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Friday, February 20, 2015

Romantic Recovery by Waterford Adams Book Tour & Giveaway



Author Bio:


As co-authors Waterford Adams, we are sisters with a British cultural heritage, who were born in Australia and spent our early years in rural and remote outback regions of Queensland. During our personal histories we have lived and worked in many and various situations, and have learned through adversity that pain is a brilliant teacher. Now in our mature years and with an honourable working relationship, we specialize in the promise of romantic recovery through an ongoing commitment to peacemaking. The collective outcome of this proposal is strengthened by our individual contributions.

WATERFORD: As a registered nurse in public hospitals, I received extensive experience in observing and treating trauma and recovery. Additional periods of real life research have encouraged me to strive to locate the definitive cause of less noticeable trauma. During this study, I have developed through a foundation of insight, the wisdom to appreciate that unidentified emotional pain, if not addressed, is re-created in the form of various discordant and abusive relationship behaviours. My contribution to this book has been refined and inspired over fifteen years.

ADAMS: Teaching for nineteen years in state high schools, with further professional involvement in human relationships education, school camps, term dances and the senior formal, I had the opportunity to study young adults and gain insights into their struggles. The additional years I worked as a telephone counsellor developed my natural intuition, giving me instinctive perception in personal pain and relationship issues. My contribution to this book is to offer a potential for its readers to secure greater awareness through self discovery.

Author Links - 






Book Genre: FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Marriage & Long Term Relationships; Self-Help : General
Publisher: Bookpal
Release Date: 9/25/2012



Book Description: "Romantic Recovery" is a study of the modern relationships game, revealing the drama in the lives of the characters who perform within it. Showcasing eight well-known players: - Failed Family - Daddy's Girl - Cheating Partner - Posing Friend - Mummy's Boy - Sexual Predator - Bully - Fanatic this is a unique journey through the thrilling Contest of Recovery where females and males score points in deciding the fate of 64 relationship dilemmas. As a finale, there is an intimate eight-day diary with questions and answers designed to benefit singles or couples on a personal quest for romantic recovery.


Excerpt:


The failed family is the seat where generosity is dispensed in erratic doses from nestling status through to old age. It lacks reform. The family failure creates a group of infants who convince anyone who is afraid, that less is much more than they deserve.

Our well being within this family unit is on high alert. While we may pursue a commission of excellence and social standing, close scrutiny reveals we bear the scars of bewilderment, manipulation and heavily accented progaganda.

The parents in a failed family corrupt with sentiment. They seduce their children with a measure of affection and mix it with a dash of disguised michief. They live and breathe self-contempt because they themselves have been disabled by lies.

There is little to be gained from the failed family portrait as it stands. The foundations are crudely formed. The stays and props displayed are listing badly with the trauma of old fear and unexamined pain which holds each family member to ransom.

This kind of conditioning can imprint itself upon us from very early days. It is difficult to escape being caught in its enmeshment. While ever we remain a captive, we cannot find and protect our dream.








Buy a copy of Romantic Recovery and send receipt to vbtcafe@gmail.com and receive a free copy of The Recovering Romantic.



Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Dobyns Chronicles by Shirley McLain Book Tour & Giveaway - #HistoricalFiction #vbtcafetours






Title: Dobyns Chronicles
Author Name: Shirley McLain



Author Bio:

I was born in the bay area of California but my family moved my sister and I back to Oklahoma, where they were both from. I’ve lived many different places but I always come back home.

I started the sixth grade in the Oklahoma school system and graduated in 1967. I started to college for a nursing degree but decided that “my man” was much more important. I became an RN with an Associate degree in 1971. Then many years later I went back to school with my sister who was also an RN and we obtained our Bachelor’s degree in nursing.

I am married to a man who spoils me rotten, and I love it. I have two grown children, six grandchildren and twin Great-grandsons. My family has grown by leaps and bounds. My husband and I now have a fur family at home. We have five dogs and three cats and they are all spoiled rotten. It’s like living in a house full of three year olds. When one is not into something another one is.

