Friday, February 28, 2020

Audiobook Feature: Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson, Narrated by R.C. Bray

Audiobook Series Tour: Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson
INDEPENDENT ‘AUDIO-FIRST’ ENTERTAINMENT STUDIO RELEASES FIRST-EVER TRAILER FOR AUDIBLE’S #1 SCI-FI AUDIOBOOK SERIES: EXPEDITIONARY FORCE BY CRAIG ALANSON

Author: Craig Alanson

Narrator: R.C. Bray

Length: 16 hours 23 minutes

Series: Expeditionary Force, Book 1

Publisher: Podium Publishing

Released: Dec. 13, 2016

Genre: Science Fiction



From multimillion dollar, best-selling author Craig Alanson (and narrated by fan-favorite R.C. Bray) Expeditionary Force is a New York Times best-selling military science-fiction series that will be composed of 14 novels. The first audiobook in the series, Columbus Day, was one of five finalists for the prestigious Audie Award in 2018 and has been optioned for film and television by Milmar Pictures (AIR FORCE ONE, CASTLE, HOLLOW MAN). Zachary Quinto (STAR TREK, NOS482, HEROES) and Kate Mulgrew (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, STAR TREK: VOYAGER) starred in the epic Expeditionary Force audio drama HOMEFRONT; Armageddon, Book 8, debuted at #1 on all of Audible. Books 1-9 are available now on Audible.


Nominee, 2018 Audie Awards — Audiobook of the Year We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the Native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon came ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There went the good old days, when humans got killed only by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved. The UN Expeditionary Force hitched a ride on Kristang ships to fight the Ruhar wherever our new allies thought we could be useful. So, I went from fighting with the US Army in Nigeria to fighting in space. It was lies, all of it. We shouldn't even be fighting the Ruhar; they aren't our enemy. Our allies are. I'd better start at the beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxoUzJyLCT0
 

 

Podium Audio is thrilled to announce the debut of the studio’s first audiobook trailer to mark the release of Valkyrie, the highly-anticipated ninth installment of New York Times best-selling author Craig Alanson’s Expeditionary Force sci-fi audiobook series. Voiced by R.C. Bray and edited by leading advertising agency Jump/Cut (trailers for PARASITE, FIRST REFORMED, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC), the audiobook trailer is Podium’s first foray into the audiovisual realm.
Podium Audio’s First-Ever Trailer Marks the Release of Valkyrie, the Highly-Anticipated Ninth Audiobook from the #1 Independently Published Sci-Fi Novelist in the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGOlANWf6Q


