Book Tour ~ Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds by Derrick Pledger

 

 

Change Your Mindset to Achieve Desired Outcomes

Self-help, Motivational, Success, Transformational Psychology

Date Published: November 8, 2023

 

 What if the biggest obstacle to your success isn’t your circumstances—but your mindset?

Every day, your brain consumes a steady diet of negative news, social media noise, unhealthy beliefs, and self-limiting ideas. Just like poor nutrition damages the body, poor mental input sabotages discipline, productivity, and long-term success.

In Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds, U.S. Army combat veteran, Fortune 500 technology executive, and high-performance advisor Derrick Pledger delivers a powerful and practical framework for transforming how you think, act, and achieve.

This thought-provoking and highly accessible book presents 100 short lessons—called “recipes”—designed to help you detox your mindset, strengthen discipline, and build habits that compound into life-changing results.

Whether your goal is career advancement, entrepreneurship, improved relationships, better health, or personal fulfillment, this book shows you how success is built—not overnight—but daily.

Inside This Book, You’ll Learn How To:

● Reframe failure as fuel for growth and long-term achievement

● Build discipline and consistency without burnout

● Eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors and mental clutter

● Develop habits that drive upward mobility and performance

● Create clarity around goals and obsess over what matters

● Treat your brain like your body—by feeding it the right “mental nutrients”

Grounded in real-world experience, extensive research, and years of personal journaling, Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds distills complex success principles into clear, actionable insights you can apply in minutes a day.

Why Readers Love This Book

Readers from all walks of life have experienced profound transformation, including:

● Losing significant weight and reclaiming control over their health

● Advancing from mid-level roles to executive leadership positions

● Gaining clarity, confidence, and momentum after years of stagnation

“I read this book on a four-hour flight and landed as a completely different person.”

This isn’t motivational fluff. It’s a mental operating system for becoming a daily achiever—someone who understands that success is the by-product of learning, failing forward, and getting better every single day.

If you’re ready to put your brain on a better mental diet and finally achieve the outcomes you want, this book is your recipe for success.

 

About the Author

 

 Derrick Pledger is a U.S. Army combat veteran, Fortune 500 technology executive, digital strategist, and author passionate about helping people unlock their full potential through mindset, discipline, and intentional action.

Currently serving as Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at Maximus Inc., Derrick leads enterprise-wide technology strategy, artificial intelligence operations, and large-scale digital modernization initiatives. With more than 20 years of industry experience, his expertise spans systems integration, automation, cloud and edge computing, AI, data analytics, IT governance, and end-to-end solution development.

Before joining Maximus, Derrick was Chief Information Officer at Leidos, where he oversaw global IT delivery operations supporting a $17-billion organization with more than 48,000 employees worldwide. Earlier in his career, he ran a multi-million-dollar export business in his twenties and became a Fortune 500 CIO by age forty.

As an author, Derrick’s journey is rooted in resilience and persistence. While serving in the U.S. Army, he transformed a failed screenplay into a novel manuscript—written during downtime in Iraq. After dozens of rejections, that effort led to a co-written book deal with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, resulting in the 2008 release of The Diamond District.

Fifteen years later, driven by a mission to democratize success, Derrick released his second book, Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds, after investing more than 1,500 hours researching mindset, habits, and high-performance behaviors. His work challenges conventional thinking about failure, goal-setting, and achievement, offering readers a practical blueprint for sustained personal and professional growth.

In addition to writing, Derrick advises individuals, teams, and organizations on high performance and leadership, and he is a partner at 500 Pound Media, a digital content company focused on personal development and achievement.

Born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Derrick believes that success is not reserved for the lucky or the privileged—but for those willing to develop the right mindset and show up consistently, even when failure is part of the process.

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Book Tour ~ The New Life Blueprint by Natalie Pearl

 

A 21st-Century Guide for Success, Health, Wealth, and Happiness in a Complex World

Motivational Self-Help

Date Published: January 14, 2025

Publisher: Forbes Books

2025 Global Book Awards Silver Medalist in Self Help Success

Life is coming at us fast. It’s easier with a guide for life navigation.

The world has changed more in the last few years than in the previous fifty, rendering our traditional blueprints for life, work, and success outdated. Strategies that once promised a clear path to the American Dream, like pursuing a conventional education or climbing the company ladder, no longer guarantee continual progress toward our goals. Many of us find ourselves unprepared and uncertain, struggling to adapt to the accelerating pace of change. In this new era, the questions arise: what are the key drivers of success and sustainability? How can we navigate this complex world effectively?

The New Life Blueprint: A 21st Century Guide to Success, Health, Wealth, and Happiness in a Complex World by best-selling author Dr. Natalia Peart, with Christopher Burge, offers an insightful approach to navigating life more holistically and sustainably in our rapidly changing world.

Traditionally, success was a straightforward formula: get a degree, land a job, work hard, and enjoy the rewards. In The New Life Blueprint, Peart and Burge first examine the historical, contextual, and personal shifts that have made this old blueprint outdated. They make the case compellingly that this blueprint, which currently guides our educational, career, and life choices, was designed for a simpler, more predictable era but no longer applies in our new, more complex era.

They respond to this challenge by reinventing the old blueprint into a modern-era career, mental, financial, and lifestyle blueprint. Their new roadmap provides readers with the instructions and guidance they need to equip and prepare themselves to navigate their professional and personal lives, build resilience in constant uncertainty, and achieve the sustainable success, health, wealth, and happiness they seek.

Drawing on 14 disciplines, including neuroscience, economics, and performance psychology, as well as decades of experience as a psychologist, CEO, leadership and performance consultant, and Wall Street executive, the authors bring a wealth of knowledge to the table.

This book is not just about survival; it’s about flourishing in a world where change is the only constant. The New Life Blueprint not only captures the urgency and necessity for a redefined approach to living in a complex world but also provides a hopeful vision for thriving with confidence and clarity.

 

About the Author

Dr. Natalia is a multi-hyphenate psychologist, entrepreneur, business and career consultant, best-selling author, speaker, and Forbes Contributor.

She is the Founder and CEO of Blueprint Global, a human-centered innovation and design consultancy dedicated to helping people and companies prepare, navigate, grow, and lead sustainably in a constantly changing world.

Dr. Natalia has more than 30 years of experience helping leaders and individuals obtain their professional and personal goals. Throughout her career, she’s worked as a clinical psychologist, a leadership and performance consultant for large national Fortune 1000 companies such as Gallup to small businesses, an executive and personal consultant, a Chief Officer of a foundation, and CEO of a nonprofit organization, and now as an entrepreneur.

Whether she is working at the individual, organizational, or societal level, the common thread throughout her experiences is that she is driven by a desire to solve our big challenges involving how to grow and lead, particularly through disruptive change.

She has served on the Federal Reserve Board, 10th District, was a SXSW 2021 presenter, and has been featured in various media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, New York Times, FOX, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, Oprah Magazine, Black Enterprise, Glassdoor, Elite Daily, and Thrive Global.

She has also spoken at events ranging from small group workshops to three-thousand-person events. She has earned her B.A. with Honors in Psychology from Brown University, her PhD. in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Maryland, and completed her Clinical Internship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

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Teaser ~ Impulse Control by Emily Carrington

A Sticks & Stones Romance

Marisburg Chronicles 9

M/M Romance Suspense

Date Published: March 6, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Riku takes charge in bed, but will he have any control over the day-to-day decisions of a marriage?

Money and status differences challenge Riku and Theo to find a middle ground. Their passion is white-hot, but their ideas of living comfortably are at odds. As their wedding nears, driven forward by Theo’s parents’ sense of guilt, Riku feels the old urge to run.