Author Links -

Twitter: @shirleymclain93





Book Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Xlibris
Release Date: May 2014
Buy Link(s):

Amazon Print Purchase Link: http://amzn.to/1yL4hKC

Amazon Kindle Purchase Link: http://amzn.to/1vG9zWz

Other Purchase Links: http://on.fb.me/1uicpvg


Book Description:

Dobyns Chronicles is about a young boy whose father was a cowboy and whose mother was Cherokee Indian. His parents worked very hard on their ranch to raise their children and survive, but tragedy ends Charlie’s way of life. He finds that it is up to him to raise his siblings, David and Viola. His passion for dignity and life is what helps him to survive.

This book allows you to follow his life and live the adventures, ups and downs that shaped him into the man that he became and that of his family for generations. It’s a book of twists and turns, and a rollercoaster of emotions that will make it hard for you to put the book down.


Excerpt:

Ma was Cherokee Indian. She had some different ways about her, but she was a Christian. I think Pa said she was Church of Christ, so I think that made us Church of Christ also.

Ma was strict on us boys. I can't tell you the number of times she warmed our backside with Pa's belt or washed our mouths out with soap for saying a curse word. Pa could get away with it, but my brother and me sure couldn't.

Since Viola was too small to be of help to Ma. Until Viola was old enough, David and me helped with house chores. We also helped Pa out in the field. Most of the time, I was the one in the field and David took care of the chores around the house. He may have been small, but he sure was strong. I guess we were all strong, from cutting wood, pulling water from the well and general hard work.

It seemed like Ma was always making clothes, and cooking even though I knew she did other chores. She taught Viola how to make butter at an early age. Ma let her move the dasher up and down in the churn for as long as she could. I think Ma was helping Viola develop muscles like us boys. Sometimes Ma would have Viola go out to the woodshed and pick up small pieces of wood for kindling. That sturdy old wood cook stove used lots of wood. That stove would use a couple ricks of wood a year.

In the summertime, Ma got up early and got the rest of us up, and built a fire outside to cook, so we wouldn't have such a hot house. She’d usually cook enough at one time to keep us fed all-day I can still taste those biscuits made in the Dutch oven. We always had fresh honey or molasses to eat with our biscuits. Times were good then. It’s strange what kids think they know, but really don't.


The summer I turned six, was a dry and hot one with plenty of lightning storms, but no rain. We had a large crop of corn standing in the field ready to harvest for livestock feed. I’d ate my fill of fresh corn, so now the stalks and ears were continuing to dry. Pa took some of the ears and had it ground for ma, so she could make her crackling corn bread and mush during the winter. We loved that sweet corn meal mush for breakfast. Sometimes she would put it in a bread pan and let it get cold, slice it and then pan fry it for lunch. I remember the temperature being so hot outside; I could feel my skin burn through my shirt.







Schedule

December 14 - January 30



December 14 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog

December 16 - Spotlight at ReadsAlot

December 16 - Spotlight at Indy Book Fairy

December 18 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner

December 22 - Spotlight at My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

December 24 - Author Interview at The Avid Reader

December 29 - Guest Blogging at Things The Muse Likes


January 1 - Reviewed at Mythical Books

January 5 - Interviewed at Bikers With Books

January 7 - Spotlight at Black Coffee, Brown Cow

January 9 - Review & Interviewed at SimpliRead

January 12 - Review & Guest Blogging at My Life, Loves and Passions

January 14 - Review & Guest Blogging at Fiction Zeal

January 16 - Guest Blogging at Books, Books, The Magical Fruit

January 19 - Author 2 Author Marketing at BookIt BK

January 21 - Review & Guest Blogging at A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus

January 23 - 5 Things I Know For Sure at CAT Mag

January 24 - Spotlight at K.R. Morrison, Author

January 28 - Reviewed atDebbie Jean's Blog

January 30 - Spotlight at Ghost Rider Book Promotions






Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Seaville by Jim Reilly Book Tour & Giveaway



Book Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Publisher: Sayville Books
Release Date: September 30th
Buy Links: TBA

Description:

When new neighbors, Mike and Ann Wells along with their children CJ and Patricia, move into the southern part of town along the Great South Bay of Long Island, they discover the true identity of their neighbors.

Each of their new neighbors hosts a being from an alien race hiding from the cruelty of enslavement. This mysterious race needs the Wells family to help them navigate the complicated human experience while being concealed from a nosy but well-meaning old priest. But most of all, they must help them from being captured by a corrupt individual looking to make a profit off a race hoping to peacefully secure fuel to stay one step ahead of their former masters.

