Blog Tour- LOOKING UP by @stephanpastis With Excerpt Images & A #Giveaway! @SimonKIDS, & @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOOKING UP by Stephan Pastis Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About the Books:

Title: LOOKING UP

Author: Stephan Pastis

Pub. Date: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/LOOKING-UP

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarming middle grade novel about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of life—featuring black and white illustrations throughout!

Living alone with her mother in a poorer part of town, Saint—a girl drawn to medieval knights, lost causes, and the protection of birthday piñatas—sees the neighborhood she has always known and loved disappearing around her: old homes being torn down and replaced by fancy condos and coffee shops. But when her favorite creaky old toy store is demolished, she knows she must act.

Enlisting the help of Daniel “Chance” McGibbons, a quiet, round-faced boy who lives across the street (and whose house also faces the wrecking ball), Saint hatches a plan to save what is left of her beloved hometown.

 

PRAISE FOR LOOKING UP

“Will delight readers. The story is generously illustrated with Pastis’ characteristic black-and-white cartoon line drawings … Pastis fills this deceptively simple first-person account with humor, puns, turns, and twists—and the final twist gives this friendship tale its surprising depth. Words and art combine to create a moving story.” – Kirkus Reviews 

 

“Deceptively funny illustrated novel about loneliness and grief …Pastis’s distinctive, heavily lined b&w illustrations effectively convey the protagonists’ depth of emotion via amiable faces composed of two dots for eyes and a curve nose, while prose contains his signature absurd humor, which lightens this meditation on mourning.”– Publishers Weekly 

 

“Readers will rally around Daniel, Saint, and elderly toy store owner Muffins, while seeing the dilemmas faced by Saint’s mom and Daniel’s uncle, who are struggling to make ends meet and care for their children. With this hilarious book and its comical black-and-white illustrations throughout, Pastis once again reaches out to reluctant readers with a multilayered tale of loss, grief, and growing up. With an imaginative ending that will make readers think, there is more than meets the eye in this funny gem.”– School Library Journal

 

“A fabulous chapter book that, to an extent, doubles as an all-age graphic novel too. There’s so much to love about Looking Up that you won’t be sure what your favorite aspect of the book is. The humor fires on all cylinders. The heart of the book sneaks up on readers and provides a story on dealing with the ups and downs of life, as well as the invaluable worth of a great friend. If you’re in middle elementary school or middle school, you will love this book. It provides those ages something to learn, but it’s wrapped alongside so much humor and fun that it will be irresistible to all ages eight and up.” – Daddy Mojo  

 

 

Excerpt Images:

 

About Stephan Pastis:

Stephan Pastis is the creator of the syndicated comic strip Pearls Before Swine, which appears in over 800 newspapers. He is also the creator of the Timmy Failure book series and the cowriter of the Disney+ movie Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. He lives in Northern California with his wife and two kids. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of LOOKING UP, US ONLY.

Ends October 10^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/25/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
9/25/2023	@hodophile_z	IG Post
9/26/2023	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
9/26/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
9/27/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Blog Spotlight
9/27/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
9/28/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
9/28/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
9/29/2023	@dharashahauthor	IG Post
9/29/2023	avainbookland	IG Review

Week Two:

10/2/2023	Get outside and read	IG Post
10/2/2023	@evergirl200	IG Review
10/3/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
10/3/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
10/4/2023	FUONLYKNEW	Review
10/4/2023	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
10/5/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/5/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
10/6/2023	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/6/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review

 

 

 

STEPHAN PASTIS’ BOOK TOUR

 Monday, October 9, 2023 at 7:00pm PT

In-store event at Rakestraw Books

3 Railroad Avenue

Danville, CA 94526

 

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 7:30pm ET

In-store event at The Bookmark Shoppe

8415 3rd Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11209

 

Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 6:00pm CT

In-store event at Chicago Comics

3244 N. Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60657

 

Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 12:00pm ET

Off-site event hosted by Source Booksellers

Detroit Public Library

5201 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI 48202

 

Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 12:00pm ET

In-store event at Barnes & Noble

4015 Medina Road

Akron, OH 44333

 

Monday, October 16, 2023 at 7:00pm ET

Off-site event hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore

Takoma Park Community Center

7500 Maple Avenue

Takoma Park, MD 20912

 

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 5:30pm ET

In-store event at The Writer’s Block Bookstore

316 N. Park Avenue

Winter Park, FL 32789

 

Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 6:30pm ET

Off-site event hosted by Brave + Kind Bookshop

Atlanta-Fulton Central Library

1 Margaret Mitchell Square

Atlanta, GA 30303

 

Friday, October 20, 2023 at 6:00pm CT

Off-site event hosted by Left Bank Books

St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Library

225 N. Euclid Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63108

 

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 6:00pm CT

In-store event at novel.

387 Perkins Extd

Memphis, TN 38117

 

Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 3:00pm CT

In-store event at Garden District Book Shop

2727 Prytania Street, Unit 14

New Orleans, LA 70130

 

Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00pm CT

In-store event at Blue Willow Bookshop

14532 Memorial Drive

Houston, TX 77079

 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:30pm MT

Off-site event hosted by The Bookies

Teller Elementary School

1150 Garfield Street

Denver, CO 80206

 

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30pm MT

In-store event at Changing Hands Bookstore

6428 S. McClintock Drive

Tempe, AZ 85283

 

Friday, October 27, 2023 at 7:00pm PT

In-store event at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore

3555 Rosencrans Street, Suite 107

San Diego, CA 92110

 

Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 6:30pm PT

In-store event at Barnes & Noble

Creekside Town Center

1256 Galleria Boulevard

Roseville, CA 95678

 

Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 3:00pm PT

In-store event at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hill Crossing

3415 SW Cedar Hills Boulevard

Beaverton, OR 97005

 

Monday, October 30, 2023 at 7:00pm PT

In-store event at Third Place Books

17171 Bothell Way NE #A101

Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Blog Tour- INTERGALACTICA by @francoptrotta With An Excerpt & #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the INTERGALACTICA by F.P. Trotta Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: INTERGALACTICA

Author: F.P. Trotta

Pub. Date: July 3, 2023

Publisher: F.P. Trotta

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 477

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/INTERGALACTICA

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

The first book from the Brazilian space opera series now in English!

