ISW Welcomes the Mary E. Martin Virtual Tour Followers!

Of all the forms of entertainment reading is perhaps the most intimate. Readers often have deep visceral responses to and relationships with the books they read. Authors of the past may have deeply impacted culture and readers' lives, but seemed elusive and distant to the public. In this modern age the relationship between author and reader is rapidly becoming more intimate and less distant. The internet has made the author more accessible to fans and given the reader greater influence over what ideas and whose works become popularized. Authors need and benefit greatly through reader word of mouth referrals, reviews, and yes be-friending. Readers have begun to influence writers through commenting and interacting on blogs and Facebook.

What is an Amazon Boost Campaign and why would you choose today to support Mary E. Martin?

Amazon Boost Campaign

Authors looking to get their books on the shelves of brick and mortar stores need to demonstrate sales. A majority of brick and mortar book stores look to Amazon sales rankings when determining what books they will carry. Guerrilla marketers use Amazon Boost Campaign strategies to elevate their sales and search rankings with Amazon. That translates into promotional efforts which steer traffic to Amazon.com and emphasize purchase incentives, reward packages, and giveaways.

An Amazon Boost Campaign uses social media networking, such as the virtual book tour Mary E. Martin is sponsoring today, purchase incentive giveaways, and rewards to encourage sales during a targeted time block or date. The goal of the boost campaign is to elevate the sales ranking and visibility of a book or author. A noticeable jump in sales has a tremendous impact on search ranking within Amazon.

This virtual tour is supporting a terrific author, Mary E Martin, in her Amazon boost campaign.

The hosts are sharing articles written by the author or offering blog tailored Q&A written interviews, their reviews of Mary's works, book trailers, and more in support of that effort. Today ISW is linking in with blog hosts Sue Magee, of The Book Bag and Norm Goldman of Book Pleasures on the tour.

I encourage those of you visiting this site to assist author Mary E. Martin in her Amazon boost through purchasing today. Your purchase receipt confirmation number can then be used to enter the tour's $200 Amazon gift card giveaway. Once your purchase has been validated the tour will send you a rewards access pass-code, which you can use to claim free e-books and coupon codes, donated by tour blog host sponsors.

Everything you need to know about the tour Schedule, Giveaway Incentive, and Rewards can be found on Mary's Virtual Tour page.

Social media is the author's friend, something readers don't typically think about. Sharing your enjoyment of a book could be the boost that an author needs in sales. Authors are mostly on their own in building an audience and marketing their books. Even authors with the dubious fortune of being published by traditional publishing houses. You don't see many books being marketed on television or through mainstream media because the cost of marketing is so high. Books are low cost items and have to make millions of sales to justify promotional costs and budgets. Typically, an author might see as little as pennies per sale on work that may have taken them years to complete. For that reason, authors need friends and fans that share to help them promote their work.

Mary and I recorded an interview together for BlogTalkRadio, discussing her book marketing experience over the course of her writing career to date. Mary even gets in a few questions of her own, asking me questions about what a virtual tour is, how the are organized, and about Amazon boost campaigns.

"Exploring Virtual Book Tour and Amazon Boost Strategies for Book Marketing" Ink Slinger's Whimsey on BlogTalkRadio

Check Out Books Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with inkslngrswhmz on BlogTalkRadio

Author Mary E. Martin

About Mary E. Martin

Mary E. Martin received an Honors degree in history from the University of Toronto in 1968, and in 1972, earned a law degree from Queens University. From 1973- 2000, Martin primarily practiced estate and real estate law in a small Toronto law firm. Married in 1973, she and her husband continue to live in Toronto, where they raised their three children. In 2012, she became the grandmother of two gorgeous grandchildren. In 2000, Martin retired from practicing law to become a full time writer and photographer. As a photographer she has six shows to her credit.

As an author Martin has self published two trilogies, The Osgoode Trilogy and The Trilogy of Remembrance; which have garnered several awards and attracted popular attention and praise with readers through social media recognition. Martin’s popularity has grown with readers through internet promotion activities, as a featured novelist with Wattpad, as a popular guest for podcast interviews, and as a blogger.