Riku refuses to give into this impulse at first, but as the comparison between his emotional scars and the mountains of Theo’s familial expectations grow, Riku fears running will be the only less-than-honorable course left to him.

Theo isn’t blind to Riku’s struggles but he doesn’t understand what’s wrong. Each time he reaches out, Riku reaches back, yet they never quite connect. Will their need for each other overcome their differences, or will their passion be subsumed by a wave of conflicting desires?

Excerpt

It was the day after the children had left for the summer. There would be ESY, of course, extended school year, but Riku hadn’t been asked to participate. He’d only been a teacher at the Colton school for the deaf since January, so it made sense he wouldn’t be first pick for ESY. He would have normally chewed over that until he was ill, but since Theo had gone back to work in February, they were living relatively comfortably. Riku’s student loans still put a squeeze on him, but he could manage without panicking.

He was sorting through papers posted on the walls. Most of them had gone home with their makers yesterday, but there were a few that hadn’t been collected. These he grouped into a folder he marked “leftover assignments” and stored for early September.

He glanced toward where Theo was wiping down desks, and Riku had to catch his breath. His fiancé was dressed in casual clothes, but he looked like a Greek statue come to life. Attired in a green T-shirt and jeans shorts, he looked younger than he was because of the cutoffs, but not like jailbait. He was thirty-two, having gained another year in mid-April. Unfortunately, Riku had also aged a year, so they were still a decade apart.

The brush of Theo’s medium brown hair on his green-clad shoulders made Riku think of a book he’d read in high school. It had been about a man who could sing magic into the world. His hair had been red as his Irish heritage, but the physical differences didn’t matter. Theo could definitely have sung magic into Riku’s heart, or anywhere else he chose. His broad shoulders stretched the T-shirt over his pectorals and his shorts showed off his long, muscular legs.

If they weren’t at school, Riku would have suggested they quit working and go goof off instead. Unfortunately, they weren’t in their rented room in Marisburg.

Turning his attention back to his chosen task, he went to the bookshelf and started organizing the books. Ninety percent of the books were in print, but the remaining ones were in print and braille, for his students who, like Theo, had Usher Syndrome or other hearing/vision challenges. He wasn’t the braille teacher, could barely feel the dots under his fingers, truth be told. Still, he liked the idea of providing all kinds of different access to literature. Probably that was part of what made him an effective English teacher.

With his back to Theo as he organized the books, he reflected that today most likely wouldn’t see the two of them making love.

Half a year ago, Theo’s parents, courtesy of his father’s quick tongue, had alienated themselves from their son. Mr. Billings had told Theo that if he could prove himself self-sufficient for six months, he would be welcomed back into the familial fold. Theo’s father had apologized, all but falling over his words in an attempt to retreat from the ultimatum but Theo had taken up the challenge.

Now it was the end of that six months. Theo hadn’t been out of communication with his parents, but certain topics, like his relationship with Riku, had been off-limits. As had his access to the family fortunes.

Theo had been, for the past six months, surviving on his own brilliant mind and on his ability to work from anywhere. Today, though, Theo would be reopening full communication with his parents.

Riku wasn’t sure if he should be dreading that time as much as he was.

It wasn’t that Theo hadn’t been talking to his parents. He just hadn’t accepted any monetary handouts from them, and he’d refused to discuss his relationship with Riku. It was easy to trust him, to believe he had suspended those ties temporarily. Theo was prideful and wouldn’t bend. Besides, the two of them had engaged in actual arguments about money, like any other couple.

Riku found himself smiling. Those fights had always ended in makeup sex, almost like they were a new kind of foreplay. He hadn’t always won the arguments, like the one they’d had about moving out of his ex’s house and into a rented room.

To save on money, he’d wanted to stay “just a little longer” despite the fact that they’d been sleeping on an air mattress in his ex’s living room. The word “uncomfortable” didn’t begin to define that situation but it had felt safe because Riku had been able to pay bills without worrying where he would rest at night.

Theo had ultimately been the hero of that fight because he’d shown Riku how selfish he was being. His lover had managed it without making Riku feel bad, which was almost a miracle.

So, why was he so tangled up about bringing the Billings parents back into the picture? They’d apologized for calling him Theo’s Asian fetish, which was apparently the worst offense in their eyes. Shouldn’t he forgive them?

No, he thought. There’s an essential disconnect between how I view the world and how they do. We can’t resolve that.

Hands closed on his shoulders, and he realized he’d been standing still instead of cleaning. He relaxed into the familiar touch of Theo’s skilled fingers as Theo began massaging his shoulders and that spot where he carried ninety percent of his tension, which was at the base of his skull. He must have been unmoving for quite a while because Theo, partially deaf and visually impaired as well, sometimes missed things that happened around him. He’d noticed today, though.

Riku turned and Theo dropped one hand into Riku’s palm. He signed, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m borrowing trouble,” he said and signed. He caught the light playing over Theo’s hair and reached up to touch a lock that had fallen in front of Theo’s eyes. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

“Thank you.” He laughed. “I do know, but I also am aware that you’re avoiding talking about whatever’s bothering you. What’s wrong?”

Riku shook his head, remembered Theo might not be able to see that, and answered, “I don’t want to talk about it here.”

“Maybe we should go home, and we should resume this cleaning tomorrow?”

He didn’t want to go back to the rented room and face Theo’s parents. “I’d better finish up here or it’s going to drag on all summer.”

“By yourself?”

“You can go back if you want,” Riku offered.

“Why don’t I stay with you, keep you out of your head?”

Riku hugged him, feeling the warmth of Theo’s skin on his forehead as he leaned against him. “I love you. Thank you for understanding how much I need you to be with me right now.”

Theo kissed him, angling his head so their noses didn’t bump. “I love you.” He smacked Riku’s hip lightly. “Now. Let’s get cleaning. I don’t just love you.” He signed into Riku’s hand. “I crave your touch.”

“And my mouth, I hope,” Riku signed back. “I’ve wanted to taste you for days.”

 

About the Author

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her website.

 

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

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Book Blitz ~ Ashlight Dominion - Fear of Breath by J. Trevine Kelley

 

Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Dystopian

Date Published: February 3, 2026

In a world where poisoned air has stolen breath itself, survival is no longer a solitary act, it is a covenant. From the ashes of collapse rises New Umoja, a fragile but unbroken community bound together by the Mesh, a living network of memory and thought. At its heart is a struggle: who gets to breathe, who belongs, and how hope endures when systems are built to suffocate. Ashlight Dominion follows those who refuse to vanish, weaving stories of resilience, betrayal, and rebirth into a tapestry of survival. This debut novel by J. Trevino Kelley is both mythic and immediate, exploring how history, power, and identity shape the fight to endure and remain true. With prose that burns and breathes, it asks: What does it mean to rise from ash, not untouched, but unbroken?

 

 

About the Author

 

 J. Trevino Kelley is a writer and strategist with a lifelong interest in systems, power, and human behavior. A husband and father of four, raised by a single mother as one of seven children, he draws from lived experience, leadership work, and a deep curiosity about how societies respond to disruption. His speculative fiction explores survival, identity, and the consequences of rebuilding the world after collapse. Ashlight Dominion is his debut novel.

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Cover Reveal ~ Marked by the Alpha by Sheritta Bitikofer

 

Marked by the Alpha
Sheritta Bitikofer
Publication date: June 11th 2026
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….

After her mother’s death, photographer Erica Barrett, buys a home she and her mother obsessed over during her childhood in the quaintly historical town of Tolstone. Her magnetic next door neighbor intrigues and disturbs her. The sensual pull feels otherworldly.

Wolf shifter Dominic Beaumont never wanted to be the prime alpha of the sanctuary city, Tolstone, but when his father dies, he’s forced to step up as pack leader and prime alpha over all the wolf packs sheltering in his town. Erica’s arrival is dangerous. The attraction is fierce and instant, but duty comes first.

When revelations about Erica’s past and parentage create chaos, and she questions everything she thought she knew about herself, Dominic is her strength. But as tension builds in the pack, and his leadership is challenged, love becomes a risk that could cost him his authority, his people, and everything he’s sworn to protect.

Perfect for readers craving illicit wolf-shifter romance filled with fate, secrets, rebellion and an alpha willing to risk everything for love.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Sheritta Bitikofer writes paranormal romance with a particular fondness for wolf shifters and witches. Her stories are driven by one guiding belief: love inspires courage. Through fierce romances, unbreakable pack bonds, and the magic of covens and family, her characters fight for the lives—and loves—they deserve. Sheritta lives in northwest Florida, where she drinks far too much coffee and joyfully balances life as a wife and mother while crafting her next heartfelt paranormal love story.

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Teaser ~ Just Look at those Boots - Written by Sherry Roberts & Illustrated by Victoria Marble

 

Children's Western

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

A.J. is so excited about his new cowboy boots. He wears them on the first day of the school year. Mom said it was for only one day and then back to his regular boots or sneakers. During recess, A.J. plays in an exciting game of kickball. His boots get very messy during the game.

When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride because she’s waited all day for him.

On the ride, A.J. heads to the shallow pond out in one field. While A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond and decides to get there fast. A.J. loses control of Lady Star and finds himself thrown into the pond. Daydreaming on the ride means A.J. has additional chores when he returns to the barn.

In this second book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stores of the American West, as well as history, Just Look At Those Boots, is a must-read. 

Excerpt

“Hi, Benji. Ready for a new school year?” I ask as I sit beside him on the bus. 

“I like summer better.” He shrugs as he lets me know his feelings. It’s the first day, and Benji looks like he just got out of bed. Of course, Benji always looks like he just got out of bed. His hair is going every which way, and his shirt is wrinkled like he slept in it. He probably did. “Why are you late?” 

“Been one of those mornings when everything was going wrong. Sadie made a mess while I was milking her, and I had to change clothes. 

Then Jon saw me daydreaming as I was walking to the bus. Of course, Lady Star was at the rails with him. I had to go over to give her a nose rub. So, yeah, I guess I was daydreaming a bit.” I shrug my shoulders. 

 Benji laughs. “You’re always daydreaming. What was it about this time?” 

“I was thinking about the first day of school. I want it to be a good year. Also, I was looking at my new boots.” 

“Wow, I didn’t notice. Those are great. When did you get them? Won’t they hurt if you wear them all day? You haven’t really worn them in yet.” 

Benji talks like this. He asks questions but forgets to give you time to answer any of them. 

“Benji, stop.” 

Benji takes a breath. I look at my boots again. “I got them on Saturday. I wore them all Saturday and Sunday while working around the farm. 

They don’t hurt. They’re still stiff but it’ll get better. I like wearing them, and Mom said it was okay to wear them today but maybe not every day.”

 

About the Author

 

 Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has written multiple award-winning fiction picture books such as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus, Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best Reading Buddy. She also has written two non-fiction award-winning picture books, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet? and A Visit Through the Wetlands. These two were illustrated with her photography. Sherry’s newest picture book, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus e-newsletter June 2025 as Indie Pick and received a Get It: Recommend review.

As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.

Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.

Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.

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Cover Reveal ~ Red Queen by Harper A. Brooks

 

Title: Red Queen

Author: Harper A. Brooks

Genre: Vampire Romance

Special Edition Cover Designer: beauxif covers

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb: 

The Red Queen will rise again…

Vampire queen Eleanna Cordon didn’t go gently into the good night when her enemies attacked her castle and stole her throne. Instead, she escaped with only her undead life and a heart that, when it did beat, thrummed for raging, violent revenge.

Reclaiming her rightful place requires more than sheer will. It demands a risky alliance with the one man she vowed never to turn to—her ex-lover and the leader of a rival vampire kingdom, Alexandru Amanar. Despite their sordid past, he’s the only one who’s ever been able to give her what she needs. In more ways than one.

But can she trust him?

Their shared history is painted with bloodshed, betrayal, and unrestrained passion, but what the queen wants, she always gets… whether that means staking her enemies or having one of them in her bed.

Format:

Hardback w/ dustjacket

Includes:

• New special edition cover

• Silver foil on front, spine, and back naked cover

• Silver foil on front, spine, and back dustjacket cover

• Two-page chapter spreads

• New color endpapers

• Interior color artwork

• Printed edges

PRE-ORDER YOUR SPECIAL EDITION NOW!

Harper A. Brooks lives in a small town on the New Jersey shore. Even though classic authors have always filled her bookshelves, she finds her writing muse drawn to the dark, magical, and romantic. But when she isn't creating entire worlds with sexy shifters or legendary love stories, you can find her either with a good cup of coffee in hand or at home snuggling with her furry, four-legged son, Sammy.

She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

RONE Award Winner

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

International Bestselling Author

Author Links:

Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads | Website 

Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub | Reader Group

PRE-ORDER YOUR SPECIAL EDITION NOW!

Book Tour ~ Intercessor by John Robert Still

 

Spiritual thriller/Supernatural suspense with Catholic themes.

Date Published: February 13, 2023

Publisher: Covenant Books

What if the storm chasing you isn’t the one outside… but the one within?

Set in the shadow-soaked streets of New Orleans, Intercessor is a gripping faith-infused thriller that blends supernatural suspense with profound spiritual reflection.

Jim Hampton is a burned-out lawyer who walks away from his high-stakes career in search of peace. Drawn to the mystique of the Crescent City, he hopes distance will quiet his doubts and regrets. Instead, as a tropical storm intensifies into a devastating hurricane, Jim finds himself trapped in a far more dangerous tempest—one filled with demonic forces, divine intervention, and a battle for his soul.

Guided by the enigmatic bartender Myriam, Jim is forced to confront his lapsed Catholic faith amid blackouts, chases through the French Quarter, and encounters that defy logic and reason. As darkness closes in and evil tightens its grip, Jim must decide whether redemption is truly possible—or if some storms are meant to destroy.

Near the novel’s stunning climax, a miraculous event inspired by the legendary “dancing sun” at Fatima transforms terror into revelation, reminding readers that grace can break through even the deepest despair.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

● Faith-driven thrillers with spiritual depth

● Supernatural suspense rooted in real-world belief

● Stories of redemption, miracles, and personal awakening

● Atmospheric settings rich with culture and mystery

Intercessor is more than a thriller—it’s a powerful reminder that in life’s darkest moments, hope may arrive in ways we least expect.

👉 Pick up Intercessor today and discover how grace can guide you through the storm.

 

●      “There simply are no Sunday nights on Bourbon Street, only Fridays. The fresh and excited tourists replace the hungover and exhausted ones at a constant rate, creating the permanent feel of festivity. Brazen promotion of debauchery left one feeling that just by walking there, you were getting away with something.”

About the Author

 

 John Robert Still is a lawyer based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the author of the faith-infused thriller Intercessor. Drawn to stories that explore suspense, spirituality, and the search for meaning, John writes fiction that wrestles honestly with faith, redemption, and the mysteries that shape our lives.

Intercessor is his debut novel, inspired by visits to New Orleans and a fascination with the city’s rich culture, history, and spiritual contrasts. His writing journey began as a deeply personal exploration of life’s harder questions—particularly around belief, purpose, and grace—and evolved over several years into a gripping supernatural thriller shaped by thoughtful revision and early reader feedback.

When he’s not practicing law or writing, John enjoys a wide range of hands-on pursuits, including beekeeping, bonsai cultivation, growing tobacco and rolling his own cigars, and cooking—especially Cajun and Creole cuisine. These passions reflect the same patience, craftsmanship, and respect for tradition that inform his storytelling.

 

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Book Tour ~ Long Lost Midwife by Skye Smith

 

Historical Fiction | Race & Identity | Women’s Stories | 1930s America

Date Published: September 19, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

Set against the charged racial landscape of 1934 St. Louis, Long Lost Midwife is a gripping historical novel about identity, obsession, and the dangerous cost of defying social order.

Pamela appears to be a privileged young white socialite, newly married and expecting her first child. But beneath the polished surface lies a restless, unsettled woman struggling against the suffocating expectations placed upon her. As her pregnancy advances, Pamela becomes fixated on one thing: finding Miss Minnie, the Black midwife who delivered her at home in 1911.

Her request ignites fierce resistance. Both families condemn the idea, and Pamela’s husband, Frank, fearing scandal and loss of control, tightens his grip—bringing in relatives to monitor her movements and even hiring surveillance to ensure she never makes contact with the midwife. Determined and increasingly reckless, Pamela secretly pressures her Black maid to help locate Miss Minnie, setting in motion a chain of events neither family can contain.

What begins as a quiet domestic drama escalates into a volatile confrontation with race, power, and truth. As long-buried histories surface, the search for a midwife becomes a catalyst for racial tension, betrayal, and violence—raising the chilling question: will this birth end in life… or murder?

Long Lost Midwife starts with measured restraint and builds relentlessly toward a tempestuous, unforgettable conclusion. It is a haunting exploration of white blindness, Black resilience, and the fragile illusions that sustain privilege in early 20th-century America.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

● Thought-provoking historical fiction

● Novels examining race, class, and gender

● Character-driven stories set in pre-Civil Rights America

● Books that begin quietly and end with devastating force

 

In St. Louis, Franklin and Pamela Dorset lived in a house of many rooms in the coveted Central West End neighborhood of the city. In 1932, at the time of their marriage, only wealthy white people owned homes there. Shortly after their honeymoon on the European continent, they moved into Fullerton’s Westminster Place, a tony subsection of the CWE. Grand and spacious, their home had three stories, six bedrooms and a prominent pointy-roofed turret.

Frank was twenty-six, his wife twenty-one. For their house, they paid a third of the cost. With only two years under his belt as an attorney in his father’s firm, Frank paid his and his wife’s third with the bulk of his wedding present. His parents paid a third as did hers. Née Lucas, Pamela put her wedding monies into escrow for future household expenses.

About the Author

Skye Smith is a historical fiction author and retired mechanical designer whose career spanned decades of designing complex machinery using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) systems. That background in precision and structure deeply informs Smith’s approach to storytelling—where narrative architecture, historical accuracy, and character motivation are carefully engineered.

During the final ten years of a professional career, Smith moderated the Plymouth Writers Group, a MeetUp-based genre writing collective composed of engineers, doctors, legal professionals, technical writers, and MFA graduates. Within this collaborative environment, Smith completed first drafts of three novels, with two additional works developed independently.

Smith holds a degree in History from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, an academic foundation that profoundly shapes the thematic and contextual grounding of the work. Historical setting, for Smith, is never decorative—it is the backbone of character behavior and moral conflict.

Another significant creative influence comes from many years singing in Sonomento, a Minneapolis-based operatic choir active until 2024. Immersion in opera introduced Smith to the disciplined exactness of musical phrasing and libretto, where text is fluid, expressive, and shaped by emotional register. That sense of linguistic “plasticity” carries directly into Smith’s prose style.

Long Lost Midwife reflects these influences in a novel that begins with restraint and builds toward controlled chaos—examining race, power, and identity in 1930s America with precision, tension, and historical depth.

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