Blog Tour with Giveaway: Confessions of a Self-Help Writer By Benjamin W. DeHaven

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer

By Benjamin W. DeHaven

#1 Most-Wished-for-Book of 2014 on Indie Bound for over 10 weeks!

Lunge into a funny, audacious, and devastating work of fiction based on factual events. As much a comedy as a tragedy, "Confessions is a unique piece of literature to be remembered for its originality as much as for its significance as a statement about living life in today's harsh reality." Explore the psyche of one of the world's most profound advisors: a Quixotic adventurer who admits freely to lurid depravity, substance abuse, and emotional complexity. Despite personal demons, he's fooled adherents into a unique reverence and might be responsible for saving more souls than Mother Teresa and Gandhi combined. 

Hypocrite isn't a strong enough word for someone who writes self-help books purely for profit. Two of the world's ten wealthiest used Enzo as a ghostwriter and while they attribute their status in life to Enzo's words, not a single one willingly admits to knowing him. DeHaven, a patsy in Enzo's schemes and a recurring voice, shares his own perspective and often times paints himself in a very negative light, which adds a layer of credibility to such a fantastical story. Brief moments of compassion and insight are even more powerful and poignant from this perspective.

The most disheartening admission presented is that Enzo would only fall back on his tremendous gift, of writing self-help, as a last act to pay debtors and sustain a ridiculous lifestyle. The reader of "Confessions" is forced to question DeHaven's motivation in publishing this journal. Does he truly want to ruin Enzo's legacy or is this an act of love? Reaching out to someone who is still lost. Enzo, wherever you are, pick up a self-help book and give it a read.  Who knows, you may have written it. 

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The Author:
Benjamin's Website / Twitter / Facebook  / Pinterest / Goodreads

A Graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Benjamin DeHaven keeps his heart in Chicago and his soul in New Orleans. He holds a MBA from Tulane and a film degree from Columbia. Once ejected from a community college for arguing Frost cried out for acceptance in Birches, he has since written screenplays, traded futures in Madrid, and was Editor in Chief of the Nola Shopper Newspaper, a free art newspaper and the 2nd largest monthly paper in the New Orleans, MSA. . He also has a "shout out" in a Jay "Z" Song. 

DeHaven, who currently resides in Las Vegas began his writing career with Stone United, a Chicago based Film Company, which works primarily in independent film. As an unknown fiction writer, he feels the best description of himself, is a sarcastic one and is as follows:

Benjamin W. DeHaven was born on a pool table after a Waylon Jennings' concert in 1977. His personal success is outweighed only by his stunning good looks and adherence to unwritten moral guidelines. He has been described as a thinking man's Tucker Max as well as an idiot's Hunter S. Thompson. His goal is to die from an unwavering commitment to be more like Hemingway.

He and Michael Enzo were friends.

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Book Review: Bob’s Hungry Ghost by Genevieve Cote

Bob’s Hungry Ghost by Genevieve Cote is a picturebook about a young boy that really wants a dog for his birthday, but gets a ghost named Fluffy instead. Unfortunately, Fluffy doesn't fetch, sit, or go for walks. All Fluffy does is eat everything, and soon all of Bob's things and even Bob himself end up in Fluffy's belly. Will Bob find a way to tame his unruly and very hungry ghost? Will Fluffy realize that eating Bob wasn't a very nice thing to do?

Bob’s Hungry Ghost is a creative look at how children, and adults, handle disappointment. bob is less than thrilled with a ghost for a pet, particularly when the ghost in question does not do any of the fun stuff he had planned to do with a dog. He pouts, and after a while starts to be less than friendly to his new pet. Fluffy in turn eat everything, including Bob. it is then that Bob reads the guidebook about having a ghost for a pet, and when Fluffy comes to think about the little boy in his belly. All ends well in a sweetly silly book about appreciating what you have. And everyone will want a ghost for their birthday after reading this book.

I would recommend Bob’s Hungry Ghost to picturebook readers of all ages. The story is perfectly illustrated and a fun read about appreciating what you have and accepting disappointment gracefully. My favorite part of the story is the realization that the possibilities of what we do have are often much better than what we might have had.

Early Book Review: Once Upon a Plaid (Spirit of the Highlands) by Mia Marlowe

Once Upon a Plaid is the latest book in the Spirit of the Highland series by Mia Marlowe. It is currently scheduled for release on October 7 2014.  Katherine Douglas is considered fortunate. Her husband, Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. However, after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart and she has yet to bear him an heir. Her pain and desire to set her husband free so he can have his heir has her at her childhood home. But William won't let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he's at her father's threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved.

Once Upon a Plaid deals with issues most romance novels ignore, the ever after that has troubles of its own. Katherine and William were promised to each other as children, and have found love together even if they do not really communicate well. However, after a still born babe and several miscarriages, some of which Katherine has kept to herself, there are barriers and pain between them that need to be breached. It is the lack of communication and shielded emotion that is the root of all the strife between them. I liked that both characters are strong, intelligent, and thinking about the welfare of the other more so than themselves.  the addition of clan strife adds another layer of tension and excitement to the story, as does the trials of Katherine's sister, but the true heart of the story is about sharing pain and coming together. There is some faith involved, but not so much that it will push away those that do not enjoy religious fiction. It is more a part of the character's and their lives than a plot point. 