Martin’s literary accomplishments include:

THE OSGOODE TRILOGY:

Conduct in Question, Martin’s first novel, garnered 962,391 reads as a free featured novel through the popular social media site Wattpad.com and its mobile application.
Final Paradox received an Honorable Mention in the Hollywood Book Festival; and garnered 130,552 reads while being promoted as a featured novel through Wattpad.
A Trial of One was the winner of the Reader’s Choice Award, in both The London Book Festival, and The New York Book Festival.

THE TRILOGY OF REMEMBRANCE

The Drawing Lesson, and The Fate of Pryde, both received Honorable Mentions in the New York Book Festival.
In Dec 2014, The Drawing Lesson, the first novel in the Trilogy of Remembrance, began its promotional debut as a free featured novel through Wattpad.com and has a growing readership of 29,337.

Night Crossing, third in the Trilogy of Remembrance, was published in 2014, and has already been awarded an Honorable Mention for Literary Fiction in the 2014 London Book Festival, as well as high praise from reader and critic reviews on Amazon.com and through popular book review sites such as BlueInkReview, ForewordReviews, AvidReader.com and BookReadersHeaven. Martin has been a featured guest for the popular Internet podcast host Simon Barrett and for host Fran Lewis over BlogTalk Radio.

___________________________________

Martin continues as a writer of literary fiction, has an author’s blog, and is featured for her art commentary as blogger for Artsy.net. Martin’s author blog features themes which include tips about writing and publishing, discourse on creativity, inspiration, Jungian thought, the work of Joseph Campbell, and other creatives, as well as commentary on popular current arts related topics and works.

Welcome Empathy Tour! Whose Stuff Is This?, and author Yvonne Perry

Today I am participating in a blog tour for a new book titled Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You written by Yvonne Perry. The book has more than two dozen proven and effective ways to clear and protect your energy field. This guide offers empowering, proactive techniques to help empathic people manage energy overload. See http://whosestuffisthis.com/ for details.

Yesterday, Yvonne visited the Heart and Home Radio Show. Today, she is my guest blogger. I hope you enjoy the article she wrote about how to develop your intuition.

Being Non-Resistant Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry

By Yvonne Perry

I remember the line from Erich Segal's Love Story: "Love means never having to say you’re sorry."
That’s true because love never perceives itself as being wronged. If you never perceive attack, you will have no need to forgive, defend, retaliate, or feel sorry for yourself. What a freeing way to live! This is the embodiment of the often misunderstood feat of “turning the other cheek.” We’ve often thought that phrase meant that it is honorable to let people walk all over us. Turning the other cheek actually means standing in your place of power and letting things flow through you without even moving the needle on your “who gives a crap?” meter. You simply avoid giving away your power to anything negative. How? By paying attention to what you are experiencing at any given moment and not pushing against it. This state of allowing permits you to acknowledge your emotions—whether pleasant or not—and look for the gift or lesson each situation offers.

We resist because we are fearful or in denial. Perhaps we are afraid to feel, or worry that our emotions will take over. Quite the opposite is true. Our emotions, when stuffed, are silently taking over our health. Being resistant blinds us to possibilities and solutions and causes us to shut down. Our body may feel tight, tense, or lethargic; our emotions may feel heavy, sad, or angry. This causes us to attract more negativity and pretty soon we are stuck.

So, the next time you are about to get mad, judge, or resist, stop and accept yourself, the other person, and situation as it is. It doesn’t mean you condone it. It means you are accepting its reality instead of denying or fighting it.

If something is upsetting you, deal with it quickly. Acknowledge and release your feelings before they drag you down. That way, you can be present in every moment as you bring your attention and awareness to each thought, feeling, and activity as it is occurring. If you notice you are in a state of resistance, go to Chapter 9 of my book, Whose Stuff Is This? and do some of the exercises that bring peace of mind, balance, and well-being.

