The Patron Saint of Lost Girls by Maureen Aitken #releaseday #literary #fiction #shortstories #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction / Short Story Collection

Date Published: 09-16-2025

Publisher: Wayne State University Press

In 1970s and '80s Detroit, the city wrestles with an unending economic downturn, increasing violence, and white exodus to the suburbs. Amid all of this is twentysomething Mary who is just trying to grapple with her identity in a world filled with uncertainty.

In this collection of linked stories, we follow Mary as she seeks to cope with and withstand hardship and confront her fears of exploitation, abuse, and death. Along the way, she delves into the complex yet nurturing relationships with her family and friends who teach her to love better, live fuller, and question power. The Patron Saint of Lost Girls presents an unflinching tale of life in the late twentieth-century postindustrial Midwest.

 

About the Author

Maureen Aitken’s short-story collection, The Patron Saint of Lost Girls, received a Kirkus star, the Nilsen Prize, and the Foreword Review INDIE Gold Prize for General Fiction. It will be reissued in September, 2025 by Wayne State University Press. Her stories have earned a Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artist Initiative Grant, a Loft Mentor Award, an award from Ireland’s Fish Short Story Prize, and two Pushcart Prize nominations. It was also nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Her stories have been published in Prairie Schooner and New Letters, among others. This is her second story featured in The Missouri Review’s Blast section.

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Delivered by James Mondesir #literary #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction

Date Published: May 15, 2025

 

 

 Delivered is a moving, contemporary novel about Jean Valeur, a Haitian American NYU grad student whose life is derailed after he’s wrongly arrested during a party sting. After a harrowing stint at Rikers Island, Jean is released under a COVID-19 emergency order into a city unrecognizable from the one he once knew. Now a food delivery worker, he must rebuild a broken life, reconnect with estranged loved ones, and face the friend who betrayed him.

Told entirely in Jean’s raw, lyrical voice, Delivered is an unforgettable story of redemption, justice, and self-forgiveness.

 

“Freedom, it suggests, is not the absence of bars, but the hard-won choice to forgive not just others but also oneself.” — Publishers Weekly

 

About the Author

James Mondesir is a Haitian-American writer, educator and father. His work centers on themes of justice, race, and personal redemption. He lives in Jersey City with his wife and their dog. Delivered is his second novel.

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The Patron Saint of Lost Girls by Maureen Aitken #teaser #excerpt #comingsoon #shortstories #fiction #literary #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 

Literary Fiction / Short Story Collection

Date Published: 09-16-2025

Publisher: Wayne State University Press

In 1970s and '80s Detroit, the city wrestles with an unending economic downturn, increasing violence, and white exodus to the suburbs. Amid all of this is twentysomething Mary who is just trying to grapple with her identity in a world filled with uncertainty.

In this collection of linked stories, we follow Mary as she seeks to cope with and withstand hardship and confront her fears of exploitation, abuse, and death. Along the way, she delves into the complex yet nurturing relationships with her family and friends who teach her to love better, live fuller, and question power. The Patron Saint of Lost Girls presents an unflinching tale of life in the late twentieth-century postindustrial Midwest.

Excerpt

“AUGUST, WHEN the cicadas burned and the lawnmowers sounded like industrial bees, we couldn’t stop. In the bedroom, on the couch, on the floor. Afterward we would lie there, reading the paper or letting the television taunt us like a car salesman. Paul would wiggle his toes against mine, and we’d look at one another for a long time. His face was like a catcher’s mitt, warm and beaten. He reminded me of one of those boys who had moved away when I was little, but Paul had returned a man.”

-“This is Art”

 

About the Author

Maureen Aitken’s short-story collection, The Patron Saint of Lost Girls, received a Kirkus star, the Nilsen Prize, and the Foreword Review INDIE Gold Prize for General Fiction. It will be reissued in September, 2025 by Wayne State University Press. Her stories have earned a Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artist Initiative Grant, a Loft Mentor Award, an award from Ireland’s Fish Short Story Prize, and two Pushcart Prize nominations. It was also nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Her stories have been published in Prairie Schooner and New Letters, among others. This is her second story featured in The Missouri Review’s Blast section.

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The Smallest of Miracles by Douglas Carpenter #literary #fiction #rabtbooktours @miracles65720 @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction

Date Published: March 6, 2025

Publisher: Seacoast Press

One choice. One moment. A ripple that changes everything.

In The Smallest of Miracles, Douglas Carpenter crafts a masterful literary debut that merges gripping storytelling with profound life lessons. The novel follows Ted Carrington, a wealthy, brilliant, and emotionally distant man on the autism spectrum, who returns to the private elementary school that shaped him—for better and worse. He intends to make a large donation, but what begins as a business transaction slowly becomes a reckoning with his past.

As the story transitions between Ted’s present and his childhood, readers meet the deeply flawed, often cruel boy he once was—especially to a vulnerable new classmate named Anna. But life, in its quiet way, begins to turn his world upside down.

What emerges is not only Ted’s transformation, but an invitation to the reader: to reflect, to slow down, and to reconsider how the smallest decisions—the ones we barely notice—can lead to the greatest changes.