I enjoyed that Once Upon a Plaid dealt with some very tough issues, and I felt for the characters throughout the story. i will say that since it began with the couple well into their married life I did feel like I missed something important when I first began the book. It was still a solid read, and may be a very hard read for those that have had trouble conceiving or carrying children to term. The main suggestion I would offer to make the book feel more complete is to offer a preface with a wedding night or childhood day when their love for each other showed. 

Blog Tour Book Spotlight with Excerpt: God's Banker by Chris Malburg

God's Banker 

Cardinal David Caneman took just three years to engineer his ascension into the CEO’s office of Vatican Bancorp. His cabal of fundamentalist zealots now quickly moves to seize the world’s largest institution. First by publicly assassinating the Pope. Next by replacing him with Caneman. Finally by giving the masses a common, everyday object—unquestionably used by their savior—to rally behind. For centuries, folklore has claimed the sacred item laid in wait sealed within the Church’s lost treasury vault. Caneman races to unearth the vault—if it exists. He has bet everything that he can find the blessed object, surely buried within. He intends using it to sweep the faithful from their ungodly ways and into his personal standards of piety.

The Taliban took just two years to overthrow Kabul. Armed with over a billion faithful worldwide and a $200 billion war chest—and the sacred Broom Of Formia—Cardinal David Caneman figures it will take him just half that time to conscript the hearts and minds first of Europe, then…

Jackson Schilling enjoys his happy, early retirement. He attends minor league ball games near his home in Elkhart, Indiana. He’s an amateur chef. And Jackson Schilling is a hunter. Then the SEC drafts him. Come on, Jack. One last audit. It’s mandatory after an attempt on the Vatican Bank Chairman’s life. But Jackson Schilling is no ordinary auditor. And it was his Commander in Chief who personally ordered him drafted. Schilling exhaustively uncovers Caneman’s deadly purpose. First he must stop a professional assassin from completing his mission against the Pope. Now the hard part—derail a fundamentalist faction led by a brilliant, ruthless [and some would say] saint to over a billion faithful. Jackson Schilling battles a force growing faster and more deadly than the Crusades, the Inquisition or the Taliban ever were. Legitimate governments will surely topple, becoming answerable to one man and his band of strict fundamentalists if Schilling fails.

Excerpt:

The young SEAL slowly raised his right hand in salute. All 243 of America’s Squadron saluted their President at the same time.

“Oorah, son,” said the President.

The young lieutenant hadn’t expected that from America’s chief executive. “Oorah, Mr. President,” he said back in a loud and proud voice that did justice to any man or

woman who ever wore the uniform.

“Oorah,” thundered 243 voices behind him.

The President stood in the summer sunshine of Washington DC. At this moment,

he realized there was no place on this earth that he would rather be than right here. The

finest examples of courage and bravery in the American people he had the privilege of

serving stretched before him. These people had taken time out of their busy lives to come

here to the White House to see him. About what the President still couldn’t say. But he

could smell the ribs already beginning to smoke next to the hastily erected canopies that

shaded picnic tables off to the side near where they land Marine 1, the presidential

helicopter.

A White House staffer had already brought a microphone and plugged it into the

permanently installed outlet. They often used this spot for events when the weather was

nice. The President stepped up and said, “America’s Squadron, I salute you and the

American people salute you. I am…” he bowed his head for a moment as it slowly began

to dawn on him why they might be here. “…I am humbled that you have taken the time

to come here to what is truly your house. You have fought for it and have bled for it. Your families have paid dearly for it. I am just its temporary caretaker. But make no

mistake, it is yours and by God always will be yours.”

Purchase God’s Banker

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The Author

Chris's  Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads 

Chris Malburg is a widely published author, with work spread over 11 popular business books--including How to Fire Your Boss (Berkley) and Surviving the Bond Bear Market (Wiley, March 2011).  In his other life, Chris is a CPA/MBA, a former investment banker and now the CEO of Writers Resource Group, Inc., providers of professional financial literary content to corporations (www.WritersResourceGroup.com).  That’s the professional side of Chris’ career.  The fun side began when UCLA’s Writers’ school taught him to transition from biz-speak to fiction. GOD’S BANKER and the first installment in the Enforcement Division series, DEADLY ACCELERATION, both combine Chris’ natural talent for story telling with his professional command of the high-stakes investment world and what money and power do to some people.

GOD’S BANKER  came to fruition from Chris’ hospital bed while recuperating from an athletic injury.  As a long-time endurance athlete, Chris is no stranger to the surgeon’scalpal.  Over 130,000 words later,GOD’S BANKER was complete.  “It just poured out me,” says the author.  “I carried my note pad to physical therapy; made plot notes during the hours in the gym doing rehab; even while on my long bicycle rides through the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean where we live.  Slowly endurance returned and with it, GOD’S BANKER.”

Chris Malburg lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Marilyn.  Their hobby is raising service dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  As of this writing, they have raised eight Labrador retrievers and have had three make the cut for placement with their disabled partners.