Whose Stuff Is This? Cover Art

When something upsetting is occurring for you, there are three choices you can make:

1) Resist, deny, avoid, or ignore it (not recommended!)
2) Communicate, ask for what you need, and be willing to alter what you can about the situation. If another person involved will not cooperate with your peace-making efforts, cut ties with the offender or remove yourself from the unhealthy environment. Let go of the need to change people. The only person you can change is yourself. Find a different job, move out, or do whatever you need to bring about a better living/working condition and peace of mind. You do not have to complain, suffer, or play the role of a victim. Instead, look for new opportunities and relationships with uplifting and positive people that will support and nurture you on your spiritual path.
3) Accept the situation once you have done all you can to remedy it. This does not mean you are giving up or surrendering to something you abhor. It means you have released all the negative charge surrounding the situation and come to a place of peace that will allow you to remain where you are without suffering, stuffing, or seething. This option is best employed when you are dealing with an uncontrollable situation such as the death of a loved one or the termination of a close relationship.
When you focus on cultivating and integrating a peaceful mindset into your life, the universe will guide you to the resources that support your goal of entering into the flow of who you really are. Undoubtedly, your intuition led you to this blog today. You know how to access your internal guidance!

When you are non-resistant, you feel lighter and it’s easier to be joyful and allow what you really want to flow into your life. My wish is that you will recognize your own power and live at a blissful level of unconditional, non-resistant happiness.

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Learn more about developing your intuition and progressing spiritually in Yvonne Perry’s new book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You. Learn more at http://whosestuffisthis.com/
Come along on the tour with us. Tomorrow’s blog stop will be at the Raising Intuitive Children blog. See the tour schedule at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathTour.

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Q&A Continued, With Author and Business Leader Karlin Sloan

Ink Slinger's Whimsey is Proud to Welcome the UNFEAR Tour for Author Karlin Sloan. 

Yesterday, March 7, 2011, Part One of this question and answer interview with Karlin Sloan was featured by host Yvonne Perry at her Writers In The Sky blog.
 
It is my pleasure to offer you the second half of that interview and to invite you to continue following the tour by visiting tomorrow's host, The New Book Review, for a review of UNFEAR Facing Change In and Era of Uncertainty. A full tour schedule can be found at http://bit.ly/unfearvirtualtour.

______________________

 

Karlin Sloan

Ink Slinger's Whimsey is presenting Part Two of this written interview with executive coaching guru, author Karlin Sloan.

Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, Ms. Sloan provides organization development consulting, training and executive coaching to clients the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia.  She is the author of Smarter, Faster, Better; Strategies for Effective, Enduring, and Fulfilled Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2006) and Unfear (January 2011).

As a consultant and executive coach, Sloan speaks with powerful corporate leaders every day and, over the years, has seen that many of the people she works with are living with stress and ambiguity.  Managing from a fear-based state affects an individual personally, which can lead to consequences that impede a work team and, in turn, the larger organization. The book inspires readers to make decisions out of hope and purpose, rather than out of fear.


Vonnie:  Karlin, you and your company are considered to be at the forefront of the executive coaching industry. You are an entrepreneur, an innovator, and visionary with a message of change. What are the greatest influences that have shaped your development as a leader?

Karlin: What a great question. My clients have had an enormous impact on my development as a leader. I’ve met some very talented, gifted people who have been examples of what is possible in galvanizing a team or a whole organization. I’ve been greatly influenced by pioneers in positive psychology who have opted not to study dysfunction and pathology, but have focused on what makes us happy, productive, engaged and optimistic.  I’ve endeavored to put what I’ve learned into practice in my own organization, and I think we’ve got a wonderfully collaborative and positive community as a result.

Vonnie:  How did you come to the concept of UNFEAR and how were the four practices developed?

Karlin:  I had an epiphany one day when I was doing research on leadership and resilience, specifically studying the leadership case study of Earnest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer who was foiled in his efforts to cross the continent on dogsled in 1914.  I was trying to capture in writing the practices that enabled him to lead his team through a truly harrowing journey of shipwreck and survival, and I wrote out an early version of the four practices of UNFEAR. I tried them out with clients and found they really fit anyone leading in uncertain times.

Vonnie:  What kind of fruit have you seen as a result of executives practicing the four practices of UNFEAR?  What does a company look like when its leaders work together following the four practices?


Karlin:  The energy in those organizations is infectious. People are engaged, excited about their contribution to something larger than themselves. You can feel it, and you hear it immediately when you walk in the door because people are talking about the business from a positive perspective.  We spend so much of our lives at work – and we have a choice to build organizations that add to our lives and the lives of our customers and our communities.

Vonnie:  As a consultant your clients are executive leaders, upper management seeking leadership development programs and executive coaching.  What does your book offer the employee? How can the four practices of UNFEAR be used by employees seeking more out of their professional life? How might someone that is not currently in a position of leadership use your book and the four practices of UNFEAR to elevate themselves within a company?

Karlin: UNFEAR is really for everyone. What I believe is that leadership is at every level of an organization. That mantle no longer belongs only to those at the top. No one person holds all the cards in our complex, interdependent organizations, and we all need to take charge of ourselves and the world that we influence. UNFEAR is something that helps everyone around us. I’ve had people tell me what an impact it’s made on their family to use the four practices – and I find that so gratifying!

Vonnie:  How have you used the four practices of UNFEAR in your own business, as CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company?

Karlin:  We just completed our strategic planning retreat to prepare for 2011, and we were able to use the four practices to evaluate how we’ve done in the past year and to define what we want to do differently in the next year. I think they are a reminder for us to stick to our values and to keep ourselves healthy as an organization, and also as individuals.

Vonnie:  If there is one message, out of the many in your book, that you hope the reading audience will absorb, what would it be?

Karlin: That wonderful things are possible when we set our minds in the right direction! We all have the capacity to shift ourselves out of unproductive, fearful states into fulfilling, empowered states from which we can lead ourselves and others. The world needs us to be at our best in order to meet the challenges we face, and the first step is to shift into UNFEAR.

____________________

Thank you for joining our tour and visiting this site. 

Tomorrow's host, The New Book Review, offers a review of UNFEAR Facing Change In and Era of Uncertainty. A full tour schedule can be found at http://bit.ly/unfearvirtualtour.

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UNFEAR Tour Launches into the Blog-o-sphere!

Business Leader Releases 

UNFEAR –Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty
Leadership Development Expert Karlin Sloan Celebrates Book with Virtual Tour

Chicago, IL March, 2011, — UNFEAR - Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty (ISBN: 9781452885858,) had its official book launch on January 20, 2011. The book’s release is being followed by a virtual book tour on the Internet,  launched on March 1, 2011, from Karlin Sloan's Success TV blog with a discussion provoking article about future shock and facing change in an era of uncertainty. March 2, 2011, the UNFEAR Tour moves on its way to the Internet site of ASuccessfulWoman.com with an article about "Three Steps to Being Complaint Free"

This book and the UNFEAR virtual tour come at a time when people across the U.S. live in fear of unemployment, the unpredictable economy and the threat of terrorism and political unrest in the middle east that has a global scale impact.  Author, CEO, and leadership development expert Karlin Sloan addresses how to combat these worries in UNFEAR: Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty.
As a consultant and executive coach, Sloan speaks with powerful corporate leaders every day and, over the years, has seen that many of the people she works with are living with stress and ambiguity.  Managing from a fear-based state affects an individual personally, which can lead to consequences that impede a work team and, in turn, the larger organization. The book inspires readers to make decisions out of hope and purpose, rather than out of fear.

"Many of the assertive, intelligent people I come into contact with are letting fear cripple their decision-making skills," says Sloan. "I wanted to write a book that provides them with useful tools to reduce fear-based behaviors, to inspire performance, and to align their team or greater organization around a larger purpose." 

Using examples from business leaders, including P&G, Walmart, Yahoo!, and LG Electronics, Sloan offers clear, effective, and practical strategies that enhance teamwork and leadership effectiveness regardless of economic uncertainty.

 I just finished my first reading of UNFEAR and I'm deeply moved.  Karlin has done an amazing job of weaving and synthesizing important ideas and concepts in ways that support looking at ourselves, our organizations and our world in fresh, creative ways. UNFEAR is an inspiring and practical guide to facing our fears and taking on creating a world that we want to live in. - Marc Lesser, author of LESS: Accomplishing More by Doing Less

Karlin Sloan’s UNFEAR virtual tour will travel the Internet offering question-and-answer written and radio interviews with the author, blog articles, reviews, book excerpts, and more.  Each tour stop will explore the concept of UNFEAR, and the four practices taught by Karlin Sloan & Company to executive leaders around the world.  The Karlin Sloan virtual tour for UNFEAR is being produced by Ink Slinger's Whimsey and Writers in the Sky. Visit http://bit.ly/unfearvirtualtour  for further information and a tour schedule.

Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, a leadership development firm providing development consultation for national and multinational organizations seeking to advance through enhanced training and executive coaching.  Karlin holds a BA from Mills College, an MA in clinical psychology from the Professional School of Psychology in San Francisco, and executive coach certification through the William James Institute Center for Executive Coaching.




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WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Virtual Tour is coming our way!

The virtual tour for Whose Stuff Is This? will be coming our way on March 25, 2011. I thought you might like a little advance notice and to learn more about the author, my personal friend Yvonne Perry, owner of Writers In the Sky Creative Writing Services.

Media Release

Nashville Author Shares Methods to Help Highly-sensitive People Shield Themselves from Detrimental Energy

Summary: A highly-sensitive empath launches a book, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You, with ways to stay emotionally healthy in am over-stimulating world.

NASHVILLE, TN February 24, 2010 — Humans are connected in many ways: the air we breathe, our basic needs and physiology, and energetically/spiritually. No one feels the power of this connection more than the energy-sensitive people, known as empaths, who unknowingly pick up on the detrimental thoughts, feelings, and even the illnesses of others and their environment. Many carry this negativity as if it were their own. In fact, some empaths are so burdened with the energy of others, they are no longer aware of what their own energy feels like. Mysterious illnesses, anxiety attacks, hearing voices, seeing shadows, feeling negative, fearful, anger, or having an impending sense of dread,— you name it, they feel it. And most empathic people have no idea where this stuff is coming from.

“Around your physical body, there is a magnetic shield of energy known as your aura. Its purpose is to provide protection and gather energy and information as you interface with your environment. In grade school, we were taught to keep our hands to ourselves. The same is true with the energy field surrounding our body,” writes Nashville author Yvonne Perry in her new book, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You.“Ideally, your energy field should be kept two to three feet from your body, but many untrained empaths unknowingly allow their aura to extend and blend with the energy fields of others who have lax boundaries around their auras. When empathic people tap into the thoughts or emotional impulses of another person, the intuitive gift of empathy (much stronger than heart-felt compassion) reaches in and absorbs energy in an effort to heal or ‘fix’ whatever is out of sync. In doing so, the empath can become contaminated with unhealthy energy. Unfortunately, most of them do not know how to clear the psychic clutter in their auric field.”

Yvonne is joined by psychotherapist Dr. Caron B. Goode, ED.D., NCC, DAPA to provide a fresh perspective on the psychological aspect of empathy and intuition. “Some of the characteristics that empaths display can also be diagnosed as ADD, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, or clinical depression,” says Caron. “Most doctors and counselors are not aware that empathy fatigue exists, much less how to treat it, but this intuitive overload is a very real problem to energy-sensitive people.” Caron is the author of The Art & Science of Coaching Parents, Raising Intuitive Children, and Kids Who See Ghosts - Guide Them Through Their Fears.

“Yvonne Perry's book thoroughly explains the process of being an empath in today's world. She provides cognitive, emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual explanations for the origin of deep empathy, while sharing her own amazing story and the stories of others,” says transformational coach Gini Grey. “This book offers an array of powerful techniques to help empathic people create healthy boundaries, stay balanced, and release other people's energy and emotions from their personal space. This book is a must read for anyone and everyone who is sensitive to the thoughts, moods and problems of those around them.” Gini is the author of FROM CHAOS TO CALM: How to Shift Unhealthy Stress Patterns and Create Your Own Balance in Life.

About:
Yvonne is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. For years she was enmeshed with the dogma of religion that her family and church leaders passed down to her. Before she had a label to put on her empathetic ability, she called herself an intercessor. While praying for others she empathically took on their suffering until it severely challenged her emotional and physical health. Embracing a totally different path and belief system, she now openly uses the gift of empathy to help others heal their lives. http://WhoseStuffIsThis.com 
 
###
Contact:
Yvonne Perry
Phone: (615) 415-9861
Email: Yvonne@WhoseStuffIsThis.com
Website: http://WhoseStuffIsThis.com

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For the Love of St. Nick

Merry Christmas!

I have a special bonus treat for everyone that has been following Garasamo Maccagnone's St. John of the Midfield virtual tour. I had intended to post my review of For the Love of St. Nick, a Christmas story by Garasamo Maccagnone. Instead, I have been moved by Mac's story, to dedicate this post to the men and women of the US Armed forces at home and abroad, by sharing an excerpt from the book.

Told from a narrative perspective by the oldest of two sons, For the love of St. Nick is a story of faith and love that is perfect for Christmas. Garasamo once again captures the experience and joy of childhood in this moving story of brotherly love and faith.  I was transported to Christmas past, Michigan winters, childhood fears and faith.


Author: Garasamo Maccagnone

Book Title: For the Love of St. Nick
ISBN-10: 1439210128
ISBN-13: 978-1439210123
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (October 7, 2008)
Link to purchase

Synopsis:
Two boys who have lost their mother tragically, worry they'll never see their father,a Naval Commander, after he embarks on a secret mission with the United States military.


For the Love of St. Nick, Excerpt: Page 31-33

Before we could go, all the men insisted we make snow angels in the clearing. That's when Lieutenant Morrison told the group, "Make em big so we can see em from the sky. It's the first thing we'll look for when we return." While the men weren't paying attention to us, Lieutenant Morrison leaned over on his side and waited for Johnny and me to finish making our angels.


"Boys, boys," he said twice in order to get our attention. Johnny and I popped up to see what he wanted to say to us. Lieutenant Morrison bit his lip, then spoke to us. "I'm bringing him home to you. Don't worry. He'll be home before Christmas I promise."


"You promise?" I asked.


"Scouts honor?" Johnny inquisitively asked.


"Yes, yes, scouts honor."


"How will we know he's close?"


"I'll send you a signal."


"What kind of signal?"


"I'm going to buzz your cabin."


"What does that mean?"


Lieutenant Morrison turned back to see if the other men were listening. Realizing they were not, he turned back to us and said, "You"ll know when he's near. I'm going to fly so low, it'll sound like a freight train coming through the middle of your cabin."


"Pinky promise?" Johnny asked. Lieutenant Morrison put out his pinky. The three of us joined our pinky fingers in a deal-making pact.


"Pinky promise. You boys got a deal," said Lieutenant Morrison.

**************

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Welcome to Day Four of the St. John of the Midfield Virtual Tour

Happy Holidays!
I especially want to offer a warm welcome to the followers of the St. John of the Midfield virtual tour and author Garasamo Maccagnone.

This is day four of Mac's virtual tour and if you haven't had a chance to visit the other stops you really need to go check them out. Every stop is unique and well worth the click.

Midfield Tour Schedule   

And now. . .
It is my distinct pleasure to present to you, St. John of the Midfield, a review . . . by me, Vonnie Faroqui.

Photo right: Author Garasamo Maccagnone

Author: Garasamo Maccagnone
Book Title: St. John of the Midfield
Genre: Sports Fiction - Adult
ISBN-10: 1608607925
ISBN-13: 978-1608607921
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Author Site:  http://garasamomaccagnone.com/

Link to purchase 


Reviewed by: Vonnie Faroqui for WITS





St. John of the Midfield Scores!

The saying goes “Sometimes in soccer you have to score goals.” Well Mac, you did it. St John of the Midfield is in the net.

Garasamo Maccagnone, is one of the best authors I have ever read. He has a talent that is remarkable and St. John of the Midfield doesn’t disappoint.

I think what I like best about Mac’s writing and St. John of the Midfield in particular, is that it is so . . . manly. There is nothing flat, politically correct or whitewashed about a Maccagnone story. He writes with depth and raw humanity. I like being in the head of his characters. As alien as the male perspective is for me, the realism is comfortingly honest. I don’t feel lied to.

It doesn’t matter that the story line might be shocking or disconcertingly painful, the characters and situations ring with truth. I laugh with the Santini Brothers in the kitchen as they tease their boy, Luca. I see Frankie call out and Mario shadowbox the dance of the heavyweights. Later, I feel Mario’s guilt and fear. I believe in Bobo. I suffer with Mario and I rage with Frankie.

Garasamo Maccagnone writes life into his stories; from the littlest observation –the waitress “with rugged facial skin like the underbelly of a rhino,—“to the bigger issues of ego gratification, responsibility and ethics. Mac writes it all in, Life and all of its dirty, selfish, poignant, angry, triumphant, beautiful, heartbreaking confusion, and he does it again with St. John of the Midfield.

This book is easily finished in one sitting, it is that good. I recommend it as a great gift for the reading men in your life, husbands, fathers, brothers, grown sons, and nephews. Women will love it too. One thing is for certain, you will never forget the character of Bobo, the true St. John of the Midfield.

Synopsis
St John of the Midfield
World-class soccer star Bobo Stoikov makes an escape from communist Bulgaria and finds his way to America. Landing a job as a youth soccer coach, Bobo builds a reputation for himself as a successful, yet unorthodox, coach who propels his team to the championship title. But things go far beyond the soccer field when arch rival Sonny Christopher seeks to destroy Bobo's reputation, along with that of his best player and the player's father, Mario. Before he realizes how serious the situation is, Bobo finds himself in sudden death and soon realizes there is more at stake than just a soccer game.

Next Tour Stop . . .

December 20, 2010, Day five, Garasamo Maccagnone will be joining Suzanne Lieurance, of The Working Writer's Coach, for a podcast interview you won't want to miss. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @WritersCoach


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St. John of the Midfield, virtual tour begins TODAY!

St. John of the Midfield, virtual tour begins on December 16, 2010, and runs through Christmas day, December 25, 2010, with every stop offering unique content.

Author: Garasamo Maccagnone
Book Title: St. John of the Midfield 

Genre: Sports Fiction - Adult
ISBN-10: 1608607925
ISBN-13: 978-1608607921
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Release Date: November 2010
Tour Date: December 16-25, 2010
Link to purchase

Garasamo Maccagnone has enjoyed writing since the age of sixteen. He is inspired by the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, and Jack London, and is currently working on his next book, The Fish and the Fox. Garasamo has owned a soccer club and coached and trained players for over twenty years. He lives with his wife, Vicki, and his three children, Garrett, Anthony and Sophia, in Shelby Township, Michigan, where his daughter plays soccer for the Michigan Gators.

ST John of the Midfield . . .

World-class soccer star Bobo Stoikov makes an escape from communist Bulgaria and finds his way to America. Landing a job as a youth soccer coach, Bobo builds a reputation for himself as a successful, yet unorthodox, coach who propels his team to the championship title. But things go far beyond the soccer field when arch rival Sonny Christopher seeks to destroy Bobo's reputation, along with that of his best player and the player's father, Mario. Before he realizes how serious the situation is, Bobo finds himself in sudden death and soon realizes there is more at stake than just a soccer game.

Link to Tour Schedule

St. John of the Midfield Virtual Tour Announcement

Writers in the Sky authors' assistant, Vonnie Faroqui, invites readers to join WITS for a virtual tour celebrating Garasamo Maccagnone's release of St. John of the Midfield.

Tour Schedule


St. John of the Midfield, virtual tour begins on December 16, 2010, and runs through Christmas day, December 25, 2010, with every stop offering unique content.

December 16, 2010, Day one of the tour will be hosted by Irene Watson, of Blogging Authors, at www.bloggingauthors.com. Blogging Authors will host an author written article, "Prodigy Syndrome." Follow this blogger on Twitter: @bloggingauthors.

December 17, 2010, Day two, host Karen Pierce Gonzalez of Folkheart Press, http://folkheartpressblog.blogspot.com hosts a Q&A written interview. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @folkheartpress

December 18, 2010, Day three,  Dallas Woodburn of http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com hosts an article about using YouTube for promotions and the book trailer for St. John of the Midfield. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @DallasWoodburn.