This is not just a novel. It’s a call to awareness. A self-improvement guide disguised as a coming-of-age story.

📘 "Just like everything in life, meaning is found in the small details."

📘 "A golfer knows a 2-inch putt counts the same as a 200-yard drive. Life is very similar..."

📘 "Change is the fertilizer of life. It often stinks, but it is necessary for growth."

🔹 Perfect for fans of literary fiction with depth

🔹 A powerful read for young adults and up

🔹 Ideal for classrooms and book clubs seeking discussion-worthy themes

Read it once for the story. Read it again for the insight.

 

About the Author

Douglas Carpenter is not your typical author. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Douglas became the youngest stockbroker in the U.S. at just 17 and currently owns two accounting firms and an asset management company in New York. Despite a thriving career in finance, his true passion lies in storytelling.

His debut novel, The Smallest of Miracles, took ten years to write—a deeply personal and intricately crafted journey of self-discovery and transformation. Drawing on his keen eye for detail and analysis, Douglas poured over every word, shaping a literary fiction novel that functions as both an engaging story and a guide to personal growth.

The book explores how tiny, seemingly insignificant choices shape our lives far more than major events. Readers are invited to slow down, reflect, and discover truths hidden in the smallest details—just as Douglas has done through his writing.

Douglas hopes his novel will find a place in high school curricula and on the bookshelves of thoughtful readers young and old. His message is clear: "The truth is always hidden behind things that are out of place."

Connect with Douglas Carpenter to discover a new perspective on life, character, and the miraculous power of small decisions.

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The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman #bookreview #giveaway #historical #fiction #Rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Literary Historical Fiction / LGBT Friendly

Date Published: 07-16-2025

For Caleb McRae--devout Baptist, Texas Ranger, hero of the Wild West--life's simple enough: lawmen bring bad guys to justice, and hellfire's a sinner's fate. At least it seems that way, until he falls in love with the notorious outlaw, Henry Midnight...

Thomas Anderson of Literary Titan calls The Ballad of Midnight and McRae "wildly entertaining" and recommends it "to lovers of literary fiction, fans of Cormac McCarthy or Marilynne Robinson, and anyone who believes that stories still have the power to save."

Poet Malcolm Guite writes, "In the story of Midnight and McRae we are enabled to hear the long conversation between Pagan and Christian, and within Christianity between protestant and catholic. and on a personal level between father and son, between lover and beloved, and deep within ourselves, the conversation between the person we are pretending to be and the person we really are. And all these vital conversations are enfolded in and arise from a compelling story set on the frontiers, the badlands, and the formative days of America itself, the place where so many of these conversations need to take place."

“Wildly entertaining… Jess Lederman writes with a fierce tenderness, blending lyrical prose with grit and grace.”

—Thomas Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Literary Titan

Review

This was a great story that held my attention from start to finish.

So many elements of this story were well done. The sense of place and time, of family, guilt, culture, and faith and love are so richly layered.

I found I was genuinely invested in the characters.

Composed with unassuming wisdom and grace, The Ballad of Midnight and McRae is an exhilarating testament to the human spirit.

About the Author

Jess Lederman lives with his wife and young son in Southern California, where he writes historical fiction. His debut novel, Hearts Set Free, was an award-winning Amazon best-seller. When he's not writing or playing with his son, he's usually at the piano playing Chopin and Brahms for his wife.

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To Sing Like a Mockingbird by Jan Notzon #literary #fiction #bookreview #giveaway #rabtbooktours @jannotzon @RABTBookTours

 

Literary Fiction

Date Published: 01-13-2025

 

 

In a school/reformatory, a teacher fights his own loss of faith in the power of education and the twin assaults of drug cartels, their hired assassins among his students. and the blind idealism of his principal.

 

Review

A wonderful book with a little bit of everything, it has mystery, drama, and many deep themes that make it stick with you after you read it.

I thought this novel was an excellent fusion of depth and suspenseful twists.

The storyline and characters were captivating.

It's clear the author invested a lot of effort into crafting this book, with every twist adding to its unique appeal.

About the Author

Jan Notzon is a novelist and playwright in Charlotte, NC.

His first novel, The Dogs Barking, is a coming-of-age story set in a sleepy backwater Texas border town in the 1950s. And Ye Shall Be As Gods, recounts a brother’s fight to rescue his sister from the clutches of despair and his lost love from catatonia. The Id Paradox, is the story of three friends, assumed betrayal, rescue and healing from the horrors of spiritual annihilation.  Song for The Forsaken chronicles the tale of two sisters and the loss of faith that tests the bond between them. Suffer Not the Mole People, is the story of a family's travails as they make their way from Poland to the United States in 1866. ONLY THE DEAD tells the personal stories of three families, one Anglo and two Mexican as they participate in the establishment of the Mexican and Texas Republics. His seventh novel To Sing Like a Mockingbird is now available on Amazon.

 

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To Sing Like a Mockingbird by Jan Notzon #fiction #literary #literaryfiction #giveaway #rabtbooktours @jannotzon @RABTBookTours

 

 

Literary Fiction

Date Published: 01-13-2025

 

 

In a school/reformatory, a teacher fights his own loss of faith in the power of education and the twin assaults of drug cartels, their hired assassins among his students. and the blind idealism of his principal.

 

 

About the Author

Jan Notzon is a novelist and playwright in Charlotte, NC.

His first novel, The Dogs Barking, is a coming-of-age story set in a sleepy backwater Texas border town in the 1950s. And Ye Shall Be As Gods, recounts a brother’s fight to rescue his sister from the clutches of despair and his lost love from catatonia. The Id Paradox, is the story of three friends, assumed betrayal, rescue and healing from the horrors of spiritual annihilation.  Song for The Forsaken chronicles the tale of two sisters and the loss of faith that tests the bond between them. Suffer Not the Mole People, is the story of a family's travails as they make their way from Poland to the United States in 1866. ONLY THE DEAD tells the personal stories of three families, one Anglo and two Mexican as they participate in the establishment of the Mexican and Texas Republics. His seventh novel To Sing Like a Mockingbird is now available on Amazon.

 

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Surviving Karma by Mark Nistor #literary #fiction #mystery #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 

The Karma Series, Book 2

 

Literary Fiction, Mystery

Date Published: November 9, 2024

 

Officer Bella Streit's abduction has yet to make headlines. Her captor once again humiliates police by nabbing Captain Stark's protective detail from the precinct parking lot. Her predecessor, the third officer taken, adds to the comedic nature of embarrassing the police. Taken from the scene of an accident, Officer Tauron Sandoval's handling reflects the lengths at which Pin will go to feed his hunger. Now with Bella secured, Pin no longer needing Tauron leaves her to a fast moving hourglass of life. Her minimal sands flow as two other officers succumb.

Pin seeks revenge through torturing those he deems as old police. Detectives Rix and Jain work the case. They find a roadmap offering clues to the serial killer's endgame. The roadmap given to them by informants. However, unknown by the detectives is Pin also has informants feeding him information. Double agent informants play their roles as if trained spies. Both parties question the loyalties while traversing to the ultimate showdown.

Surviving Karma will require finding the common ingredient to their sandwiches of life.

 

The Karma Series

 Available on Amazon

 

Challenging Karma

The Karma Series, Book One

 

Surviving Karma

The Karma Series, Book 2 

 

About the Author

Well, Mark’s just a guy who made a life-changing promise.

Mark prides himself on being a family man, entrepreneur and now, author. Trained to be a certified logistics professional, Mark got a certificate in video and television production. Script writing class helped expand a love for transforming ideas into stories. One of those first scripts would become a first novel, Challenging Karma.

The published author experience has always placed high on a list of dreams.

Mark’s late mother would be the one to give the push needed to make the dream a reality. After reading a first draft; she offered encouragement toward finishing a yet to be named story. The self-published Karma series is how he is keeping a promise to her.

 

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The Algorithm by Gary Tutty #speculative #literary #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Philosophical Speculative Literary Fiction

Date Published: November 13, 2024

 

For readers of George Orwell’s "1984" and Kazuo Ishiguro’s "Klara and the Sun," Julian Mercer’s "The Algorithm" is a deeply philosophical speculative novel that explores the boundaries of truth, morality, and societal control. With a world teetering between progress and tradition, this story invites readers to question the systems they trust, their values, and the fragile balance between harmony and freedom—a profound and thought-provoking work for those seeking more than just a story.

About the Author

Julian Mercer has written extensively under another name and lives in the mountains of Colorado. His novel The Algorithm, 15 years in the making, represents his most ambitious work yet, blending deep philosophical inquiry with speculative storytelling. With a career steeped in exploring the intersection of technology and society, Mercer invites readers into a world where truth and harmony collide.

  

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Hard White by Melanie Dugan #literary #historical #fiction #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Literary / Historical Fiction

Date Published: 09-25-2202

Publisher: Woodpecker Lane Press

 

In this vividly-rendered novel, Melanie Dugan reimagines the life of Alice Neel, a groundbreaking American painter who revolutionized the art of the portrait in the twentieth century. Born in 1900 into a straitlaced middle-class family, Neel charted her own unconventional path. Her lifetime spanned World War I, the 1918 flu pandemic, women winning the right to vote, the Great Depression, World War II, the McCarthy Era, the Civil Rights Era, and second-wave feminism. She worked for decades in obscurity, wrestling with depression, poverty, and misogyny, loving the wrong men, fighting to live life on her own terms, and above all to paint.

About the Author

Melanie Dugan is the author of Bee Summers (“a carefully wrought portrayal of the way we carry trauma with us through life.” Brenda Schmidt, Quill & Quire), Dead Beautiful (“the writing is gorgeous,” A Soul Unsung), Revising Romance (“heartwarming, amusing and…downright sexy,” Midwest Book Review), and Sometime Daughter (“Stunning debut,” Kingston Whig-Standard). Her short stories have been shortlisted for several awards, including the CBC Literary award. She lives in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

 

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