaway

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

#Review and #Giveaway: The Adventures of Lefty and Righty and the Windy City by Lori Orlinsky #poetry #adventure #childrensbooks

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Adventures of Lefty & Righty: The Windy City by Lori Orlinksy
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  38 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:   Mar 7, 2023
Content Rating:  G for everyone.
Book Description:

Do you ever wonder what happens to socks that get lost in the dryer? Join Lefty and Righty for the adventure of a lifetime as they sneak out of the laundry room with a destination in mind.
My Review:
This is the story of a pair of socks that hop out of the dryer and go on a great adventure in Chicago.  I have always wondered where the socks went and now, I know. This pair thought they should go find the ultimate socks, The White Socks! How fun!
The book, in rhyme, follows the duel as they go to different landmarks. In the book, the landmarks are highlighted in red which corresponds with "fun facts" in the back of the book. I have seen other glossaries in other books, but this was a cool way to include them.
The rhyming was great and for older kids they will love the sing-song rhythm. Younger children will enjoy the illustrations which are boldly displayed on each page.
Great book to read over and over. 4 stars!
Disclosure: I received this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Award-winning children’s book author Lori Orlinsky lives in. . . you guessed it . . . Chicago! Lori is the mother of three little ladies, who are small but mighty. At 5’1”, she wishes her children’s picture book, Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All), was around when she was growing up. Lori also wrote The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache and Balloons for Tiger. Her latest book, The Adventures of Lefty and Righty: The Windy City, was inspired by her daily struggle to find matching socks when they come out of the dryer.

connect with the author: website 

Lori Orlinsky's ADVENTURES OF LEFTY AND RIGHTY Book Tour Giveaway



Friday, March 3, 2023

Paperboy by Dan Romanello #giveaway #spotlight #thriller

 

 




Book Details:
CategoryAdult Fiction (18+), 332 pages
GenreComing of Age Contemporary Thriller
Publisher: Sanitas Publishing, Inc.
Publication Date: August, 2022.
Content Rating: R: A series of explicit sex scenes, minimal bad language and drug use are utilized for character and plot development.
Book Description:

Abandoned by his father as an infant and raised by a single mother among the wealthy and privileged in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Dylan Tomassi grew up poor. As a boy he is befriended by a mysteriously reclusive widow he meets on his paper route. She mentors him with sage advice on matters facing a young man growing up without a father. She never pays for her newspapers, and he never asks for the money because of all the good advice she dispenses. When she finally does square up, it changes his life forever.

Dylan relocates to Florida and becomes a successful private investor, wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. His newfound socioeconomic status introduces him into the upper echelon of Florida society where he finds many things going on in the world simply don't make sense. With the help of his old friend and mentor, he navigates life in a turbulent modern-day society and vows to use his wealth to make a difference when he’s not sidetracked running into nefarious characters or busy keeping his best friend, wealthy playboy Alex Malloy, out of hot water. With corruption, debauchery, deception, and murder swirling around him, Dylan proves nice guys can finish first.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to goodreads

Meet the Authors:

DAN ROMANELLO began his career working for a large Florida newspaper before attending law school at the University of Florida. After serving as an assistant state attorney, he entered private practice where he spent more than 20 years as a civil trial lawyer litigating cases in courtrooms throughout Florida. He retired from the active practice of law in 2017 and, before writing PAPERBOY, spent four years coaching college athletics. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

connect with the authors: website 

PAPERBOY Book Tour Giveaway



Saturday, February 18, 2023

The Adventures of Charlie and Jayden: Big Brother Superhero by Adrian Port #Childrensbooks

 

 


Children's Book

Date Published: June 24, 2021


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What would you do if you found out that you were getting a new sibling?


Find out what one dog dreams when he sees his new baby brother!

 


About the Author

Adrian Port is a children's book author currently residing in Boynton Beach, FL with her husband, Jayden (son), and Charlie (4 yr old pug). While she works as a middle school Language Arts teacher, she was inspired to write a story about her son and dog. Observing how they interacted when her son, who is now 2, first came home from the hospital, Adrian wondered how her dog felt about the new addition. From that idea, the world of Charlie came to life.

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Jokes Make You Smarter by Trey Reely #Childrensbooks, #humor #jokebooks

 

Children's Humor

Date Published: June 2, 2022

 

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Read this book and you too can laugh and create new brain cells at the same time! Kids of all ages (including young-at-heart adults) can plunge into the fathomless, oceanic depths of knowledge with jokes about animals, foreign language, geography, math, science, health, holidays, music, poetry, sports, and pop culture. But that’s not all! There are even Dad jokes that will out-dad a dad. Read, O Grasshopper, and grow smart.


