Tag Archives: Memoir

Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee – On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on April 20th, 2020

Teetering On Disaster by Michaela ReneeTeetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

Publisher:  Bowker (January 11, 2019)
Category: Memoir/Self-Help/Non-Fiction
Tour dates: March/April, 2020
ISBN: 978-0578430805
Available in Print and ebook, 316 pages

Teetering On Disaster

Description Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

Michaela Renee Johnson was just 12 years old in 1992 when a financial slump forced her family to move from an upscale area in Sacramento to a 27-ft trailer in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with no electricity or running water — so no Nintendo or MTV. It wasn’t exactly the life that every adolescent dreams of, but it was, in fact, their reality.

Michaela chronicles these formative years (and beyond) in her often humorous, constantly candid true story, Teetering on Disaster. As the young Michaela navigates her way through the inherently melodramatic teen years, she must come to terms with relieving herself in the woods, shaving with a 10-cent borrowed razor in an irrigation ditch and taking what she called “bird baths” with a jug of water.

Somehow, in the midst of disorienting change, she learned to focus on what she was gaining instead of what she had lost. And in the end, she gained profound wisdom about her family and the world around her, and uncovered the truth about her own ability to thrive in the face of life’s inconveniences.

But the effects of her unorthodox upbringing don’t end at adulthood, and Teetering takes readers along as a grown Michaela stumbles upon a few “Mr. Right Nows,” gets divorced in her twenties, and ends up right back where she started: a small mountain town in the middle of nowhere.

Teetering on Disaster is a heartfelt, coming-of-age story written to inspire others to live a courageous life of authenticity and to speak their truth with grace. Michaela’s book is an unapologetically honest, authentic tale that will make readers laugh out loud and cry — sometimes at the same time.

Acclaim/Awards Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

Best Indie Non Fiction Novel, Shelf Media Group

Non Fiction Author’s Association, Silver Award

San Francisco Book Review, Prestigious 5 Star Award

San Diego Book Awards Best Un-Published Non Fiction

Praise Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

“Throughout Michaela’s autobiographical story, she sent me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Not being able to identify on a personal level with the extreme of both of her situations in each half of the book, I still felt that as a human being I could sympathize, and it helped me to have a greater appreciation for what I currently have. Michaela’s story had me happy at all of her highs, sad at the many losses, and emotionally confused concerning her relationships. What it all boils down to is that at times, being a grown-up, and a female, can be very difficult.”- Rachel Dehning, San Francisco Book Review

“I really did laugh, and cry, while reading this. I was able to relate to the experiences of the author, even though we are twenty years apart in age; the early years… amazing experience that family went through, creating a precious, ever-lasting bond between a young woman, her parents, and her two younger brothers.
Her humor and positive attitude, her extreme frankness and humility (touched with a bit of narcissism) draw one to her.
She, like the sweet doggies of the Great North, she is ever pleasing, forgiving, hard-working and never tiring. She relates to the dog world so much, calling herself Rio’s mom, that she probably won’t mind being compared to a canine. 🙂 Being a dog lover myself, I think of it as the highest compliment!
I wish I had her strength, her sense of humor and wit, her looks, her intelligence, her resilience and determination; I wish I had her ability to seems so Angie-Jolie-transcendent, and yet admit to being a little Grace-Adler-(Debra Messing)-ordinary … striking and competent, clumsy and insecure… God bless her!!
I wanna go through struggles and come out looking like Michaela Renee! One you just can’t help admiring.
Very inspiring. You just know she is going to be JUST FINE! She has spirit! She has spunk! And she IS LOVED… she will never be alone 😉 When she least expects it her true love will curl up next to her, and he won’t have four legs!”- Marcy Lundy, Goodreads

“Laugh out loud funny, interesting & touching. Teetering on Disaster is like a Modern day “Swiss Family Robinson meets Jerry Springer”! You could know the entirety of the story and Kayla’s writing style, quick wit, raw truth still entertains. If she wrote recipe’s we wouldn’t need the food channel. Buy it for every chick you know and earn major points, but make sure you keep one copy for yourself! Not just a “chick” book – man up and enjoy!”-Rick Harris, Amazon

Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

(c) Permanent Glimpse Photography

About Michaela Renee

Michaela Renee Johnson is a licensed psychotherapist, Be You Find Happy podcast host and an award winning published author. She inspires happiness by encouraging people to speak their truth with grace, and live a courageous life of authenticity.

