Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category:

Pump Up Your Book Chats with Carla Malden

Carla Malden grew up in Los Angeles, California. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from U.C.L.A. with a Bachelor of Arts in English and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society for her academic achievement. She worked extensively in the film business, both in production and development. With her husband, filmmaker Laurence Starkman, she wrote twelve feature screenplays; they also served as rewrite guns-for-hire. The team of Malden & Starkman wrote and produced the short romantic comedy Whit & Charm, which screened at eight major film festivals, including The Hamptons, and won several awards. They also wrote and created a series of Cine Golden Eagle Award-winning Art History films
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In the Aerie of the Wolf Virtual Book Tour 2011

Join Leonora Pruner, author of the historical gothic novel, In the Aerie of the Wolf (Nordskog Publishing, April 2011), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in June on her second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Leonora Pruner While born in Dubuque, Iowa, Leonora Pruner was brought to California by her parents during the Second World War, which has since been her principal residence.  In 1953, she graduated from Westmont College then earned an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1981.  Having married in 1953, she has seen her family expand from two children to thirteen grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Writing has been an important activity since junior
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Sentiments of Blue Virtual Book Tour June and July 2011

Join Garasamo Maccagnone, author of the literary short story collection,  Sentiments of Blue (CreateSpace, January 14, 2011), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in June and July on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About Garasamo Maccagnone Garasamo Maccagnone is a writer and entrepreneur. The founder of a successful airfreight business, Maccagnone now focuses on his literary career. He is the author of the novel St. John of the Midfield, the novella, For the Love of St. Nick, a collection of short stories entitled, My Dog Tim and Other Stories, and a children’s book titled, The Suburban Dragon. Sentiments of Blue is his latest short
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Mineral Mischief Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join Renee Hand, author of the children’s mystery chapter book, The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Case#2: Mineral Mischief (North Star Press, April 1, 2011), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in June on her second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About Renee Hand Renee Hand writes because it is a passion in her heart. She is a homeschool parent and likes to create books that educate and inspire the children of today. She was born in Michigan and still lives there with her husband and two children. She has a degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Renee is the author of
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The Confessions of Catherine de Medici Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join C.W. Gortner, author of the historical novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici (Ballantine Books May 24 2011), as he virtually tours the blogosphere from June 13th – 24th on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About C.W. Gortner C.W. Gortner is the author of the acclaimed historical novels The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, and The Tudor Secret. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall and experienced life in a Spanish
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Susan Kronick to appear in Vienna newspaper because of virtual book tour

A big congratulations goes to Susan Kronick, who has been touring with us since April.  Her paranormal novel, Sarah, They’re Coming for You, takes place in Austria and it seems one of the interviews  or guest posts that she wrote for one of her blog stops appeared last week in the Vienna, Austria, newspaper “Heute” (translates to Today). Not only that, she has been “friended” on Facebook by members of the Vienna Paranormal Society (Ghosthunters) and she’s a hit in Vienna!  They have asked her to meet up with them in Vienna the next time she’s over there and coincidentally she will be in Austria with her sister next
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Frederico, the Mouse Violinist Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join Mayra Calvani, author of the children’s picture book, Frederico, the Mouse Violinist (Guardian Angel Publishing), as she virtually tours the blogosphere on June 6 – 17 2011 on her third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Mayra Calvani Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults.  Her nonfiction work, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was a ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award winner. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published. Frederico, the Mouse Violinist is her fifth and latest children’s picture book. Mayra reviews for SimplySharly.com and is co-editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. She also offers
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Ghost Hunter Susan Kronick on Blog Talk Radio A Book and a Chat May 17

Pump Up Your Book would like to extend an invitation to all our readers to join Susan Kronick as she rounds off the second half of her virtual book tour during May with her 32nd stop at A Book and a Chat with the wonderful and talented talk show host Barry “Storyheart” Eva on Thursday, May 19! If you’d like to find out more about Susan and her publishing journey, tune into the show by visiting this link at these times: 4:30 Pacific 5:30 Central 6:30 Eastern (If you miss the show, you can listen to the interview by visiting their archives soon afterward.) About Susan: Susan Kronick’s background
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Romantic Suspense Author Alexandrea Weis on Blog Talk Radio A Book and a Chat May 19

