Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 138
April 5, 2023
Blog Tour: AHHA...GUIDE TO THE GOLDEN AGE: HOW TO PREPARE FOR VERY BIG CHANGES ON OUR VERY TINY PLANET by D N D
Ahha...Guide to the Golden Age:
How to Prepare for Very Big Changes on Our VeryTiny Planet
by D N D
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GENRE: BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Inspiration &Personal Growth
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BLURB:
ThisAhha...Guide to the Golden Age with the secondary title How to Prepare for VeryBig Changes on our Very Tiny Planet is a mythic journey and a joy ride ofdiscovery based on its foundational 3 Law and 10 Step vertical structure, witheach level describing a rising level of consciousness. It’s actually exactlywhat the two titles express. Like any good story (though it’s a non fiction, itstill remains the unfolding story of the universe and Us...here on motherEarth), it has its ‘good guys and bad guys’ and naturally ascends to itsclimax, with its minor 'AhHa' moments as well as major ‘AhHa’ moments, leadingto perhaps scintillating insights and even an epiphany or two (depending on theprevailing winds), along with quite few very bad jokes and anecdotes,triggering mild chuckles or even more serious laughter on its journey...”To TheStars”….
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Excerpt One:
“Maybe the whales would be ok staying in the water”
How to begin? Since this is only my second book I can onlyguarantee one thing, it will definitely not hit the NY Times best seller listanytime soon,(ok let's not jinx it just in case). In fact I don’t know if thiswill even make it into a bookstore, but it should do well in the streets andthe flea markets and the alleys, well maybe not there. I have no clue where itwill end up. But it doesn’t matter. After my life of 70 years this is mylegacy, good, bad, ugly or indifferent. I also have no highly respected,eloquent and world known personality to write this forward for me. I’m stuckwith me. And I’m still not sure how to begin it. Maybe I’m experiencing‘writer’s block’ or maybe I just can’t write. That’s it, I'm not a writer. Whatdo you expect? I'm only a hippy philosopher. Thank God I got that off my chest.
So let's try again. Let this be my guiding thought as I workmy way through this thing.... that I will call a book.(who reads books anymoreanyways?) Truth is I am a nobody. Yes I have been a hippy/artist most of myadult life, maybe at times even a hipster, but that’s just merely a very hiphippy. I have not accomplished a lot in life, in fact I haven’t accomplishedanything, and may not succeed in finishing this book either. But though I am anobody, I am definitely beginning to realize that this ‘nobody’ is reallyeverybody. Everybody means every being, like “everything...all of it”, and Iknow no one will believe me, but I’m saying it anyway, so there. Some peoplecall it the universe. I don’t think I have a big enough ego to compare myselfto the universe. Then again the truth is, that’s exactly what I am, and thisincludes you all too. Some people even use that dreaded... G.. word. My tinylittle individual self is all selves, as significant and insignificant as everyother being in the world. This is the whole premise of this writing. All uslittle beings from the tiniest quarks and leprechauns (whoops leptons) tohumans and super galaxies are all One Vast Being.... Us...Now... Here. So yes Iam, in reality indeed the universe, and I should have an ego the same size inorder to believe it. It’s called the Law of One which I will get into inChapter 1. I am still stuck in this forward and it kind of feels like I amgoing more backwards, then forward, but never mind, forwards or backwards wekeep on keeping on.
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GUEST POST
What will people gain from reading my book, besides betterdigestion(including less gas) and good crypto buying tips ?
A complicated question which deserves anequally complicated answer, I only hope I am up for the challenge, so here goes....BuyXRP(Ripple), XLM(Stellar) and any of the other five ISO 20022 standardcompliant digital coins. There, now that we have that nonsense out of the way(not really, this may be one of the best tips you will get to make good moneyin spring of 2023, if you do your research you will understand what I ampointing to).(Also buy silver and Vietnamese dong in preparation for the comingnew economic system QFS and the re-valuation of all world currencies,big profitis very possible)
But I think my focus is supposed to be onmy book “AhHa...Guide To The Golden Age” so let me smoothly segue into thismaterial. People are going to gain a lot from reading my book. So buy italready. I think that just about sums it up.