As the town of Seaville erupts into chaos, Mike and Ann try to keep their new friends concealed and safe. However, time is running out as their former masters search the universe for their lost property and inch closer to Earth.


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Author Bio:

Jim Reilly is a new science fiction / fantasy novelist. He is a married father of four, born and raised in Long Island. After going back to college and finishing with an MBA, some of his professors gave accolades to his writing prowess. With that and encouragement from his wife, he wrote his first novel, Evolution.

The success of Evolution has inspired Jim to continue his writing efforts and finish his next science fiction / fantasy novel, Seaville.

From an early age, Jim always had a fascination with science, science fiction, and fantasy to a point that it became a passion of his. Now he enjoys putting that passion to paper. He has already penned his next book and is working on another.


Author Links -

sayvillebooks.com
jimreillyscifi.wordpress.com
https://twitter.com/JimReilly98
www.linkedin.com/in/jimreilly98
www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591359.Jim_Reilly

Scheduling Now (20 Stops)

September 30 - Release Day Party & Giveaway at VBT Café Blog
October 2 - Spotlight at 3 Partners In Shopping - Nana, Mommy & Sissy Too!
October 7 - Guest Blogging at Mythical Books
October 9 -
October 14 - Spotlight at Deal Sharing Aunt
October 16 - Spotlight at Urania's Distractions
October 18 -
October 21 -
October 23 -
October 27 -
October 29 -
October 31 -
November 3 - Review & Interview at My Life, Loves and Passions
November 5 -
November 7 -
November 10 - Reviewed at The Book Lover's Lounge
November 12 -
November 14 - Spotlight at A Cup of Tea & A Big Book
November 14 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
November 17 - Reviewed at Reading To Distraction
November 21 - Guest Blogging at Dalene's Book Reviews
November 21 - Reviewed at Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock




Monday, September 22, 2014

Is Reading Good For Kids & Teens? Guest Post & Givewaway With Jamie-Jo Brenner - Soul Searching Tour




Is reading good for kids/teens?


I think reading is great for anyone, but I especially believe it to be beneficial for kids/teens. If they read the right books, teens can find a character or story to identify with that could help them through anything they may be going through. Books also encourage you to think for yourself rather than rely on things that you've been told by teachers or parents. We could all read the same book, and everyone would get something different about it. And none of us would be wrong. That's what I love about books. And I wouldn't want to take that away from kids or teens.

I think it's important to get kids to want to read at a young age. Not assigned school books, but books that they choose. I wish I’d been encouraged to read more as a child. When I was really little my mom read to me a lot, but when I was old enough to read to myself, I didn't continue. As a result, I'm going back now and reading all the books that I should've read. Unfortunately, they don't impact me the way they would have had I read them when I was younger.

My little cousin and I bond through books. I read a lot of young adult novels and she's at the age when she's just getting into them. We talk about books when we run out of other topics to discuss. And by discussing books with kids, it's a great way to see how they view the world. You get to share in their wonder and imagination. I love learning her views on things and how she sees the world. It enhances my view as I read those same books, and as I write my own stories.


I will continue to promote reading at any age, because everyone could use a little escape and magic in their life. That's what books are: a reminder that we're not alone in this world. That, wherever you are, there are other people reading and enjoying the same books as you. It gives you a sense of community no matter how old you are. And especially in this day in age, I believe that young people need that.



I'm a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. I have been on mission trips, one to Haiti and the other to a Native American Reservation/Camp in Oklahoma. I loved both experiences.

I am in the Army Reserves. And I volunteer at Camp Sunshine each August. I also work in Security for Farmer's Insurance. And I was a victim's advocate for the YWCA.

My passion is writing and I love to read. I wrote a books, A Place for Me, and most recently, Soul Searching.

When I was 19, I made an independent film (wrote, directed and starred in it) called, Weight of the World. I wrote A Place for Me when I was 20. Published it at 21. When I was 22, my cousins and I made a indie movie out of it.

Now at 32, I wrote another book. Soul Searching.

Author Links - 





I also have a facebook page for me, Jamie-Jo Brenner as well as Soul Searching novel page.




Book Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published through CreateSpace on Amazon
Release Date: July 16, 2014
Buy Link(s):




Book Description:


Brent Harper is the perfect guy. He's Max's hero--the boy she's had a crush on since the school year began. But when Brent goes missing, Max must face the truth that she really doesn't know him at all. In order to find him, she will first need to learn everything she can about him.

After Brent wakes up without any memories, his only choice is to trust the first person he sees. Alison, the girl who finds him, promises to help him remember. But what if he doesn't want to remember? When his memories start to return, Brent is confronted with the hardest decision of his life.

How do you choose between who you thought you were and who you want to be?








Excerpt:


Prologue
Brent

There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.
-Seneca

Images of the fight flooded my mind. I’d considered Lucas and Mark my friends, but I wasn’t so sure anymore. I stopped them from picking on my best friend, Max, and the next thing I knew I was shoved against a locker. The cold metal rattled loudly when my body slammed into it. My head throbbed in pain at the contact.
“Stay out of it for once,” Lucas growled.
“Maybe it’s time you learned your place,” Mark spat at me as his fist knocked the wind out of my lungs.
Lucas’s knee connected with my ribs, and I winced in pain. They alternated between knees to stomach, and punches to my face. I fell to a clump on the ground. I knew I should‘ve defended myself, but I made a promise to someone--a promise that I swore I’d keep. I took the beating without complaint, because I knew I deserved it. I always deserved it.
Between kicks, I heard Mark say, “Dude, fight back.”
It sounded like a plea. But I lost consciousness before I figured out the significance of it. It’d been hours since that fight, but even now my ribs hurt and my face ached. Even with all the blood washed away, I bore evidence of the fight, and had feared going home.
I wandered the streets and watched the sky darken around me as I prayed for answers that never came. If they had come, I wouldn’t have done something that I already regretted. I made my choice. And even if I didn’t remember this in the morning, the truth of it weighed heavily on my mind tonight. My demons always found a way to haunt me. Somehow, I knew they’d follow me this time as well. I just wished I hadn’t chosen to start this journey alone.
I reached my destination, and had I taken one last look at the sky. I found my favorite constellations, and recalled all the times I’d admired this same sky. I always felt at home among the stars--they were the only good thing about the darkness. Their presence harkened the depths of imagination. They were ageless as they gazed back at us. We were mere fragments in the lifetime of a star. I longed for that kind of immortality. Even now, I yearned to exist.
I collapsed onto the grass, and fought off sleep for as long as I could. I was terrified of tomorrow. Exhausted, I dispelled one last breath of hot air, and I resigned myself to my fate. Things were finally going to change, I’d seen to that. I couldn’t run forever. And with that thought in mind, I had closed my eyes, and allowed the spell to take me.





Schedule

August 24 - October 13


August 24 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog

August 26 - Guest Blogging at Coffee, Books & Art

August 28 - Spotlight at Cherry Mischievous


September 2 - Reviewed at Give Me The Books


September 4 - 6 Besties at BK Walker Books


September 8 - Guest Blogging at Bikers With Books


September 10 - Spotlight at Mom With A Kindle


September 12 - 5 Things I Know For Sure & Favorite Recipe at CAT Magazine


September 15 - Reviewed at AG LANG Writes


September 17 - Interviewed at Ghost Rider Book Promotions


September 19 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.


September 22 - Guest Blogging at Black Coffee, Brown Cow


September 24 - Reviewed at Debbie Jeans


September 26 - Review & Interview at Deal Sharing Aunt

September 29 - Review & Guest Blog at


October 1 - Interviewed at The Avid Reader


October 3 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner


October 6 - Author 2 Author Marketing at BookIt BK


October 8 - Interviewed at Yah Did Marketing Radio at 6:30pm EST


October 10 - Interviewed at Immortality & Beyond


October 13 - Reviewed at BK Walker Books






Thursday, August 21, 2014

Book Tour & Giveaway: Medical Billing Horror Stories by Sharon Hollander





Author Bio: Sharon Hollander is an author, entrepreneur, and a healthcare consultant in the area of practice management
for over 30 years. She is a leading expert in the area of physician billing and reimbursement. Currently the President of STAT Medical Consulting, a comprehensive medical billing service in Encino, California providing billing services to physicians and surgeons in solo practice or small group practices.