About the Author

Trey Reely earned his Bachelor’s of Education and Master’s in Education from Harding University. He began his teaching career at Paragould Middle School in 1985 and assumed the position at Paragould High School in 1991 where he taught for 17 years. He was the director of bands at Riverview High School in Searcy, Arkansas from the fall of 2008 until his retirement in 2019.

In 2018, he was selected as the Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year. Trey has served as a region chairman, a state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association, and he is an Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association past president. He is a contributing editor to The Instrumentalist and has authored over 275 articles and 7 books.

He has served as an adjudicator and clinician in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Oklahoma, California, and Pennsylvania. He is currently the Executive Secretary of the Arkansas Small Band Association and spends many hours teaching lessons to area students and conducting the White County Community Band which he co-founded in 2022.


Contact Link

Amazon Author Page

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The Invisible Sword of Flames by Patricia Okongwu #ChristianFantasy





Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xeflmF

An action-packed adventure, Dragon of Darkness, is a fantasy tale of bravery, full of divine power, mystery, and twists! The power of the forever one clashes with the dragon of darkness.

 The Followers of the Forever One are destined to defeat the giant dragon of darkness. The group of five brothers and their sister must overcome their fear to conquer the monster while preserving the waning faith of the people following the Forever One. Until Mathias is placed in the line of danger, and he’s forced to defend himself against the threat of peril. Will the Followers prevail and return peace to the land of Perea, or will they fall to defeat? 

 In The Invisible Sword of Flames Series one, readers will join the believers on their quest to strengthen the people’s faith and become empowered through the word of the Forever One. An action-packed adventure in Dragon of Darkness, the first installment in a thrilling fantasy series full of divine power, mystery, and twists! Book One of five in The Invisible Sword of Flames Series.

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Guest Post: Give Your Pet A Chip Spotlight: DAWGS by Diane Trull #giveaway #animals #rescues



Today I am welcoming and featuring another guest poster for my blog.  Also, I am spotlighting the book DAWGS by Diane Trull. Welcome Meredith Wargo, take it away.

Give Your Pet a Chip

While everybody knows today is Valentine’s Day, very few people realize it is also Pet Theft Awareness

Day. It’s sad that there has to be a day dedicated to bringing awareness to the increasing number of pet

theft and dognapping cases but the concept behind this day is to serve as a reminder to take the

necessary steps to keep your pet from becoming a statistic in the first place.

Microchipping is one of the latest technological advances that helps keep our pets safe. Microchips are

permanent IDs that are implanted into your pet’s skin. They don’t replace a tag and collar, but they can

make a significant difference in bringing home a lost or stolen pet.

Here are a few tips for making sure you get the most benefit out of your pet’s microchip:

 Be sure to register your pet’s microchip and keep your contact information current. If you change

phone numbers or move, contact the company that provided the microchip and update your

information in their system.

 Have your pet’s microchip scanned annually to be sure it’s working correctly. The best time to do

this is when you take your pet in for his yearly check-up.

 The U.S. doesn’t have a national microchip database that houses all microchipped information. So

be aware that if your pet is microchipped in one state but gets lost in a different state, the chip

reader may not detect the microchip.

 Matted fur can make detection of a microchip difficult. Keep your pet well-groomed to ensure best

results when scanning for a microchip.

Do your pets a favor ~ don’t skip the chip!


SPOTLIGHT: DAWGS

About the book:

Elementary-school teacher Diane Trull's life-defining moment happened when her fourth-grade reading class saw a photo of a cardboard box overflowing with homeless puppies. Trull was no stranger to rescuing abandoned animals. She and her husband Mark had made it their mission to find permanent homes for stray dogs and cats. Now her young students were determined to save these lost pups and others like them. And in that moment, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary--known as DAWGS--was born.

How Trull and her fourth graders started their own animal shelter is a story of dedication, commitment, and perseverance. In this eye-opening, deeply personal book, Trull describes the challenges they faced, from rescuing and caring for the animals to teaching children about compassion and responsibility, to facing local interests opposed to having a shelter in their town. She shares inspiring stories about animals and animal lovers of all ages in this moving story of hope and compassion. DAWGS is a testament to how love and a strong measure of determination can offer second chances--one animal, one child, and one day at a time.

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Facebook:  @meredithwargo.freelancewriter

 

Instagram: @merebear1961 


Giveaway:

Enter to win author signed copy of DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them (one winner) (USA only) (ends Mar 3)

https://gleam.io/pzqIS/dawgs-book-tour-giveaway