Pump Up Your Book would like to extend an invitation to all our readers to join Alexandrea Weis as she kicks off the first half of her virtual book tour during May with her 14th stop at A Book and a Chat with the wonderful and talented talk show host Barry “Storyheart” Eva on Thursday, May 19! If you’d like to find out more about Alexandrea and her publishing journey, tune into the show by visiting this link at these times: 4:30 Pacific 5:30 Central 6:30 Eastern (If you miss the show, you can listen to the interview by visiting their archives soon afterward.) About Alexandrea: Alexandrea Weis began
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New Book for Review: Contemporary Christian Fiction ‘Indemnity’ by Paula Wiseman

Paula Wiseman is touring in August 2011 with her Contemporary Christian Fiction novel, Indemnity (Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series). After years of believing Chuck’s affair is behind them, Bobbi’s marriage is tested again when Tracy Ravenna resurfaces. Tracy’s not alone, though. Jackson Charles Ravenna is the newest student in Bobbi’s first grade class and the spitting image of her husband. When Chuck decides to pursue joint custody, they discover Jack isn’t the only secret Tracy’s been hiding. As Tracy’s past begins to threaten their future with Jack, Bobbi is forced to face the unsettling truth about God’s grace. But this time, what will it cost to forgive the
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Stories From a Lifetime Virtual Book Tour June & July 2011

Join Hugh Aaron, author of the short story collection, Stories From a Lifetime (Stones Point Press), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in June & July 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Hugh Aaron Hugh Aaron, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, received a Liberal Arts degree in the Humanities at The University of Chicago. For three years as a Seabee he served in the South Pacific during WWII. He was CEO of his own plastics manufacturing business for 20 years before selling it to write full time. Several of his short stories have been published in national magazines and 18 of his
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Pump Up Chats with Sci-Fi Mystery Author B.A. Chepaitis

Barbara Chepaitis is the author of 8 published books, including The Fear Principle featuring Jaguar Addams, and the critically acclaimed Feeding Christine and These Dreams. Her first nonfiction book, Feathers of Hope, is about Berkshire Bird Paradise and the human connection with birds.   She’s writing a sequel about Eagle Mitch, a bird she helped our US troops rescue from Afghanistan.  Barbara is founder of the storytelling trio The Snickering Witches, and faculty coordinator for the fiction component of Western Colorado’s MFA program in creative writing. Facebook site for Barbara – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=615302442 Facebook site for Jaguar – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaguar-Addams-and-the-Fear-Series/135879429815445 Barbara’s website:   http://www.wildreads.com Thank you for this interview, Barbara.  Do you remember
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From Mason to Minister: Through the Lattice Online Book Tour June 2011

Join Neil Cullan McKinlay, author of the Christian memoir, From Mason to Minister: Through the Lattice as he virtually tours the blogosphere in June 2011 on his first tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Neil Cullan McKinlay I was born in Ontario, Canada when the leaves turned a beautiful red and gold in the fall. With mum and dad and my two older brothers we sailed across the Atlantic to my parent’s native Scotland when I was two. As my brother Stuart remembers it, “we sailed from the St. Lawrence in November 1958 in the bowels of the Royal Mail ship, Carinthia, taking a week to cross the
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‘Through The Fire: One Woman’s Experiences in Surviving Domestic Violence’ Online Book Tour June 2011

Join Harriet Cammock, author of the inspirational non-fiction Through The Fire: One Woman’s Experiences in Surviving Domestic Violence as she virtually tours the blogosphere in June 2011 on her first tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Harriet Cammock It doesn’t matter how you start, it matters how you finish. This can be said of Harriet Cammock’s life. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Harriet’s journey is one marked by a strong faith in the belief that you can overcome, if you try hard enough. Through childhood, her grandmother instilled in her a drive to succeed. After an abusive marriage, Harriet determined she would use her own experiences in overcoming
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Pump Up Chats with Kai Strand

Kai Strand is a children’s author of middle grade and young adult novels. She was born and raised in the mid-west, where she inherited a wholesome outlook on life. She lived in California long enough to become a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. They now live in Central Oregon where the most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, “Do your dishes!” Obviously, Kai likes to write. The Weaver is Kai’s debut book. She reads a lot as well and calls it research. Kai loves to garden, and is trying out a greenhouse for the first time this year.
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The Tapestry Baby Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join Carole Waterhouse, author of the literary fiction novel, The Tapestry Baby, as she virtually tours the blogosphere June 6 – 30 2011 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Carole Waterhouse A creative writing professor at California University of Pennsylvania, Carole Waterhouse is the author of two novels, The Tapestry Baby and Without Wings, and a collection of short stories, The Paradise Ranch. Her fiction has appeared in Arnazella, Artful Dodge, Baybury Review, Ceilidh, Eureka Literary Magazine, Forum, Half Tones to Jubilee, Massachusetts Review, Minnetonka Review, Oracle: The Brewton-Parker College Review, Parting Gifts, Pointed Circle, Potpourri, Seems, Spout, The Armchair Aesthete, The Griffin,
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Ghost Hunter Susan Kronick at Pump Up Your Book Live! Chat Tonight!

Ghost hunter Susan Kronick, author of the paranormal, Sarah, They’re Coming for You, will be appearing at Pump Up Your Book Live! on Friday, May 6, 2011, at 9 p.m. eastern time (adjust to your time zones) to 10 p.m. and will be talking about her new book and her experiences as a ghost hunter! She will also be giving away 3 electronic copies of her book to three lucky participants! Don’t miss our chat with a talented author and ghost seer! Find out all you want to know about spirits. Find out how Susan can see spirits as if they are mortals! If you ever wanted to find
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New Book for Review: Epic Quest Fantasy ‘The Luckless Prince’ by Rie Sheridan Rose

Rie Sheridan Rose is touring in July 2011 with her epic quest fantasy, The Luckless Prince (Zumaya Publications). The Luckless Prince has been described as Huck Finn meets The Lord of the Rings.  Prince Roland and his squire, Stepfan, journey down river to negotiate a fur deal for his father.  But the seemingly innocuous mission becomes a nightmare as the raft is attacked by a band of raiders.  And their troubles are only beginning. As Roland tries to return home and reassure his father of his safety, he finds himself taken prisoner by the mysterious elves of legend.  And, in the end, only by forming an uneasy alliance can
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Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join Michael Scott Miller, author of the contemporary fiction novel, Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers (Kindle Direct Publishing), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in June 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Michael Scott Miller Michael Scott Miller works with numbers by day in the business world and with words by night.  He began writing shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and has had his work published in the Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly) and wrote music reviews for the Wharton Journal while his wife was getting her degree there. Miller’s debut novel, Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers, has been downloaded more than
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Ghost Hunter Susan Kronick on Blog Talk Radio A Book and a Chat May 17

Pump Up Your Book would like to extend an invitation to all our readers to join Susan Kronick as she kicks off the second half of her April/May virtual book tour with her 32nd stop at A Book and a Chat with the wonderful and talented talk show host Barry “Storyheart” Eva on Tuesday, May 17! If you’d like to find out more about Susan and her publishing journey, tune into the show by visiting this link at these times: 4:30 Pacific 5:30 Central 6:30 Eastern (If you miss the show, you can listen to the interview by visiting their archives soon afterward.) About Susan: Susan Kronick’s background is
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Pump Up Chats with Heather Haven

Heather is a story teller by nature and loves the written word.  In her career, she’s written short stories, novels, comedy acts, plays, television treatments, ad copy, commercials, and even ghost-wrote a book.  One of her first jobs as a writer was given to her by her then agent. It was that of writing a love story for a book published by Bantam called Moments of Love. She had a deadline of one week and then promptly came down with the flu. She wrote “The Sands of Time” with a temperature of 102 and delivered some pretty hot stuff because of it. Later on, she wrote short comedy skits for nightclub acts and ad copy for
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Pump Up Chats with Darien Gee

    Darien Gee lives with her husband and three children in Hawaii. She is the bestselling author of three previous novels (Good Things, Sweet Life and Table Manners) written under the name Mia King. You can visit Darien Gee’s website at www.friendshipbreadkitchen.com. And check out the Friendship Bread Kitchen Facebook fan page. On Friendship Bread: Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book? My daughter Maya had brought home a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter and some slices of the bread. When I tried it, I was hooked. As I was finishing off the last piece, my protagonist appeared in my mind—a woman who was
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New Book for Review: From Mason to Minister: Through the Lattice by Neil Cullan McKinlay

Neil Cullan McKinlay is touring in June with his inspirational memoir From Mason to Minister: Through the Lattice. An adventurous, captivating and poetic memoir of the author’s courageous and spiritual journey—from Scotland to Canada to Australia—in his quest to “find the Truth and know the living God.” Neither an apologetic nor a polemic, he corrects much misinterpretation and misunderstanding of Freemasonry. We learn how inspiration from Masonic teachings about Solomon’s Temple, the arch, and keystone led him to a deep study of the revelation from the Bible of the “stone the builders rejected” which is Christ. Readers will be uplifted, inspired, and delighted as they follow along with him
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New Book for Review: Historical Romance ‘Expiation’ by Greg Messel

Greg Messel is touring in July and August 2011 with his historical romance novel, Expiation. In 1968, Dan and Katie are one of the hottest couples at Ballard High School in Seattle. He is the hero football player, and she is the beautiful cheerleader. These high school sweethearts believe theirs is a love that will never die. Life changes when Dan leaves Washington to start college at the University of California Berkeley and pursue his dream of working for a big time newspaper in the glamorous city of San Francisco. The quest for his dream occurs against the turbulent background of Berkeley and San Francisco in the 1970s as
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New Book for Review: Gothic Historical Romance ‘In the Aerie of the Wolf’ by Leonora Pruner

Leonora Pruner returns in June 2011 with her gothic historical romance novel, In the Aerie of the Wolf. Set in 18th century England, our heroine Anne is betrothed to a man she’s never met and must leave behind her girlhood fantasies. When she arrives at the home of Lord Wolverton, Master of the Wolf’s Aerie, the mysteries and challenges of her new life cause her to seek Biblical wisdom and guidance concerning honor, integrity, and faithfulness. In this story of the discovery of true love, there is also danger, betrayal, and sword fighting—and it all takes place in a castle complete with secret passageways. Become lost in another time
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New Book for Review: When Stars Align by Carole Eglash-Kosoff

Carole Eglash-Kosoff is touring in July 2011 with her historical fiction, When Stars Align. Carole Eglash-Kosoff’s first novel, WHEN STARS ALIGN, is set in 19th century Louisiana, at a time and place where mixed-race relationships are both illegal and unacceptable. How can these defiant lovers–and their love–survive? The time is a crucial period in American history–the Civil War and the years of Reconstruction following it–and the characters are Thaddeus and Amy, who share a forbidden love that can get them both killed. For he is a mulatto ex-slave, and she is white. In the novel, whenever Amy asks if she and Thaddeus will ever be together, his answer is
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New Book for Review: Children’s Chapter Book ‘The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Case #2: Mineral Mischief” by Renee Hand

Renee Hand is touring in June 2011 with her children’s detective chapter book, The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Case #2: Mineral Mischief. In the midst of having her friends visit her rock collection, Maple Moo’s rare mineral goes missing from underneath her large cow nose. She instantly turns to Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, the most famous detectives in Acorn Valley, to find it. But they didn’t know the task was going to be an impossible one. The suspects were hard to figure out. Was it Candy Cardinal, who committed the crime? She collects various gemstones to make jewelry. Brutus and Betty Blue Beaver also collect
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Pump Up Chats with Margaret George

Margaret George is the author of six epic biographical novels, all New York Times bestsellers, featuring larger than life characters like Henry VIII and Cleopatra.  Although painstakingly accurate historically, their real focus is the psychology of the characters.  We know what they did, we want to know why. Her latest release is Elizabeth I. Margaret’s research has taken her from the islands of Scotland to the temples of Upper Egypt, with experiences that include snake-keeping and gladiatorial training. She lives in Wisconsin and Washington DC.  Interests include reptile conservation efforts, Middle Eastern dance (aka bellydancing), and archeology.  You can visit Margaret George’s website at www.margaretgeorge.com. On Elizabeth I: a Novel
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Book Review: The Chimp Who Loved Me by Annie Greer & Tim Vandehey

Title: The Chimp Who Loved Me Author: Annie Greer & Tim Vandehey Paperback: 190 pages Genre: Humor, Animals Publisher: Diva Publishing & Broadcasting LLC (November 8, 2010) Language: English ISBN – 0578072637 ISBN – 978-0578072630 About the Book: The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of true stories from the life and times of Annie Greer, a veterinary chiropractitioner, animal healer, radio host, speaker, farmer’s wife and all-around magnet for bizarre animal behavior.  When Annie and Tim Vandehey, a professional writer, met in 2006 and began talking about Annie’s endless trove of strange and pants-wettingly funny tales about drill sergeant sheep and insane veterinary clinic customers, a book
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My Life & 1000 Houses Virtual Book Tour May 2011

Join Mitch Stephen, author of the nonfiction, My Life & 1000 Houses (Lone House Publishing), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in May 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Mitch Stephen Mitch Stephen has been a full time investor since March ’96. He’s flipped 1000+ properties and is author of the book, My Life & 1000 Houses. You may download the first 100 ages of his book at www.1000Houses.com.  His autobiography is one of a high school graduate striving to find his place in the world. With over (70 ) 5 STAR REVIEWS, it is evident that this author has mastered the
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