December 19, 2010, Day four, Vonnie Faroqui will post a review of St. John of the Midfield, at her blog  http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @inkslngrswhmz

December 20, 2010, Day five, Garasamo Maccagnone will be joining Suzanne Lieurance, of The Working Writer's Coach, for a podcast interview you won't want to miss. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @WritersCoach

December 21, 2010, Day six, Carolyn Howard-Johnson of The New Book Review will host a Midfield review written by Irfan Faroqui. Follow this blog on Twitter: @frugalbookpromo

December 22, 2010, Day seven, Lisa Jackson hosts a Q&A written interview with Garasamo Maccagnone at http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @lisajjackson

December 23, 2010, Day eight, Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz will host an excerpt from the book and a Q&A written interview at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @pennyehrenkranz

December 24, 2010, Day nine of the tour visits Writers In The Sky Podcast , for an author interview between Garasamo Maccagnone and virtual tour manager Vonnie Faroqui. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @writersinthesky

December 25,2010, Merry Christmas! We have a special bonus stop for everyone who has followed Garasamo’s tour.
Vonnie Faroqui, http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com,
offers an excerpt from, For the Love of St. Nick, a Christmas short story written by Garasamo Maccagnone. Follow this blogger on Twitter: @inkslngrswhmz

27 Things Book Review

Today I would like to give a warm welcome to Tisha Morris and our friends following the virtual tour for
27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home, Tisha's new book.

This is Tisha's first virtual tour and with 36 stops to make between May 11 and June 11, 2010, the tour is winding it's way across oceans. Yesterday, May 27, the tour was a guest on The Wheel of Life Podcast with Shelagh Jones http://www.thewheeloflife.org/.

Ours will be stop 21 in the tour and by all accounts 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home, is a real winner.

First time author Tisha Morris offers the reader a modern and practical approach to using the ancient tradition of feng shui. From introduction to final page Tisha approaches her topic without the affectation or rhetoric commonly found in books on feng shui. She doesn’t oversell the concepts but instead walks you through 27 Things with the assumption that having picked the book up you inherently know the principles behind feng shui are sound.

Tisha brings her education as an interior designer and her experience as a certified life coach into play as she clearly relates the art of feng shui to the reader. She offers solid advice on clearing clutter and with each subsequent chapter clear, practical advice on how to implement the feng shui principles to make improvements, change the flow of energy and ultimately manifest desires. Tisha echoes centuries of mothers by telling us to clean out the closet and keep doorways clear but, more importantly, she explains why these actions are necessary in relation to how energy flows in our homes, lives and in order for energy shifts and healing to occur. This is a strong practical guide book. The author has a pleasant writing style, presents the material in an easy manner and speaks to our core issues in a non threatening way. 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home includes a chapter about creating a vision board, information on the Bagua map, easy to follow advice on using feng shui “cures,” and closes with a plan to implement the 27 Things.

For those readers unfamiliar with feng shui practices Tisha explains just enough about the concepts to allow a lay practitioner to receive solid reward for their time investment when applying the techniques, without planting confusion about the ins and outs of feng shui itself. For readers who have already been exposed to the art and mystery of feng shui, the author assists by leaving out confusing or contradictory information and the superstitions which often impede implementation of an action plan and the needed changes. She writes with confidence that following the feng shui principles and applying these techniques will have a powerful healing impact and her confidence is transferred to the reader.

After reviewing this book I am confident that I will be able to bring about some significant changes in my own life by following the 27 things that Tisha Morris recommends. I am also convinced that I could do so without spending a dime, simply using my current possessions in new ways or by letting go of things I no longer need. I recommend 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home to anyone who wants to employ feng shui without becoming mired in research to do so. Tisha has done the home work for us and lays out the most important pieces in an easy to understand and follow format.

This is one feng shui book you will pull off the shelf time and again. You are going to want to follow this tour on to the next stop where Douglas H. Melloy will air an interview with Tisha on Aware Talk Radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aware

Don't forget to purchase your copy of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home, by author, Tisha Morris, available now at Amazon.com

ISBN: 978-1-59652-567-2

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company 2010

Price: $9.99

Also available with Barnes&Noble book sellers, Borders and Indie Bound.

Those of you that are following, looking for more great feng shui information from our guest will enjoy her new iPhone App, Feng Shui Bagua Map, By Tisha Morris already has a 5 star rating with iPhone users.

I've got it and it is the perfect companion to go with Tisha's book!

Reviewed by Vonne Faroqui