It's launch day for NASA's long-awaited manned expedition to explore Jupiter's moon Europa!

Neuropsychiatrist Amanda awakens after months in a coma caused by acute meningitis...

Along with two patients, they discover themselves to be key pieces in an ever-growing puzzle involving an underground geopolitical corporation called The Firm, which plans to sabotage the mission, taking advantage of a new technology to hijack the ship and set a course for a habitable planet located seventeen light-years away from Earth.

Originally released in Brazil in 2016, the Intergalactica book series moved thousands of physical and digital copies in Portuguese. Discover a new Earth as you journey to the stars in the first volume of F. P. Trotta's saga.

‘Recipient of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award’

---

What people are saying about F. P. Trotta and INTERGALACTICA:

★★★★★ "In the same league as Brandon Sanderson."

★★★★★ "Very action oriented. Can probably be easily adapted for TV or film."

★★★★★ "With unexpected plot twists and a strong female protagonist, this book keeps you engaged and entertained from start to finish."

 

EXCERPT

 

“Consider the odds. If you multiply the number of stars in our galaxy by the number of galaxies in the Universe, you get approximately a gazillion stars. That’s a 1 followed by twenty-four zeros. And there could be even more than that! The chances that we are the only living organism in the universe... To me, thinking we’re unique is pretentious. It’s a matter of days. I’m sure anyone who discredits this is in for a rude awakening soon. Even though we’ve just started the fourth decade of the 21st century, there are still many people who are oblivious to these truths.”

            “These are probably the same ones that still believe in the supernatural.” said Stryker, laughing ironically.

            “I figured of all people you would believe in most of these things? In the paranormal, in the spirit world, I mean.” asked Ripley.

            “Oh, please” answered Stryker. “With all the technology available today, millions of digital cameras and video cameras, billions of photos and millions of hours of recorded footage, yet not one real image of a being or anything remotely paranormal has ever been confirmed. Nothing, zilch.” he looked down, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. “But some people want to hold onto the belief in the paranormal as though it’s any different to say goblins, angels or wizards...none exist, but people still believe this tripe. We have simple people wandering around abandoned facilities at night with EMF and digital recorders trying to convince themselves that a tapping sound is a lost soul back from the dead, or the scratchy inaudible sound recorded is a voice from beyond the grave” he laughed. “If you believe in ghosts and spirits you truly have a child’s view of the world.” Ripley seemed thrown off by Stryker’s skeptic speech and immediately stood up, talking back at him:

            “How can you say that, Stryker? After what you witnessed Amanda go through?” she asked, looking at him incredulously.

            “Oh, Stryker.” sighed Amanda. She then looked at him squeezing her eyes, as if she could see through him. “You’re attempting to approach a nonsensical subject with strict rationality. The world isn’t so black and white. Your clinical view of everything is your downfall. For as much as science has advanced, we’re still in the dark about most of life’s mysteries and not one human soul on this planet can tell you what actually happens after you die.” she said. Amanda then stood up and started prancing around the room, talking to all:

            “Once you accept that you’re an insignificant, inconsequential blip on the radar of time--one of billions of people to have come and gone in a few million years--and humble yourself with the idea that all you truthfully know about the universe is what other, greater men have told you from their own observations, then maybe you won’t act so pompous as to declare you know all there is to know about a subject that has managed to stay in the forefront of society since time immemorial.” she paused for a moment and went on. “It isn’t just country kooks and attention-seeking nutters that believe they’ve seen a ghost or had a paranormal experience. There are many learned men who would stand up to your scrutiny as upright characters, such as presidents, who have claimed to have seen spirits. Trying to lock down such a persistent, widespread phenomenon into this ”This is this, therefore that is that“ rationality is just silly. We exist in a world where we have no idea why we're even here, and things in your daily life operate on a scale of normality that you’ve grown accustomed to, never mind the fact that several centuries ago many things you do would be considered ”magic“ or ”abnormal.“ The torchbearers who brought us electricity, telephones, and computers have managed to push the darkness of ignorance back only so much, but you’re making the mistake of thinking you can see the entire cave beyond the small circle of light.” said Amanda.

 

About F.P. Trotta:

A love for space operas with controversial and adult themes along with a hint of lovecraftian horror are F. P. Trotta's specialty - originally published in Brazil in Early 2016, the Intergalactica book series went on to move tens of thousands of physical copies in portuguese and is currently the only ongoing space opera franchise published in Brazil.

 

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

Ends October 17th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/25/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
9/25/2023	Jaime's Book World	Excerpt
9/26/2023	jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
9/26/2023	Writer of Wrongs	Guest Post
9/27/2023	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Guest Post/IG Post
9/27/2023	Cara North	Guest Post/IG Post
9/28/2023	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Post
9/28/2023	@hodophile_z	IG Post
9/29/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Blog Spotlight
9/29/2023	Meet The Fultons	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

10/2/2023	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
10/2/2023	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
10/3/2023	Jaime_of_gryffindor	IG Review
10/3/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
10/4/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
10/4/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
10/5/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
10/5/2023	bookgirlbrown_reviews	Review/IG Post
10/6/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
10/6/2023	the original B00K nerd	Review/IG Post