Her business Be You Find Happy holds workshops and conversations on happiness in spite of life’s setbacks and has landed her speaking opportunities across the nation.

She lives in Northern California with her husband and son. She enjoys traveling and has visited 19 countries; she loves the ocean and everything in it. She rarely finds herself without an activity whether it be hiking, yoga, tinkering the garden, golfing, reading or spending time outside.

In her most simplest she loves poetic quotes and all things metaphysical.

Website: http://www.michaelarenee.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/michaelarenee

Buy Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

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Barnes&Noble
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Giveaway Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

This giveaway is for one autographed print copy and 2 ebook copies of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends April 21, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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Follow Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 2 Interview & Kickoff

Becky What U Talking Bout Willis Mar 3 Review

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Mar 4 Review & Guest Post

Miller Amazon Mar 5 Review

Amber Amazon Mar 6 Review

Michelle Reading Authors Network Mar 9 Review

Wendy Wall-to-wall books Mar 10 Review

Katy Goodreads Mar 12 Review

Gud Reader Goodreads Mar 16 Review

Karen Amazon Mar 23 Review

Jas International Book Reviews Mar 26 Review

Jas International Book Reviews Mar 26 Interview

Serena The Write Review Apr 1 Review

Amy Locks, Hooks and Books Apr 8 Review & Excerpt

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Apr 14 Guest Review

Betty Toots Book Reviews Apr 17 Review & Excerpt

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 20 Review

*This schedule is subject to change

Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee Johnson

TREK: My Peace Pilgrimage in Search of a Kinder America by Rand Bishop- On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on November 24th, 2019

TREK by Rand BishopTREK by Rand Bishop

Publisher:  Weightless Cargo Press (August 20, 2019)
Category: Memoir, Travel, Politics, Culture
Tour dates: Oct-Nov, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7330299-0-2
Available in Print and ebook, 384 pages
Trek by Rand Bishop

Description TREK by Rand Bishop

2017, America was turning mean. Heartsick, Rand Bishop couldn’t sit idly by. His action plan, however, had friends and family questioning his sanity. At 67, on bad knees and arthritic feet, with minimal camping experience and zero knowledge of long distance hiking, Rand set out to walk 900-miles, from Southern California to the Central Oregon Coast.

How an aging pilgrim managed to survive a 90-day test of will and endurance is only a fraction of this inspiring tale. The newfound hope Rand gained by listening to and interacting with a thousand people from nearly every walk of life is the true heartbeat of the TREK story.

 Advance Praise TREK by Rand Bishop

“I love this book. I laughed, I cried, I walked down memory lane. I drove a big truck for 12 years, many by myself. I know those roads and my feet hurt just reading about this journey. Thank you, Rand, for sharing your story.”-Nancy B. Thompson, Amazon

“The author’s musings on this once in a lifetime adventure make the reader feel as if she is on the trail alongside, experiencing all the emotional highs and lows without getting blisters on her feet. I loved every word; every page; every chapter! TREK is a delightful a book ~ I didn’t want it to end!”-Robyn Taylor-Drake, Amazon

“I loved turning to TREK when I couldn’t take the news any longer. It was like I was able to follow along in my worn down tennies — go at the pilgrim’s pace, meet the people he was meeting, see what he was looking at, while feeling the swoosh of trucks zooming by way too close and way too fast. More than a trek, this is a journey of discovery!”-Randall Platt, Amazon

Writing Awards Rand Bishop

First Place Nashville Screenwriting Conference for the original screenplay Tin Roof.

Three Star Award The Tennessean.

About Rand BishopTrek by Rand Bishop

Oregon native Rand Bishop is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, platinum music producer, musician/singer, author, and lifelong activist for peace, justice, and equality. In his 45 years as a music-business professional, Rand recorded for major labels, shared stages and harmonized with legends, contributed compositions to more than a dozen feature-film and TV soundtracks, several stage musicals, and amassed more than 300 tunesmithing credits.