  Craig Alanson is a NYT best-selling author. His first audiobook 'Columbus Day' was one of five finalists for Audiobook Of The Year 2018 Visit craigalanson.com for FAQs, blog posts, merchandise, etc.
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  From an early age Audie, Earphones, and SOVAS Voice Arts Award-winning audiobook narrator R.C. Bray despised reading. Truly hated it with a passion. And audiobooks? Even worse. Those were for people too lazy to read (not to be confused with those like himself who didn’t want to read to begin with). R.C. eventually got older and wiser (he was always good-looking) and eschewing his capricious convictions fell head-over-heels with reading. Not just to learn words like “eschew” and “capricious” so he could use them in a bio line, but because someone was actually going to give him money to do it. Note: R.C.’s gorgeous wife and three beautiful children begged him not to make this his official bio. Clearly he misunderstood.
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  Podium is an industry-leading independent audiobook publisher built upon the foundation of successful partnerships with self-published authors and narrators. With deep share of voice in the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance, the company has enjoyed quick commercial and critical acclaim, releasing almost 1,300 audiobooks, numerous best-sellers, winning an Audie Award and 13 Voice Arts Awards. Podium is best-known for supporting, nurturing and discovering independent authors and narrators from the U.S. and around the world. The company gained international notice when it took a risk on one-time unknown author Andy Weir (The Martian) and turned his e-book into the largest audiobook seller in the world.
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Q&A with Author Craig Alanson: Part I
  • Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
    • I send the manuscript to Podium, they give it to Bob. Magic happens
  • Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format?
    • Dictionaries make for terrible audio. Also any “classic” you were forced to read in school like Beowulf would be a terrible audiobook, because it is a long, boring way for teachers to torture students. Although if RC Bray narrated a dictionary, I would at least listen to a sample.
  • Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
    • For the first three books, no. Back then, I did not expect anyone would read my books, so I thought there was no point creating audio versions.
  • How did you select your narrator?
    • Podium selected RC Bray and Tim Gerard Reynolds and MacLeod Andrews, and each of them were perfect for the books they narrated.
  • How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
    • Pronunciation tips yes, and in a few cases I did send notes about a character’s accent, background etc. if it was not already clear from the text. Other than that, let the pros do their jobs. I did not give RC Bray notes about how I imagined Skippy’s voice, so Bob created it by himself. The voice is exactly as I imagined!
  • Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
    • I have never been a wizard, a soldier, traveled on a spaceship or talked with a beer can, so, no. Ok, maybe I have talked to a beer can but that is another story.
  • How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
    • My long-suffering wife knows that when I am 2/3rds of the way through writing a book, I am annoyed with it. But that is mostly because I am excited about writing the next book, and the current book is in the way. I maintain enthusiasm for writing, by only writing books that excite me.
  • Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
    • I listen to audiobooks when I’m running, at the gym, driving, etc. They are convenient because they are on my phone or my watch so I never have to remember where I put my book or Kindle. Also, a good narrator brings a story to life in a way that doesn’t happen when I am reading words on a page.
  • Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
    • My writing style is heavy on dialog, light on description. That makes the story move faster. One issue is that the rapid-fire back-and-forth dialog in my books can be difficult for narrators because they have to constantly switch between voices, so I am terribly sorry that I am not sorry at all about that.
  • If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
    • This question is awkward because I already did. All I can say is, I would never have predicted a Cleveland Browns football dynasty.
     
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Where Author J. Arlene Culiner Gets Her Best Ideas & Other Bookish Questions

Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.

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Inside the Book

The Turkish Affair cover anim
Title: THE TURKISH AFFAIR
Author: J. Arlene Culiner
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Pages: 242
Genre: Romantic Suspense
BOOK BLURB:

Love and Danger at the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu

Priceless artifacts are disappearing from the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu in Turkey, and the site director has vanished. Called in to solve the mystery, archaeologist Renaud Townsend is hindered by both his inability to speak the language and the knowledge that the local police are corrupt. His attraction to translator Anne Pierson is immediate, although he is troubled by her refusal to talk about the past and her fear of public scandal. But when murder enters the picture, both Anne and Renaud realize that the risk of falling in love is not the only danger.

Praise:
Author J. Arlene Culiner does not disappoint in this fast-paced novel, The Turkish Affair. Glittering descriptions, magical settings, and enviable characters bring the solemn grounds of Turkey to life as we are planted firmly in an archeological dig in Karakuyu, Turkey. Culiner’s mastery of the English language and sentence combinations form an enchanting read. The Turkish Affair is a must-read for all lovers of romance and adventure.
–Lisa McCombs for Readers’ Favorite

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823B18Z3

 Barnes & Noble → https://tinyurl.com/yx2lyg6v

 INTERVIEW

Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?


I’m a musician, and since I play several instruments (oboe, flute, piccolo, baroque oboe, tuba, and recorder) in different formations, practicing takes up a lot of my time. I’m also a contemporary artist creating social critical work. And when I have time left over (yes, there is some of that) I walk along the ancient green sunken lanes between high hedges that lead from one village to another, one farm to another. Europe is crisscrossed with these ancient paths, and I’ve crossed most of Europe on foot.

When did you start writing?


Like most writers, I wrote stories when I was very young. However, I think that many, if not most, children write stories but never became writers. It’s not that fact that people write, it’s how they write, and how they use language that counts, and that takes a long apprenticeship. It’s not something that comes naturally when you are a child. Of course, today, children’s imaginations are programmed by what they see on television and Internet, by cell phone entertainment, and video games. I’m not certain they write their own stories anymore.


As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?


I had already written one romance, Felicity’s Power, that was accepted for publication, but I although I was thrilled, I didn’t yet consider myself a writer — after all, I was a professional artist and a photographer. In 2000, I was in Toronto with my photography exhibition, La Mémoire Effacée, and the curator asked me what I would be working on next. I told her that I would be going to Romania to follow up on a story about Jewish immigrants who had crossed the country on foot after 1889, and that I would also walk across the country in their footsteps. She looked at me strangely, and  said: “That sounds more like a book than an exhibition.”

I thought about that for a while, and realized she was right. So I began working on my book, Finding Home in the Footsteps of the Jewish Fusgeyers. Five years later, that book won the Tanenbaum Prize for Canadian Jewish Literature and was shortlisted for the ForeWord Magazine Prize.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?


I need to have a project first. I hate traveling just for sightseeing, and I never go on holiday because all that free time bores me. I need to investigate something. If I have a choice about what part of the world I would like to return to, it would be Eastern Europe because the history fascinates me.

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?


I would do more audiobooks. I have done several, but they are very time-consuming. I need those extra hours! Tell me how I can book them, please.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?


Bavaria. Few people set stories there, but I lived there for nine years, and I know how lovely — and secretive — it is.

Back to your present book, The Turkish Affair, how did you publish it?


I published through The Wild Rose Press. I’ve also had other books published with them.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?


I didn’t have to. Once upon a time, I worked in Turkey as a translator and guide, just like my heroine, and I also lived in a small, restrictive community like the one I describe in The Turkish Affair. The police were aggressive and corrupt, there was political unrest, and life could be frankly dangerous. I also spent time on archaeological sites in Israel, England and France and Greece, so I also know a certain amount about artifact theft. Therefore, it was only natural to combine the things I knew and my experiences in a book. I also love solving mysteries and planting clues.

Why was writing The Turkish Affair so important to you?


I think it’s important for readers to know what life is like in other countries. Most people go to Turkey on holiday, and they see beaches, markets, international-style restaurants, a few tourist sites, and a few clubs. They never learn what life is really like for the people who live there; they hardly know that Turkey is a country with a shocking human rights record, where journalists, writers, and moviemakers constantly run the risk of being arrested. Tourists arrive in the country with set ideas, and they leave with those same ideas.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?


In the morning when I wake. I suppose the subconscious has been busy working all night, and in the morning when I wake, just like an over-active fax machine, the ideas come rolling out.

Any final words?


This is for those who wish to write: because language and imagery are such important elements in a good book, I would suggest that any potential writer read—and absorb—poetry, particularly that written between 1940 and 1980. The work is accessible, and very strong. Some poets I particularly love are: Stevie Smith, Earle Birney, Norman MacCaig, Elizabeth Bishop, Dannie Abse, Roy Fuller, Anthony Hecht, Derek Mahon, and Randall Jarell. But there many others, too, and their poems are available for free on the Internet
 
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

:Book Spotlight: A Man Devoured by His Body, Food & Work by Stuart McRobert


Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Eating Disorders & Body Image
Date Published: January 15, 2020
Publisher: CS Publishing Ltd.

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For 40-plus years the author battled with attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that are commonly labeled as symptoms of three psychological disorders: muscle dysmorphia, orthorexia, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). The consequences were grave. This book explains Stuart’s struggles and self-inquiry, and then describes the five elements of his psychological healing. Each element helped him, but their synergism profoundly improved his mental health, his relationships, his physical health, and his overall life. 

 This book isn't targeted only at male bodybuilders and other exercise enthusiasts. The great difficulties Stuart dealt with are experienced by millions of men and women who struggle with their body-image and/or eating, and/or who are tormented by perfectionism or workaholism. His success story may inspire any of those people to start their own self-inquiries that lead to their own success stories.



About the Author

Stuart has had around 1,000 articles published in print magazines. He wrote a monthly column for the UK’s leading bodybuilding magazine for 22 consecutive years. He also authored several acclaimed books including BEYOND BRAWN and BUILD MUSCLE LOSE FAT LOOK GREAT, and published his own magazine for 15 years. But his success as a writer was born out of his efforts to survive the profound struggles he had because of his psychological challenges, which resulted in suffocating distress.



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Saturday, February 22, 2020

Book Blitz: Abigail Waits by Bunny Lee



YA, Middle Grade, Bullying
Published: September 2019
Publisher: BookBaby

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Bullying-the word itself brings negative connotations. It doesn't differentiate race, gender or creed. Boundless with its grip and cruelty, the assistance of the internet leads it slithering through homes, schools, cities and countries. Meet Abigail, a victim of bullying that has hurt her mentally and physically. Hiding in the woods, away from words and hands that can hurt her is her only solace. Hannah, daughter to Cherokee Indian Chief Daniel Littlejohn, is continuing his work , after her father's passing, locating Cherokee that perished deep in a thousand acre tract of woods to reunite them with their ancestors. At midnight is when Hannah enters the woods to be undetected. The forest seems to come alive! Walking by a stream she catches a glimpse of a girl. Hannah calls out and the mysterious girl disappears. "Who is this girl and why is she here?" Running to find her Hannah sees a pair of red eyes glaring in her direction. "Is this what father meant when he warned me about coming in the woods alone? Abigail watches Hannah. "Why does this Cherokee girl beckon me? Does she mean me harm?" Exiting the woods Hannah decides to seek help and assemble a team of trusted friends. Will time run out for the girl by the stream? The author has taken a mystical tale weaved with characters depicted in Indian folklore to spread the message of hope and kindness for anyone that has been a target of cruel behavior. Abigail takes us through the kind of despair where only isolation makes her feel safe. This happens too often in real life. Memorable and heartwarming the authors message is to look beyond someone's nationality, disabilities , gender creed and see the individual for who they are.






About the Author

Bunny Lee was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. She resides in Golconda, Illinois.



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Friday, February 21, 2020

Book Blitz: A Truth About... by Cecile Correa

Non Fiction / Self-Help / Motivational / Personal Development
Date Published: 19th of January 2020 (ebook) – Paperback

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“A Truth About…” is a composition of 52 poems for nurturing your ever -growing soul. Exploring topic from mind, body and intuition to love, parenting and life goals, the book embraces the broad and wondrous spectrum of the human experience. Covering 52 keys areas of our life, this book provides one insight per week. A year of inspiring poetry.





          


Cécile Correa


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Book Blitz: Deadline by Jessica James


Book 1 Phantom Force Tactical Series
Romantic Suspense
Date Published: April 2016

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"Engaging read. Hard to put down." -- Billy Allmon, U.S. Navy SEAL (Ret)


He’s a relentless homicide detective. She’s an uncompromising journalist.

Neither desires to work together—but they’ll never uncover the truth alone.



Landing a front page headline isn’t why reporter Caitlin Sparks is investigating a string of suspicious deaths connected to the U.S. State Department. She has a personal stake in finding the killer.

Detective Blake Madison has a connection to the murders too, and will risk anything to uncover the truth. But a journalist is the last person he’d rely on to help him solve a crime—especially one whose trail of evidence leads back to him.

Joining forces becomes essential as the body count continues to grow. Someone powerful doesn't want the truth to come out—and will stop at nothing to make sure no one talks.

On the run with nowhere to turn, the couple devises a plan to expose the killer. The risk is great and the chance of success small, but the ultimate outcome is something neither one of them envisioned.


IndieBRAG Medallion Winner



Excerpt


Blake stroked her hair. “It’s okay, baby. Just a nightmare.”

“It seemed so real.” Caitlin felt his arms tighten around her, felt the power in them, and appreciated the comforting peace they provided. She had never felt so exposed, and yet so safe and secure. She turned her head and strained to see into the darkness again. “It felt like he was really here.”

“Dreams have a way of doing that.” He rocked her for a few more minutes in his soothing embrace, and then whispered in her ear. “Better?”

Caitlin took a few more deep breaths, and then tried to draw away, embarrassed. “Yes. I’m all right.” Again, she peered over her shoulder into the darkness to see if the figure would reappear. “Sorry if I woke you.”

Blake did not release his grasp. “Don’t worry. You didn’t wake me.”

Caitlin knew it was useless to struggle so she rested her head against his chest again and tried to relax. Her mind drifted back to a time when she had been intimidated by this man. Now his mere presence was reassuring. His touch, his voice, brought security and a sense of peace.

“That’s better.” He cleared his throat, but it still sounded hoarse when he talked. “I wish you would put the past behind you.”

Caitlin’s breath caught in her throat. That’s what Vince had just told her. She pulled away and regarded Blake with a troubled look. Had Vince been trying to tell her something from the other side that was merely being echoed by Blake? Was it time to move on with her life? Was she ready for that?

She lay her head down again before answering. “I’m not sure I want to yet.”

Blake’s chest rose against her cheek as he sucked in a deep, slow breath, but he didn’t speak and his grasp was unrelenting. She savored the sensation of being held by him with her head against his heart, keenly aware of the solidness of his arms and the warmth of his skin. His embrace was powerful and tender, strong and gentle.

She allowed herself to bask briefly in the peaceful, shared moment, but then feared she was being selfish. He’s probably uncomfortable and wants to go back to bed. “I’m okay,” she murmured into his chest, trying to reassure him. “You can let me go now, Blake.” She opened her eyes when he finally answered.

“I’m not sure I want to yet.”








About the Author


Jessica James’ award-winning novels are inspired by her love of the land, her belief in everlasting love, and her curiosity about the past. Her novels run the gamut from military suspense and thrillers to historical fiction, Christian fiction, and small-town Southern women's fiction.

She enjoys transporting readers to another world with complex characters and stories that stir deep emotion. Her novels appeal to both men and women and are featured in library collections all over the United States including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy. She resides in a 200-year-old house in Gettysburg, Pa.

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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Release Blitz and Giveaway: The Lost Train by Seth Crossman


Action Adventure Thriller
Date Published: 2/20/20
Publisher: Golden Acorn Press

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A former MP, Will Stattin, is called to Europe to investigate the theft of several paintings. He learns that the paintings are part of a series of nine pieces of art, all with a clue that ultimately leads to a train that disappeared from Konigsberg, Germany in late 1944 full of gold, art, and priceless artifacts. He quickly learns that he is not the only one after the paintings. Now it is a race across Europe to find the paintings and the lost train with the help of the beautiful and savvy museum agent, Giovanna Rossi, before the hunt turns even more deadly than it already has.

About the Author

Seth Crossman is a minister, speaker, and writer who lives in Upstate New York. His own adventures have taken him across the globe and stirred his desire to write fast-paced, provocative thrillers that keep readers turning the page. He has three boys that he wants to inspire with a sense of adventure and courage to overcome whatever obstacles get in their way.


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Book Blitz: Bound to Morocco by Leslie Hachtel


Morocco Series, Book One
Historical Romance
Published: June 2018

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Drugged and kidnapped, Shera finds herself on a ship to Morocco to serve the Sultan. Abandoned and alone, Shera must find a way to escape and confront the people who betrayed her. She gets help from an unlikely source: the man who kidnapped her. When their partnership turns to love, the two must face constant danger to endure. But will they ever be free?



Other books in the Morocco Series:



Tied To Morocco
Morocco Series, Book Two
Published: April 2019


Lady Catherine was kidnapped and taken to Morocco. There, she fell in love with Tazim. But, just before they were to wed, Tazim disappeared and she was told he was dead. Forced into an unwanted marriage with another, she manages to escape and make her way home to England. But Tazim is not dead. Believing Catherine betrayed him, he has vowed to exact revenge.Can they find each other again? Can their love be rekindled?




Freed From Morocco
Morocco Series, Book Three
Published: November 2019


Kidnapped and taken to Morocco, Lady Olivia prays for someone to come and save her. Help appears in the form of Tristan, the man she loves. He disguises himself as an English ambassador in order to rescue her, but he is betrayed. Now, she must find a way to help him. Can they escape? And will they ever be free from the clutches of the sultan?







About the Author


Leslie Hachtel was born in Ohio, raised in New York and has been a gypsy most of her adult life. Her various jobs, including licensed veterinary technician, caterer, horseback riding instructor for the disabled and advertising media buyer have given her a wealth of experiences. However, it has been writing that has consistently been her passion.

She is a bestselling author who has written thirteen romance novels, including ten historicals and three romantic suspense. She also sold an episode of a TV show, and had a screenplay optioned. Leslie lives in Florida with a fabulously supportive engineer husband and her new writing buddy, Annie, a terrier.


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