Author Links - 

Linkedin Sharonhollander
Goodreads: Sharon Hollander Medical Billing Horror Stories
Amazon: Sharon Hollander




Book Genre: Non Fiction
Publisher: Abbott Press
Release Date: July 2013




Book Description:

Anecdotes and real case studies ripped from the headlines about what doctors did which got them into trouble either with Medicare, HIPPA, The Office of Inspector General or worse the FBI.

The case studies presented within these pages are true stories of medical professionals: Some are about providers just like you. Many doctors are just trying to navigate the maze of the medical billing process.

Many providers thought that if they only bill just 99213’s, they could stay under the radar. What they didn’t expect is that by doing this and not varying their coding appropriately, they were raising red flags about their billing practices which led to them being audited by Medicare.

With the changing rules and regulations and challenges facing healthcare, you cannot afford to miss this information.

If you submit even one claim for reimbursement this is a must read!


Excerpt:

One winter morning a doctor, called Dr. Winters received a phone call from one of his patients.
“Dr. Winter, I am really upset.”
“And why is that Mr. Jones?” the doctor asked innocently.
“I recently got hired by a new company, and well they are requesting a pre-employment physical.”
“Well I have seen you recently, has anything changed for you? You were in good health when I saw you last.”
“Well, here is the thing, doc, I am feeling fine, actually better than ever,” said Mr. Jones
‘Okay so what’s the problem?”
“They denied my employment, and told me to contact my doctor.”
‘That’s unusual. Did they tell you why?”
“No, just that I better call you as soon as possible.”
“Okay why don’t you schedule an appointment with my office, and we can run some tests to see what if anything is going on.”
‘Okay thank you doctor.”
The patient had a battery of tests and a complete physical and all were normal. Dr. Winters released Mr. Jones back into the world, and told him if he develops any kind of symptoms to contact him. As one would expect three months went by and Dr. Winters never gave Mr. Jones and the mystery of why Mr. Jones was denied employment another thought.
About three months later, Dr. Winters received a note from Medicare requesting about twenty of his charts for a post-payment review, sort of a mini audit. He was upset. A doctor hears audit, and well it would be the same as if the IRS came a knocking. His staff pulled the twenty patient files and Dr. Winters reviewed the patient’s clinical notes he had well documented in the medical records.
The first patient had been congestive heart failure, and the patient was anxious about whether to undergo a CBBGE bypass surgery. The next patient had a rotator cuff injury and was also worried about his ability to play pro-baseball if he had his surgery. The third was a patient that had experienced symptoms of a heart attack, but it was deemed to be just anxiety.
After careful review, he copied the records and sent them off to Medicare. Another three months passed, and then he got a notice from Medicare to refund two thousand dollars, based on their audit findings.
Needless to say, Dr. Winters was pissed. Of course, Medicare requested this information on the day before he was to leave on a much deserved vacation. Well, he cut the check and sent the funds to Medicare. Most physicians may have left it at that, but Dr. Winters was peeved at Medicare, and personally resolved to get to the bottom of this outrage.
He had his staff call Medicare, but they were not able to determine the cause of the problem. Finally after his own frustration escalated he resolved to solve the case of the audit himself. Two hours and countless phone transfers he finally spoke to a live representative at Medicare who told him, in all of the twenty cases he billed for Leprosy.
“Leprosy?” he yelled at the Medicare representative. “There is no leprosy outbreak in Canoga Park.”
“I am looking at the copies of the screen on my computer, and the claims were all billed with a Leprosy diagnosis.”
“Well obviously this is just a simple billing error” Dr. Winter’s proclaimed.
After hanging up the phone and finding his biller, Dr. Winter’s determined that his biller had transposed the ICD-9 code and instead of anxiety using the code 300.0 she had submitted the bills to Medicare with the code 030.0 for leprosy.
Mr. Jones was contacted and Dr. Winter’s office had to contact a few other non-Medicare patients to notify their commercial insurances of their office’s mistakes. Fortunately, for Mr. Jones he did seek new employment however his insurance company still shows a history of Leprosy in the patient’s database of coverage. When he changes insurances it rears its ugly head again.
The moral: It is the physician who is responsible to make sure his staff is accurate especially when submitting claims on his/her behalf. Dr. Winters was flagged at Medicare and from that day forward he had to often submit medical records every quarter to justify his level of billing and for diagnostic accuracy. Over the course of the next couple of years he got audited by Medicare three times.  






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