Blog Tour- WILLIE THE WORRYING DOG by David Yuen & Micah Zhang With An Interview & A #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WILLIE THE WORRYING DOG by David Yuen & Micah Zhang Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: WILLIE THE WORRYING DOG

Author: David Yuen & Micah Zhang (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: June 10, 2023

Publisher: Upward Bound Press

Formats: Hardcover

Pages: 36

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, BAM, Bookshop.org, Blackwells 

Willie can't help but worry. Worrying is the worst thing ever. And now his owner wants to take him to a new park where everything's different. Oh no, Willie feels doomed! What if things go wrong? What if something bad happens? Will Willie make it? Or will worry get the best of him?

 

Interview:

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?

My book is about worry and all the nasty unwanted little thoughts that rush into our head even when the future doesn’t exist yet. It’s about, Willie, a dog who tries, but just can’t handle these little thoughts by himself and when the unexpected comes those thoughts get in the way from him seeing anything else. And this book is about the unexpected friends he meets who help him realize one thing: he can’t do it alone.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m taking a short hiatus and focusing on other areas of my life and less on writing. To be honest, I’m working on myself. I’m learning to love my friends and family just a little bit more. I’m working just a little harder on what I know I need to work on. And I’m focusing more on the things I know I should be focused on more. Does that make sense?

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Well, that’s a loaded question! Yes, as a person who suffers and struggles with anxiety all his life, Willie is almost a translation of myself. I awfulize. I ruminate. I think about the worst things that haven’t happened. And the other characters that are introduced in the book are inspired by the people who’ve came into my life who taught me an important lesson—most things that we do to ourselves are more in our head than in reality.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

The type of characters that I gravitate towards are those who don’t really have it altogether and who struggle with themselves. But despite their struggles, they still try to do the right thing or just need a little guidance to do the right thing. I believe those characters really speak to all of us because we all struggle. And even those who are good at hiding it, it doesn’t make those struggle non-existent and it doesn’t change the fact that we’re all only human.

The least favorite characters that I try to avoid writing are those who have it altogether all the time without any depth of how they ended up that way. These characters are simply born perfect and go through life effortlessly. Honestly, not only are they not interesting, but they’re unrealistic.

What is your favorite passages/scenes in your book?

When the thunderstorm happens and Willie and his friends have to go beneath a bench to shelter from it. It’s a very climatic moment, where Willie learns actual ways to deal with his struggle from those willing to come beside him. It’s friendship, it’s wisdom, it’s honesty—all good ingredients to overcome challenges.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

A lot of the research that I had to do was really more self-reflection than anything. My life was essentially the research material and figuring what I had to do to get over my anxiety was poured into this book. Honestly, I still struggle with anxiety, but if it wasn’t for the friends and family that stepped in and who were willing to walk beside me, this book probably wouldn’t have happened and I would be in a very different place. And I owe so much to them. 

Lightning Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I have a Tim Tebow book that I have yet to crack open but I heard a bit about. I should really read that shouldn’t I? 

Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Facebook?

Facebook. I’m old fashioned.

Favorite Superhero?

Green Lantern. I mean, Batman. No, Superman…really, I can’t decide, sorry.

Favorite TV show?

Stranger Things

Sweet or Salty?

Depends on my mood.

Any Phobias?

The phobia of failure.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Are any of you familiar with southern folk music?

2023 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

The Flash

 

 

About David Yuen:

Born and raised in NJ as a second generation Chinese American, David Yuen received a B.A. from Rutgers University and has been writing poetry along with other writing styles for over twenty years. His works have appeared in other publications including Poetry East and Romantics Quarterly.

Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

About Micah Zhang:

Micah Zhang, a North American based visual artist with Chinese and Japanese roots. His visual language encompasses the wonders of nature, the allure of science fiction, the essence of urban lifestyle, and the enigmatic mysteries of our world. With a decade of experience, he breathes life into stories through his illustrations and various artistic mediums. With a keen sense for details and a knack for capturing imagination, Micah Zhang expertly brings fantasy characters to life in a visually pleasing style.

Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of WILLIE THE WORRYING DOG, US Only.

Ends July 4th, midnight EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

6/26/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
6/26/2023	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
6/27/2023	Books With a Chance	Review/IG Post
6/27/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	Review/IG Post
6/28/2023	Character Madness and Musings	Guest Post
6/28/2023	@dharashahauthor	IG Review/TikTok Post
6/29/2023	@get.outside.and.read	IG Post
6/29/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
6/29/2023	@read.with.mamab	IG Review
6/29/2023	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post
6/30/2023	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
6/30/2023	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
7/1/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
7/1/2023	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
7/2/2023	Girls in White Dresses	Review/IG Post
7/2/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

Blog Tour- THE RISE OF THE RAIDIN by @SusanMarkloff With Susan's Favorite Video Games and a #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE RISE OF THE RAIDIN by Susan L. Markloff Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE RISE OF THE RAIDIN (The Human-Born Era #1)

Author: Susan L. Markloff

Pub. Date: November 1, 2021

Publisher: Susan L. Markloff

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 367

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-RISE-OF-THE-RAIDIN

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership!

2022 Readers' Favorite Winner for YA Urban Fantasy.

Jennifer Monroe is an average eighteen-year-old girl, and she knows it.

Which is precisely why no one—least of all herself—would suspect anything extraordinary from the quiet, boring girl who only has a few good friends to call her own. But that all got flipped on its head about a year ago, when two imposing men, a complete goofball, a werewolf, and two large four-legged creatures barged into her life.

Now over a year later, Jen leads a double life. Mild mannered, quiet, high schooler by day; dragon slayer and raw-energy-wielding-warrior (in training) by night. Juggling SAT scores, papers, and mastering the art of flying, she’s managed to keep her friends and family oblivious of her hybrid abilities and continue on a track for college. Everything was going swimmingly.

Until one normal, foggy, November morning, when a dragon crashed through the clouds, heralding a small army to descend on her high school.

All for little, forgettable her.

Making her realize that maybe there’s a whole lot more going on than she originally thought.

Reviews:

"A must-read, action-packed adventure that combines the real-life challenges of high school with that of an epic, otherworldly armageddon. I highly suggest The Rise of the Raidin for YA fantasy fans—you won't be disappointed!" - Reedsy Discovery, ★★★★★

"Susan L Markloff has pulled off a fantastic story here, with depth of plot and characters that leave you wanting to read more. Young Adult Fantasy readers will find a whole world to love in The Rise of Raidin, and the premise fits nicely within the genre. Superbly written, with great humor and attention paid to each character that makes the whole read thoroughly enjoyable." - ManyBooks

"A highly original YA urban fantasy, The Rise of the Raidin is an engaging mixture of everyday high school pressures, and the pressure of confronting mythical beasts. The well-choreographed action scenes and snappy dialogue result in a work of YA fantasy that will satisfy traditional YA readers and fantasy readers alike." - Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★

"The Rise of the Raidin delivers an original take on dragons and dragon slayers with a secret world, a double life, coming-of-age discovery, and action-packed fight scenes." Reader's Favorite, ★★★★★

"The Rise of the Raidin is an exceptional science fiction/high fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of those genres, as well as readers who enjoy high school drama." BookLife, ★★★★

 

I love video games so I was excited that Susan shared hers with me!

Top 5 favorite Video Games.

When I was a kid, we weren’t given a lot of TV time. Saturdays were the only day we were allowed to spend hours in front of the TV, and that was because of cartoons in the morning. But come lunchtime, it was pretty well understood that we should be doing something else. Video games were limited, and for the longest time, all we had was an NES, Sega Genesis, and an N64 (I just dated myself HARD). A console would come out of storage and be out for at most a week, and then it would go back into a closet for months.

 

I didn’t get into video games until I was in college, when one of my best friends introduced me to Kingdom Hearts. Until then, I’d been pretty bad at games. Most games I played required one to, “Get good,” and I was never patient enough to dedicate that much time to mastering video games—let alone allowed to have that much time to sit and play a game just so I could say I “got good.” Kingdom Hearts revolutionized video games for me, because just wildly running about and hitting the X button rewarded me with a completed game. I didn’t have to learn the minutia of the gaming mechanics to immerse myself into the world of the game and get the story.

 

I play video games now primarily for the stories. It has to be a game or franchise that I adore for me to dedicate hours and hours replaying a game. These games are all ones I’ve immersed myself in, and either have replayed, or would replay happily.

 

Kingdom Hearts: because it’s running around Disney worlds, interacting with all these characters I loved as a kid, plus it’s become a wildly intricate and deep plot. What’s not to love? Plus, Sora is one of my favorite characters of all time. And the fact that there’s all these trios throughout the series? It’s just fantastic. Not to mention the gameplay just keeps getting better. Kingdom Hearts 3 was a genuinely fun game to play, and I keep replaying it because I just have a grand time with all the mechanics.
Dragon Age: Origins: The game that got me into genuine RPGs. I cannot get over how complex this game is for its time. The number of origin stories, possible endings, all the little decisions and details that players can make…I keep hoping they’ll make a remastered version. The characters are all complex and compelling, the world of Thedas (while small in Origins) feels rich and deep, and all of the worldbuilding that went into this game has created a genuinely awesome franchise.
Dragon Age: Inquisition: It’s the only game I’ve ever platinumed on my PS4. I really love this game. The progression of the characters, the advancement of the overall story, the ever-increasing lore. Plus, all the places of Thedas players get to explore! It’s the only game I’ve found myself enjoying playing all of the various “types” of play styles, and part of that was because I legitimately wanted to see what it was like playing as all of the different skill types. I usually go with Rogues, but I finished the game with Tank and Mage characters, and found each playthrough just as fun as the last.
Mass Effect 2: The whole series is great (I even enjoy 3, for all its faults), but every time I replay ME2, I just feel so empowered. I’ve yet to fail the suicide mission at the end, and each time I wrap the game, it’s just like…this feeling that so long as I have friends at my side, I can conquer anything. The wide array of characters is astounding to me. And while I do enjoy all of the different squad mates you can have, I tend to always wind up with Garrus and Tali at my side. They’re just great characters!
Legend of Zelda: BOTW: I mean, really, is there anyone with a Switch who doesn’t own this game and love it? Part of why I love it is because my nephews and nieces love it, and they love watching me play games, but it was a genuinely fun game. I’m not a huge fan of no-leveling and basically no control over stats so that I have to “get good” in order to accomplish certain tasks, but BOTW definitely hit my top five.
Honorable Mention: Pokémon Red: Because it was my absolute favorite game as a kid, and I still have my old Gameboy and original Red game cartridge, and all of the nostalgia hits whenever I hear that tell-tale music.

 

 

About Susan L. Markloff:

2022 Readers' Favorite Award Winner.

Susan Markloff spent a majority of her childhood pretending to live in other worlds. Coupled with her admiration for fantastical stories, she crafted one of her own. Studying writing at Houghton College, she learned how to hone her skills as an author, writing first drafts of five books during her college career. The Rise of the Raidin is her debut novel and the first in the Human-Born Era series. Susan resides in her hometown of Sellersville, PA with her faithful dog, Pinkerton.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive signed finished copies of THE HUMAN-BORN ERA series, US Only.

Ends July 4th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/19/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
6/19/2023	YA Books Central	Interview/IG Post
6/20/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Guest Post
6/20/2023	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
6/21/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
6/21/2023	Cara North	Excerpt/IG Post
6/22/2023	the original B00K nerd	Review/IG Post
6/22/2023	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
6/23/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	Review/IG Post
6/23/2023	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review

Week Two:

6/26/2023	Thealylifestyle	Excerpt/IG Post
6/26/2023	@paperback.princess22	Review/IG Post
6/27/2023	Nerdophiles	Review
6/27/2023	Jaime_of_gryffindor	IG Review
6/28/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
6/28/2023	@jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Review/TikTok Post
6/29/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
6/29/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
6/30/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
6/30/2023	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Review/IG Post