Rand has authored five published books, is an optioned, award-winning screenwriter, a produced playwright, and, for six years, penned a bi-monthly column for American Songwriter Magazine. He has served on the boards of directors of three non-profits and currently acts as music director for the Central Oregon Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. In June, 2019, Rand premiered his original, one-man, musical, stage performance, TREK on Stage.

Website: http://www.randbishoptrek.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randbishoppage/

Buy TREK by Rand Bishop

Amazon
IndieBound

Giveaway TREK by Rand Bishop

This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends November 16, 2019, midnight pacific time.

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Follow TREK by Rand Bishop Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 7 Kickoff & Interview

Miller Amazon Oct 8 Review

Chuck Amazon Oct 9 Review

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Oct 10 Review & Excerpt

Beaten Coffee Barista Oct 14 Review & Excerpt

Cathryn Wellner Oct 23 Guest Post

Dave Amazon Oct 24 Review

Cathryn Wellner Oct 28 Review

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 29 Review

Michelle Reading Authors Nov 8 Review

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Nov 12 Guest Review

Ruth My Devotional Thoughts Nov 15 Review & Excerpt

Beth Amazon Nov 22 Review TREK by Rand Bishop

Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore: On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on November 26th, 2019

Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeForeGrowing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

Publisher:  Waldorf Publishing (July 15, 2019)
Category: Memoir, Disneyland, Entertainer Biographies, Coming of Age
Tour dates: Oct-Nov, 2019
ISBN: 1643166263
Available in Print and ebook, 348 pages
Growing up in Disneyland

Description Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

Part biography about TV and movie star, Don DeFore, and his son’s accounts of life in a celebrity family and beyond. Don DeFore made more than 35 movies in the ‘40s through the ‘60s and co-starred in more than a dozen.  He is best known for his role as “Thorny” the first next-door-neighbor on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” and “Mr.B” in the 1960s TV sitcom, “Hazel.” The book includes much of Don’s unpublished autobiography, ‘Hollywood-DeFore ‘n After.’

‘Growing up in Disneyland’ is a metaphor for Ron’s life growing up in a celebrity family filled with Fantasyland adventures he equates to a Forest Gump type life, from meeting the Beatles, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and other celebrities as Associate Director of the Steve Allen Show. His nearly 20 careers include a mid-life crisis as the Flying DJ at an L.A. discotheque to political positions within the Reagan Presidential Administration to establishing his own company. ‘Growing up in Disneyland’ is also to be taken literally, as Ron spent much of his youth in Disneyland where his father owned “Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue” restaurant in Frontierland. Ron and his brother, Dave, have given presentations to various Disneyland interest groups after which many attendees suggested, you should write a book.

‘Growing up in Disneyland’ will be enjoyed by any age group from baby-boomers that remember Don DeFore’s many beloved acting roles to those that don’t but are curious how life was in the good-old-days, especially growing up in a Hollywood celebrity family. Ron has had so many careers and adventures along the way that readers will have much to keep them from putting the book down.

Praise Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

“I enjoyed the flow of the book and how the author kept the momentum going, allowed the reader to adjust and then took them on a journey where they experienced the larger than life personality of Don DeFore. The language was simple yet encouraging. Ron DeFore draws the reader in and once they have entered the colorful world of the DeFore family, they won’t want to leave. Incredibly vivid and entertaining!” – Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

“I found the life and works of both author Ron DeFore and his father Don to be a truly fascinating tale of legacy, the surreal nature of fame and the bubble-like existence which that kind of family life brings with it. Ron writes with a candid nature and kind words, recalling many adventures with a nostalgic tone that is sure to hit the hearts of those who were living during the time of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, to name but a few. For me, it was a glimpse into a past I’d no experience of, and the recollections by both Don and Ron brought everything to life with fascinating detail and authentic voices. I learned an awful lot during this heartfelt tale, and I would certainly recommend ‘Growing Up in Disneyland’ to readers who remember the fifties, but also those who would like a true portrait of Hollywood lives at the time.”-K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

“A must Read Biography of a Film Star and Television Icon.  A fascinating read to hear his story from the viewpoint of his son, Ron who experienced every kid’s dream/ a wonderful childhood who had a golden pass to Disneyland”-Rick Lertzman, Amazon Review

About Ron DeForeGrowing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

Ron DeFore is the second son of movie, television and Broadway star, Don DeFore. He has one brother, David and three sisters, Penny, Dawn, and Autumn.