Well ok what else can I add ? I may berunning out of ideas...Oh ya, read it if you are curious about our entry intoour new Golden Age. This opportunity only comes every 25920 years(give or take)based on the planet's “Precession of the Equinox”, its movement through theZodiac as it retrogrades backwards from astrological signs from the previousAge of Pieces, into our very soon to be Age of Aquarius. Ah but not many peopleare going to understand this part, so forget I even mentioned it. Maybe itsbetter if I can just lay out the benefits in a stream of bullet points, so hangon while I let loose. But let me just add before I lay it all at your feet,like I mentioned above concerning “research” into crypto, (which I actuallyhave done and wish others great good fortune in crypto buying.) I want othersto be abundant and wealthy not only materially,financially but intellectually,artistically and most importantly spiritually. You see that's the reason I didmy own research into preparing for the “Golden Age”, and writing the book. Iwant all of us to have “It All”, to understand it all (well to understand someof what the Universe actually is) and to drink deeply from the “Great Well”three main aspects of life I personally am committedto....meditation....appreciation....
celebration... I wantus all to celebrate with utter abandon, using all the arts (song and dance,colours and composition, and comedy and laughter) and scientific and spiritualtechnologies. I want it all and I want everyone else to have it all. So I amhoping this dear readers, that each of us can gain from reading thiscurious”AhHa..” book of mine (myself included), any of the followingbenefits....
- growingunderstanding of it all
- deepeningappreciation of it all
- lotsof chuckles and even outright serious guffaws
- understandingbetter who we are,where we are and why we are
- a deepenjoyment of the cosmic play taking place on Earth
- insightsinto the why and wherefore of so called 'Evil'
- agrowing attitude of gratitude
- manybrilliant insights by equally brilliant writers,thinkers,scientists andspiritual pioneers
- lotsof photos,images,diagrams to spice things up and give me something to do
- evenmore jokes in the most appropriate chapters, the best I could find on theinternet
- acertain amount of 'High philosophizing” by myself and others
- anunderstanding of the “Cosmic Joke” and its punchline
- andlots and lots of words flowing in a continuous stream,unabated,unfiltered,uncompromising and perhaps even unknown if no one gets thebook, all in this 473 page book with a really neat cover and a kind of simpleapproach A B C...1 2 3
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- DN D
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Deva NeallDepodesta has been a student of life and the arts for many decades. Born in1949 in Montreal, Quebec he has been on a life journey of the arts from initialstudies at Concordia University - BA communication arts, courses in music, 2years. further studies in music, acting, theatre and production. This wasfollowed over the years with further studies in music, video/filmproduction, media, education, music technology at Capilano College,VancouverCommunity College,Institute of Communication Arts.There was also ongoingpersonal study in many aspects of music,theory, harmony, composition, instruments/voice. He has worked in the followingarts :, music, performing, acting, theatre, film, radio and video/film.in manydifferent roles as performer, composer, writer, actor, voiceover .This web siteis basically his more integral vision oflife as understood at this time in his life 2017. It includes his many interests in the arts specifically music, acting, theatre, videoetc. acting promos, written music etc and video/photos in various productions .But it is the integral visionperspective that he is most focused on. It is explained in the three blogs he has written and willadd to in the near future.
Connect with the author
WEBSITEhttps://starship7oneness.com/
INSTAGRAM@guidetothegoldenage
Get Your Copy Of Ahha…Guide to the Golden Age
AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228874726
AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228874726
BOOKTOPIA https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228874720
INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/ahha-guide-to-the-golden/9780228874720-item.html
BARNES &NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ahha-guide-to-the-golden-age-dnd/1142113541
BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Ahha-Guide-the-Golden-Age-Dnd/9780228874720
WALMART https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228874720
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GIVEAWAY :
D N D will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes andNoble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blast: MOODY MOODY CARS by Eileen Kennedy-Moore
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Freewheeling! Full of feelings! Traveling near and far. HONK if you see me. I'm a moody moody car!
Hop in and ride along as our auto-friends personify the twists and turns of feelings. This rhyming picture book shares various expressive classic cars and invites readers to figure out the emotions, from excited to angry and more, behind the facial expressions. This is a playful, approachable way to teach kids about feelings and emotions and to develop an essential skill as kids travel along in their social world.
An answer key in the back to help readers identify all of these moody, moody cars; included are a 1956 Jaguar XK-0, a 1948 Delahaye, a 1959 Buick Electra, a 1965 A.C. Cobra, a 1938 Delage Coupe, a 1956 Buick Centurion, a 1955 Indianapolis, a 1938 Bugatti 57SC, a 1939 Buick Model 40, and a 1929 DuPont LeMans.
Why Kids Need Moody Moody Cars
Young children deal with many of the same emotions that adults do. Children get angry, sad, frustrated, nervous, happy, or embarrassed, but they often don't have the words to talk about how they're feeling. Instead, they sometimes act out these emotions in very physical and inappropriate ways.
Parents and teachers can use Moody Moody Cars to help their children understand and express their emotions in healthy ways.
Being able to read emotions in ourselves and others is like having a GPS for life.
Research tells us that children who are better at understanding facial expressions of emotions are also:
Better liked by their peers
Less likely to act out aggressively, and they
Do better in school.
One study found that children's ability to interpret facial emotions at five years of age predicts how well they do socially and academically--even four years later (Izard et al. 2001).
Research also shows that talking about feelings, practicing labeling them, and discussing their causes can help children increase their understanding of emotions in themselves and others (Yuill & Little, 2018).
In this quirky, joyful picture book, classic automobiles come alive to express a range of feelings, from excited to angry. Young readers, their parents, and teachers can simply admire some really cool cars, or they can also dive deeper into the engine of emotional understanding that helps drive us all toward personal well-being, healthy relationships, and educational progress.
About the Author:Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, is an author and clinical psychologist, based in Princeton, NJ. Her most recent books for children are Moody Moody Cars and Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to Making and Keeping Friends (co-authored with Christine McLaughlin). She has also written or co-authored four books for parents: Kid Confidence, Smart Parenting for Smart Kids, The Unwritten Rules of Friendship, and What’s My Child Thinking? She is the professor for an audio-video series from The Great Courses, called Raising Emotionally and Socially Healthy Kids.
A trusted expert on parenting and child development, Dr. Kennedy-Moore serves on the advisory board for Parents magazine, and her blog, Growing Friendships on Psychology Today, has over 4 million views.
Dr. Kennedy-Moore has been a featured guest on Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, Good Day Philadelphia, and dozens of major radio shows and podcasts. She has been interviewed and quoted in numerous newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Parents, Real Simple, Working Mother, and Woman's Day.
She and her husband have four children.
Website
Dr. Friendtastic
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 4, 2023
Blog Tour: RAVEN, ROMDA, AND RAVAI: MALKETH AND THE UNDEAD, VOL. 2 by Dave Maruszewski
Raven, Romda and Ravai: Malketh and theUndead, Vol.2
by Dave Maruszewski
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GENRE: Middle Grade, Fantasy
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BLURB:
Raven, Romda and Ravai are settling into their new knightly dutieswell. With the Dark Beast defeated, their normal tasks almost seem mundane.
Amidstthe boredom, Ravai asks, “Why does no one talk about villains from the past?”
Romdareasons, “What would be the point?”
Thereis a point. Even though villains may have been defeated in the past, they maystill be around, waiting in the background ready to resurface once again.
Malkethhas returned to the kingdom, but something is different about him this time. Heis back with an entire army … an entire army of undead soldiers!
“Whetheryou want to read this aloud to your little one or let them explore this magicalworld on their own, parents can rest assured that this second installment inthe Raven, Romda, and Ravai series will be a playful, whimsical addition totheir bookshelves.” –The Book Review Directory
“…the squires are appealing characters, as is their comical banter.” - Blue InkReview
Agreat story for the fantasy loving youth, this adventure will appeal to thosewho like action and humor in an easy reading environment.
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Excerpt One:
They keep going until they hear a large rumble. A small mass of rocks fall to theground. The three look up and see agigantic figurine of a man holding a giant emerald. Romda puts her lantern up to the emerald, andthe light refracts and bounces off the many faces such that the whole room islit. This brings relief to the three.
Unfortunately, they notice something else. When the room comes up from the dark, Raven,Romda and Ravai notice all these eyes staring at them. The undead are here. The three are surrounded.
Perplexed, Raven, Romda and Ravai freeze. They are scared. However, the entire horde of undead does notapproach them. What is wrong withthem? What do they want?
At last, the undead begin to slowly stir. They begin to walk slowly. At first they seem to move in randomdirections. Then, a pattern to theirmotion becomes apparent. They move about,revealing an opening in their numbers in the shape of a small circle. That opening reveals a hooded figure. The hooded figure says…
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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DaveMaruszewski is blessed with a great family. He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son.
He strives todevelop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well asentertaining to youths and adults. TheRaven, Romda and Ravai books are targeted especially for children who shy awayfrom reading. His stories are createdfrom an accumulation of experience from careers/backgrounds as a physicist,engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer.
In betweenwriting stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com),Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with hisfamily.
Book: www.ravenromdaandravai.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dave-Maruszewski-Books-100693982454237/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21946064.Dave_Maruszewski
NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/publisher/84200
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Maruszewski/e/B09KQLN57W
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GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopterwill win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: WIZARD WAR by Paul Smith
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Wizard War is the story of Maxwell, who discovers he has magical powers. He is trained by the council of wizards who provide Maxwell with his introduction to magic and the wizarding world while teaching him about the perils of dark magic.
Read an Excerpt
Maxwell met with Olga, outside on the bastion grounds. She indicated that her spells required the ample space.
“BAHAMUT!” she immediately called out.
Maxwell was so surprised he responded by calling out “TRIXIE!”
Trixie appeared in front of Maxwell. After she quickly assessed the situation, she swapped her red pointed hat for a five-star general’s helmet. With a tweet on her whistle, an entire battalion of dragon-fighting gnomes appeared and started getting their anti-dragon artillery set up. Bahamut, a smoke-grey dragon with battle scars, sat there with a smile on his face.
Trixie stood, still with her arm in the air, ready to give the order to fire when Olga said, “Maxwell, stand down. Bahamut wants to talk to you.”
Maxwell, knowing that Olga and he were to duel today, was reluctant to have the gnome army stand down. “Have your dragon stand down first,” he said.
Bahamut roared, “I AM NO ONE’S DRAGON!” while stamping his mighty foot, creating a miniature earthquake. Some of the gnomes fell over. Scattering quickly, the gnomes were readying themselves to counter-attack when Maxwell asked them to stand down, explaining, “The dragon could have barbecued us by now.”
Trixie lowered her arm carefully and the gnomes slowly stood down. Olga let out a sigh of relief, standing there in her light pink robes.
About the Author:
Paul Smith is an author who was born and raised in British Columbia and now lives in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is an avid dog lover and former nurse who now lives with PTSD.http://www.twitter.com/paulsmith82book
http://www.instagram.com/paulsmithbooks
https://amazon.com/dp/0228889596
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April 3, 2023
Blog Tour: THE GIVING BACK TREE by Tarky Lee
The Giving Back Tree
by Tarky Lee
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GENRE: Children's (and all ages)
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BLURB:
The Giving Back Tree is an original take on theclassic tale of a tree who gave everything. Love is a healing force in thistender and magical story that reminds us the end is also a new beginning. We CANgrow back.
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EXCERPT
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Review:
Story was a lovely ode between aboy and his tree. As a boy, he was happy. Then he became a man and so becameless happy. The tree gave and gave and gave until there was literally nothingleft. Then the boy became an old man and the tree had nothing else to give. Itwas a sad circle of life.Was this the end of the tree?
The linear drawings were good.Between the word and the drawings, this whole thing felt like poetic art. Softand sensitive, this was a nice story of regeneration and rebirth.
“You loved me in a place I thoughtwas gone. I was a whole beautiful tree before so much was taken from me.”
A sweet story about the power oflove and happiness.
“The end is a new beginning.”
Rating:4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
LINKS:
To purchase on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Back-Tree-Tarky-Lee-ebook/dp/B0BQRD8GCK/
To purchase on Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-giving-back-tree-tarky-lee/1142866984
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tarky Lee is an Oakland, California based queerartist, writer, activist, and professional child care provider. She believesthe stories we tell ourselves and others have the power to reshape our livesand heal our hearts. This is her first illustrated publication. She looksforward to sharing many more of her books, ideas, and art with the world.
Tarky is a name given to the author by a powerfulspirit she nannied named Alaska. Lee is the author's middle name. The pen nameTarky Lee is a dedication to the child that lives in us all.
To follow this and other works @TarkyLee or emailTarkyLeeBooks@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TarkyLee/
Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tarky-Lee/author/B0BR2VMWT9
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GIVEAWAY
Tarky Lee will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winnervia rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: PRINCE OF BLUE FLOWERS by Ryu Zhong
Prince of Blue Flowers
by Ryu Zhong
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GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
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BLURB:
Young boy Hatsukoi leaves his village to become a monk, only tofind monastic life incredibly boring. With a new-found name and a new-foundfriend, Hatsukoi travels the countryside and plays tricks at the expense ofcorrupt, irate, greedy, and ignorant people. Nobles of all ranks—from pettygovernors to crown princes—fall victim to the boy’s wit and cunning.
Ashis tricks evolve from childhood frolics to elaborate cons, Hatsukoi grows aswell. He learns not only the craft of his trade, but also its higher purpose.
JoinHatsukoi’s journey, laugh at his exploits, and learn with him.
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Excerpt One:
Fragments
In ancient times, on the shores of the Eternal Ocean lay thecountry of Auyasku. The waves of the three seas cherished her sleep. The
Silent Western Sea lulled her with whispers, and the GlacialSea squeezed her tightly in its arms. Even the Sea of Great Storms was quietoff the coast of this cold land.
A white fur coat of snow hid Auyasku from the heat of thesun. On the hottest summer day, the bright beams of Celestial Luminary couldnot penetrate beneath the blankets and awaken Auyasku from her age-old slumber.
In the middle of the country rose a snowy mountain, and onits top was a wonderful rock. This rock was open to the beaming sun andmoonlight, because tall trees did not grow on it; moss alone covered thestones, still barely warm from the sun.
And then, one day, the rock produced a stone egg. Later, amarten hatched from this egg, also made of stone, but endowed with limbs andall five senses.
The stone marten quickly learned to run about and hunt smallgame that hid in the snow. She also made friends with other animals thatinhabited the endless fields of Auyasku: foxes, bears, wolves – even moles.And, of course, with other martens, her relatives. The mountain from which shecame was called Marten Mountain because it served as a home to many martens.
One morning, when the sun appeared in the east and slowlyrolled across the sky, the martens began to frolic around the rock, chasing oneanother. Having gambolled enough, they calmed down and, staring at the sun,began to talk – for, as the proverb goes, even animals can talk to each other.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
‘Ryū’ means‘dragon’ in Japanese, and ‘Zhong’ can be translated from Chinese as ‘flute’.This amalgam of languages represents the fusion of cultures that characterisesthe writings of Ryū Zhong.
In their books,Ryū Zhong explore challenges that humanity might face as our technology getsmore and more complicated to the level where it becomes magic. Such a shiftwould force people to look towards religion and reinterpret realities thattoday, we call fairy tales.
Ryū Zhong werelucky to be born and grow in Asia. Now they live in Amsterdam, study Dutch, andadapt their writings to English.
Links
https://anno-ruini.com — website for the book series
https://ryu.anno-ruini.com — Ryu’s personal blog
https://www.instagram.com/anno.ruini/ — Instagram
https://twitter.com/anno_ruini — Twitter
Book in theStores
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Blue-Flowers-Adventures-Takuan/dp/B0BRC7BGB4/
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=L4unEAAAQBAJ&pli=1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prince-of-blue-flowers-ryu-zhong/1143052777
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GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner viarafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: THE LOVE THAT BIND US by Phoenix Blackwood
The Love that Binds Us
by Phoenix Blackwood
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GENRE: LGBTQIA+ Coming of Age
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BLURB:
From the outside, Alex has a perfect life. Shehas a partner who loves her, gets good grades in school, excels at most sports,and has a big heart. From the inside, Alex’s life is anything but perfect. Shehasn’t spoken to her father in years. She’s hiding the fact that heronce-best-friend now-romantic-partner Theo is trans and nonbinary from herhomophobic mother. Bullies are harassing her and Theo at school, taunting andshoving. It’s all becoming too much for Alex to bear.
Things take a surprising turn when Alex’s motherdiscovers her relationship with Theo. After Alex is thrown out of her house andtaken in by Theo’s foster family, Alex can live honestly. For a while, thingsstart to feel manageable. Alex finds a new group of friends. She navigates what“family” means beyond her mother and sister. She even considers forgiving hermother’s past mistakes. But forgiveness requires honesty. Secrets Alex’s motherhas been keeping are surfacing, trying to bind Alex to misery. As Alex learnsthe full truth of her mother’s past mistakes, she will need the love of herchosen family and friends to gently bind her life into a shape that keeps her whole.
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Excerpt One:
I sat on my bed and pulled Theo down to my level, kissingthem on the forehead. They sat down with me and kissed me on the lips untilthey were leaning over me and my hands were wrapped around the back of theirneck, pulling them closer. They were so soft, always so tender. I focused allmy attention on the kiss, so much so that I didn’t hear the small squeak of mydoor opening. Theo pulled away suddenly, jarring me and forcing me to look inthe direction of their gaze.
Leah had opened the door. She stood there with her mouthopen, her face frozen in wonder and confusion. She’d known Theo since we’dbecome friends, I bet she had never imagined finding us kissing when she openedmy door.
Theo and I looked at each other in horror. The secret wasout, how were we going to get her to keep quiet? We should’ve been morecareful. We’d gotten too comfortable.
I signed for Leah to come sit between us on the bed. My facegot hot as she sat and tears brimmed in my eyes. My mom could never, ever findout - Leah knowing was so dangerous. She looked up at me with wide eyesand signed, “Boyfriend?”
Theo must’ve seen the panic rising up in me, because theytook over. They gently rested one hand on her shoulder to get her attention andthen explained, “We love each other. I’m not a boy, but I’m still her partner.I’m like a boyfriend, just minus the boy part.”
Walking through the threshold of Theo’s house was like aweight lifting off my shoulders, all the tension of home and school fallingaway. This was what home was supposed to feel like. I flopped down on the couchand Theo joined me a couple minutes later with two mugs of tea, handing me one.I leaned into them as they wrapped an arm around my shoulders after turning thetelevision on to the latest show we’d been binging. This felt so safe, so calm.A feeling I rarely got in my own home. Always on edge, an internal dissonancetelling me that I wasn’t good enough. Here, I was everything I was supposed tobe.
We watched television until Seth–Theo’s brother–made his waydown the stairs and started rummaging through the kitchen to start dinner. Thehouse was quickly filled with smells that made my mouth water - meat searing ina pan, vegetables being chopped, pasta water boiling. I sat in the scents untilI couldn’t take it any longer and my stomach growled, causing me to get up andmake my way into the kitchen.
Seth shot me a sly smile. “Probably another ten minutes.”
I pouted, staring at the food and willing it to cook faster.
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Whatmessage do you hope readers will get from your book?
The main message that I hoped to portray in The Love that Binds Us is that of chosenfamily and self-acceptance. Alex, our main character, struggles with heridentity due to both external and internal factors, and finds it difficult tocome to terms with things that happened in the past that affect her identity inthe present. From an external point of view, the lens through which people viewher at school, she has it made – good grades, a “stable” home life, and apartner that loves her. However, this starts to fall apart early on in the bookand she grapples with homophobia – both at school and home – and newinformation that changes the way that she sees herself.
The Lovethat Binds Us is a journey through whichAlex experiences incredible hardship, and must learn to define herself on newterms. I want readers to see Alex’s experience and how she comes out on theother side, not unscathed, but a better and more confident person. People willhopefully see her and believe that they can take control of their own lives, nomatter how difficult, and change them for the better. That inner strength iseverything, and with the right people around them, they can make their ownhappy ending (or beginning).
Found family plays a huge role in the story, and Alexdefinitely wouldn’t be the same in the end without them. Her partner takes careof her when she needs it, and she discovers a small group of like-minded peoplewho share some of her identities. Being rejected by her blood family, theimportance of these relationships in her journey make a world of difference inthe outcome. Without them she’d be in a very different place. With this chosenfamily, she has the support she needs to confront her mother about secretsshe’d been keeping for Alex’s whole life. These secrets peel back another layerto Alex’s identity and send her reeling, but with the healthy relationshipsshe’s formed, she finds a way through.
Above all else, TheLove that Binds Us seeks to show people that chosen family is everything,and your experiences may alter your perception of yourself, but only you cantruly define who you are. Strength is found in those who care about youregardless of blood relation, and those that stay through hardship are yourtrue family.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Bornand raised in New England, Phoenix has always been a creative – whether it’spainting or writing. From a very young age, Phoenix has envisioned and createdcharacters, writing them into existence and exploring them through visual arts.Having graduated to first-time short story author, Phoenix is embarking on ajourney towards novel writing as they finally bring characters they’ve knownfor years into the world. Phoenix is neurodiverse and intersex and hopes tobring more representation to both topics with their writing. They believe increating relatable characters that people can find themselves in and empathizewith.
Amazonbuy link: https://www.amazon.com/Love-that-Binds-Us-ebook/dp/B0BNC6VFPD/
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GIVEAWAY :
Phoenix Blackwood will be awarding a $10 Amazon orBarnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during thetour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayApril 1, 2023
Review: HOW NOT TO GET INTO HEAVEN by Ben Zaehringer
These are funny, little Bizarrocomics. The drawings were simple like Ziggy. And, like Ziggy, they had thatwry, lovable humor. Most of them were a hoot. Of course, some were a littleweird and some I just didn’t get. But the pictures were wonderful. I do lovethese kinds of comics.
A man makes a prayer and hopethey’ll hear his call, but then Heaven is experiencing a high call volume. Whata riot! Loved the literal irony!
Just loved it!
Rating:4 stars
Review: APPLE CRUSH by Lucy Knisley
Still the same story about life ona farm. Good illustrations, but there’s no captivating story.
Rating:3 stars
Review: STEPPING STONES by Lucy Knisley
From the city to the farm.
Jen wasn’t really like the farmlife so much…until she finds some barn kittens.
The illustrations were cute andcolorful. Some of the text was a little too small to read, but, fortunately,the pictures say it all. It’s basically life on a farm. She even has trouble atthe farmer’s market.
Eh, an okay read.
Rating: 3 stars