He has had nearly 20 careers from TV and film production, real estate, Disc Jockey, senior executive in the Reagan Administration, to forming his own successful public relations firm in Washington, D.C.

Ron has since retired from his firm and continues to consult and write, “Growing up in Disneyland” being his major project since 2018. Ron is married to Laurie Gambino

Website: https://growingupindisneyland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingUpinDisneyland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Moviestarson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofmoviestar/

Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore Actor Don DeFore Fan Club

Website: https://www.defore.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DonDeFore/members/

Buy Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

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Giveaway Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends November 1, 2019, midnight pacific time.

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Follow Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 8 Kickoff & Interview

Vicki I’d Rather Be At The Beach Oct 10 Review & Excerpt

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Oct 18 Review & Excerpt

Becky What U Talking Bout Willis Oct 21 Review & Guest Post

Katy Goodreads Oct 23 Review

Steve Amazon Oct 28 Review

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Nov 8.Guest Review

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 15 Review

Reading Authors Nov 22 Interview

Amy Locks, Hooks and Books Nov 25 Review & Excerpt

Ruth  My Devotional Thoughts Nov 26 Review & Excerpt

Growing up in Disneyland by Ron DeFore

Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury- On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on March 31st, 2019

Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron CouryTenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury

Publisher:  Las Vegas Publishing Group, LLC (Dec 20, 2018)
Category: Memoir, Las Vegas, Non-Fiction
Tour dates: Feb-Mar, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-732720-1-2
Available in Print and ebook, 282 pages
Tenacity

Description Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury

Tenacity tells the gripping true story of how Ron Coury, a Las Vegas businessman, Marine and former Brooklynite survived corruption and cancer to achieve the American Dream. The aptly-titled memoir focuses on the determination necessary to overcome any and all unjust obstacles that may stand in the way of one’s dreams.

Tenacity chronicles the evolution of the natural-born entrepreneur, a major business figure in Las Vegas for decades. As Coury climbed the ladder toward success, he faced a barrage of constraints including political and police corruption, bribery, coercion and even death threats. Along the way, he also had a couple of offers to settle matters discreetly, with a few well-placed bullets. His choices would have life altering consequences for many.

About Ron CouryTenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury

Ron Coury is a name that is well-known to long time residents and members of the business community in Southern Nevada. A former U.S. Marine, Coury has seen and done a lot in his 45 years in Las Vegas. Coury is an observational entrepreneur, a “niche finder,” in his words. With nearly every venture he has undertaken, along with various business partners, he identified operational nuances that led to enhanced levels of success with all their ventures. This mindset was fascinating to execute in a young, growing town like Las Vegas since his arrival in 1973.

Coury has worked as a casino dealer, real estate agent, founder of a limousine service and a partner in bars, restaurants, major graphics and glass companies, along with several automobile dealerships in Nevada and California.

From growing up on the streets of Brooklyn in the ’60s and early ’70s to surviving the good-ole-boy and Wild-West business and political climate of old school Las Vegas, this book is a testament to how Coury’s courage and perseverance enabled him to prevail against unethical, illegal and seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the path toward achieving his goals and dreams. Coury also chronicles his biggest challenge of all, beating esophageal cancer against the longest of odds.

Website: https://roncouryauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonCouryAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roncouryauthor 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncouryauthor/

Buy Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury

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BarnesandNoble
Indiebound

Giveaway Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury

This giveaway is for one print copy or ebook copy of the book.  Print is available to the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends on March 29, 2019 at midnight pacific time.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Follow Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Feb 5 Kickoff & Interview

Grady Harp Amazon Feb 6 Review

Dawn Bound4Escape Feb 7 Guest Review

Katy Goodreads Feb 8 Review

Jas International Book Promotion Feb 12 Review

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Feb 19 Review

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Feb 22 Review & Guest Post

Espo Amazon Feb 25 Review

Miller Amazon Feb 26 Review

Todd Amazon Mar 29 Review

Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury