PUYB Author Talks: ⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex' Carole P. Roman⭐ #GradyWhill #interview @caroleproman

 

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children’s books. Whether it’s pirates, princesses, spies, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children of all ages.

Her best-selling book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! has reached number one on Amazon in March of 2020 and has remained in the top 200 books since then.

She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren.

Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman.

Roman is the CEO of a global transportation company, as well as a practicing medium.

She also writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and has created an anthology of the mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors.

Writing is her passion and one of her favorite pastimes. Roman reinvents herself frequently, and her family calls her the ‘mother of reinvention.’ She resides on Long Island, near her children and grandchildren.

Her series includes:

Captain No Beard

If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural

If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical

Nursery series

Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book

Grady Whilland the Templeton Codex

Giggles Galore- Coming in December 2022

Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes! 1 and 2

Spies, Code Talkers, and Secret Agents A World War 2 Book for Kids

Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber

Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber

Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden

Bulwark

The Knowing- Book 1- A Bulwark Anthology

The Devil and Dayna Dalton- Book 9-A Bulwark Anthology

Her latest book is the YA Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex.

Visit Carole’s website at www.CarolePRoman.com or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself? 

I have two sons. I had a front-row seat to bullying and learning challenges. No research needed.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub? 

I left it with a literary agent for two years. When nothing happened, I decided to pursue the indie route.

If self-published, did you hire someone to format the ebook version for you or did you do it yourself?  Can you tell us what that was like? 

I work with Chrissy Hobbs at Indie Publishing. She is patient, wise and a wonderful person to work with. https://www.indiepublishinggroup.com/ She is smart and will take time to answer questions.

If self-published, how did you determine the price? 

I looked at other books, compared prices and looked at my profit margin.

Did you purposefully choose a distinct month to release your book?  Why? 

I wanted a soft opening through the summer so that I could gather editorial reviews. The hard push came in September when kids go back to school.

How did you choose your cover? 

My son does the cover work. He plans it and then finds an artist to create it. He has done all of my covers.

Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went? 

Yes, I am constantly starting over and developing the story.

Did you come up with special swag for your book and how are you using it to help get the word out about your book?

 I used to do that. Covid changed a lot of that. Funds for marketing are much more limited right now.

Did you consider making or hiring someone to make a book trailer for your book?  If so, what’s the link? 

I have two people working on that right now.

What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book? 

I'm fine with anything that gets word of the book out.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released? 

I like to see what Kirkus, Foreword, readers Favorite, Blue Ink, Feathered Quill and a host of others have to say about the book. If they aren't impressed, then maybe you have to rethink.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released? 

Put up posts on Facebook, book tours, do as many interviews as you can.

What kind of pre-promotion did you do before the book came out?  

Not much, except for some posts to Facebook.

Do you have a long term plan with your book? 

Hoping it makes it as a series.

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book? 

This book is a coming-of-age story that uses fantasy as the vehicle. It's about building confidence, believing in yourself, and learning that nothing should hold you back. It's appealing to all genders and ages, and I hope people relate to the challenges and victories of the characters. .

Inside the Book

Templeton Academy- the superhero high school is finally open!

The prestigious academy is recruiting the best of the best to enroll in its student body.

The school is as mysterious as it is exclusive.

Grady Whill thinks there is nothing special about him to make the grade.

However, his best friend, Aarush Patel has been selected and thinks Grady has the right stuff.

Even school bully, Elwood Bledsoe is attending.

If Grady is fortunate enough to be picked, his guardian has forbidden him to attend.

Will a family secret prevent Grady from becoming the superhero he was destined to be?

“Roman’s writing is excellent: portraying wonderful, complex characters. Narrated by Grady, the story reveals his kindness and humor. (“Aarush lived in a smart home as opposed to my stupid home,” he tells readers). It also illustrates the lovely symbiotic friendship between Grady and Aarush, who protect each other from trouble and ridicule…With the book’s many touching, funny, and edge-of-your-seat moments, readers will be cheering to hear more from Grady.” Blue Ink Review

“With a page-turning plot and exciting twists and turns, this book is sure to become a treasured favorite.”- Review by Book Excellence

“If I were to give a book to every young adult in this world, I would give them Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman without blinking. I absolutely loved every moment of this uplifting and fascinating story. It’s filled with valuable life lessons, adventure, peril, and highly relatable and lovable characters.” Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers’ Favorite

“Harry Potter meets Sky High. If you’re a fan of young adult stories where protagonists go to mysterious schools to train their superhuman abilities, don’t miss out on Grady Whill and The Templeton Codex.” Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Reader’s Favorite

“With a detailed descriptive narrative, great character development, and compelling dialogue, the author has created a story that will have young readers engaged to the very end.” Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Reader’s Favorite

Book Information

Release Date: July 18, 2022

Publisher:  Chelshire, Inc.

Soft Cover: ISBN:  978-1950080434; 286 pages; $10.99; eBook $8.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qvn3kv

⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐Erica Rosen MD Trilogy by Deven Greene @dgreeneauthor #medicalthriller

 

Pediatrician Dr. Erica Rosen faces seemingly insurmountable odds when her clinic work brings her face to face with evil conspiracies endangering countless people… 

By Deven Greene

Dr. Erica Rosen is perplexed when she sees a young Chinese girl with blue eyes in her San Francisco pediatrics clinic. The girl’s mother, Ting, is secretive, and Erica suspects she has entered the country illegally. Later, Erica encounters Ting’s son and discovers he has an unusual mutation. Erica learns that Ting’s children underwent embryonic stem cell gene editing as part of a secret Chinese government-run program.

The Chinese government wants to murder Ting’s son to prevent others from learning about his unusual mutation and the secret gene-editing program. At Ting’s urging, Erica heads to China to expose the program and rescue the infant Ting was forced to leave behind, all while attempting to evade the watchful eye of the Chinese government.

Book Information

Release Date: January 7, 2021

Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

Soft Cover: 289 pages; $4.53; eBook $4.65; Free with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wv8hlN  

Black Rose Writing: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unnatural?rq=deven%20green

Dr. Erica Rosen’s world is turned upside down after a suicide bomber explodes amidst a large crowd entering Oracle Park baseball stadium, near her San Francisco home. Many are killed or injured, and police have no leads in solving the case.

Erica becomes involved after a teacher of young autistic men contacts her. The teacher believes her students are involved in the bombing but is afraid to contact law enforcement. She reaches out to Erica, who has experience with special needs children. 

Erica arrives at the school but finds the police already there and a young autistic man doing a jigsaw puzzle, oblivious to his murdered teacher on the floor. The young man has information about the mastermind behind the bombing but has limited ability to speak. Erica is determined to protect him, prevent further bombings, and find his missing classmates.

Book Information

Release Date: October 21, 2021

Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

Soft Cover: 281 pages; $17.38; eBook $4.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qe4zJP 

Black Rose Writing:

https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unwitting?rq=deven%20greene

 

Pediatrician Erica Rosen is stymied when two of her patients don’t respond to medicine as expected. When other patients later develop strange, unexpected illnesses, she is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Meanwhile, the department’s newest pediatrician, Dr. Nilsen, appears to be trying to steal her patients. Erica suspects he is after her job as the clinic director. She also discovers Dr. Nilsen has become romantically involved with her trusted assistant, Martha. One evening, while looking for patient information on Martha’s desk, Erica comes across a list with the names of some of her patients. A boy who recently became ill with a mysterious malady is on the list and has an asterisk by his name. What does that mean?

Erica is convinced something nefarious is underfoot, and Dr. Nilsen, rather than simply being after her job, is engaged in a dangerous scheme involving her patients. Unable to recruit the help of law enforcement in a timely manner, she realizes she must take matters into her own hands. As she proceeds with her investigation, she is unaware of the dangers she is about to encounter.

Book Information

Release Date: August 18, 2022

Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

Soft Cover: 329 pages; $21.95; eBook $6.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Tp8u3J 

Black Rose Writing:

https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unforeseen?rq=deven%20greene

GIVEAWAY!

Deven Greene is giving away autographed copies of the whole Erica Rosen MD Trilogy to one lucky person!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the set of books
• This giveaway ends midnight December 30.
• Winner will be contacted via email on December 31.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Fiction writer Deven Greene lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Ever since childhood, Deven has been interested in science.  After receiving a doctorate in biochemistry, she went to medical school and trained as a pathologist. She worked for several decades in that field before starting to write fiction. Deven incorporates elements of medicine or science in most of her writing. She has published several short stories. Her debut novel, Unnatural, is the first book of the Erica Rosen MD Trilogy, and was released in January 2021. Unwitting, released in October 2021, is the second Erica Rosen MD novel. Unforeseen is the final book in the Trilogy.

Visit her website at www.devengreene.com or connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.

 

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⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐The Atlantean Horse by Cheryl Carpinello #YA #Paranormal #Supernatural

 

Steeped in ancient mystery, an epic quest sends Rosa and Jerome into deadly danger as they search for the First of Five Feathers of the Phoenix…

By Cheryl Carpinello

Ancient Mystery…Mystical Prophecy…Biblical Horsemen

One Epic Task

The Task: Retrieve the Five Feathers of the Phoenix to raise Atlantis so its people can return home.

The Chosen: Cousins Rosa & Jerome embark upon a perilous and personal quest to retrieve the first Feather. Rosa’s special gift, kept far in the Past, will be revealed, and Jerome will discover his.

The Opponents: The Four Deadly Horsemen of the Apocalypse will stop at nothing, not even murder, to possess the Feathers.

Join Rosa & Jerome as they risk all in their search for the First Feather!

Book Information

Release Date: September 23, 2022

Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing

Kindle: 149 pages; $5.99

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eHdTmT

Book Excerpt

Taking a deep breath, I wonder—for the first time in two years—at the ties that bind me, ties I now think of as a gift rather than a curse.

She said you would help. She said you could help because you walk in two worlds.

“What…what do you want?” Idiot, I tell myself. You know better than to ask that question.

This time the man speaks out loud. “The time is now.”

I finger the ankh again, squeezing it, absorbing the warmth. "Time for what?"

"It is time for Atlantis to rise again. It is time to gather the Feathers of the sacred Phoenix bird to set the island in motion."

I blink as images of a sunken island and fleeing people, animals, and birds fill my head. “What…what do you want from me?”

“You are the one who must gather the Feathers on the Sun Days and bring them to the Atlantean Horse so that my people and my land can once more be united. It’s been too long, and our people wish to come home.”

“Me?” My eyes widen in disbelief.

The man nods. 

Putting my hands around my head, I try to block out the hundreds of voices from the visions running rampant through my brain. Voices crying out for help. 

A shiver travels down his body shaking me out of the trance. His hands vigorously rubbing his arms prompt me into action.

"Get inside. You have no business being out in this weather dressed as you are." I open the screen door and move to the side to let him pass. No, don’t start. Don’t say a word. She sent him here. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I know what I’m doing. I hope. I glance around the neighborhood to be sure no one else, especially Jerome, is around. Maybe I’m the only one who can see him, like Tut. 

"Thank you, Rosa," he says, continuing to briskly rub his arms. "She didn't tell me that your world is wrapped in ice."

About the Author

I’m a lover of mythology, myths, legends, and tales from the ancient/medieval worlds. I enjoy exploring how these have transcended time/space to influence our world today. Myths and legends don’t fade away; they are just repackaged for a new audience.

As a high school English teacher, I continually challenged my students to find connections between today and times long gone by. Some took more digging than others, but the connections were always there. One of my favorites, Star Wars, borrows several concepts from the Legend of King Arthur. The Star Trek series goes even further back into the mythology of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt as well as others.

I write Arthurian Legend for young readers and teens (I never refuse to let mature readers enjoy my stories!). These stories exhibit what I consider to be cornerstones of that Legend: Courage, Honor, Loyalty, and Friendship.

My tales from Egypt and my new series Feathers of the Phoenix meld the ancient/medieval worlds with today. The Atlantean Horse (Book 1 of Feathers of the Phoenix) also brings the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse out of the Bible and into the modern world. They and my main characters are after the feathers of the Phoenix in order to bring Atlantis alive again.

P.S. I believe in magic and Unicorns!!

Website Link:  https://www.cherylcarpinello.com

Blog Link: http://carpinelloswritingpages.blogspot.com/

Twitter Link:  https://twitter.com/ccarpinello

Facebook Link:  https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

Goodreads Link:    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2924554.Cheryl_Carpinello

Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/ccarpine1/

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⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐The Bonne Chance Bakery by Charlotte Rains Dixon #WomensFiction #Romance

 

Macaron baker Madeleine Miller almost loses her business–and her heart–to the fabulous actor slash business mogul Richard Bishop. Our heroine, Madeleine, follows a circuitous path filled with quirky characters to find her way back to herself…

By Charlotte Rains Dixon 

All Madeleine Miller wants is for her new Portland business, the Bonne Chance Bakery, to be a success. But things get off to a troubled start when her husband Will runs off with an employee and starts his own rival bakery, leaving her hobbled financially—and romantically. Luckily, she has the help of the bakery’s endearingly gruff accountant, Jack, and his precocious daughter Daisie. Portland foodies love the bakery’s French macarons, but alas, their passion doesn’t add up to financial success.

And then one day, world-famous entrepreneur slash actor Richard Bishop appears at the bakery and becomes smitten with Mad’s macarons—and her. His offer to franchise the bakery concept feels like selling out, and Madeleine isn’t interested. But when she learns of the shady dealings her ex-husband used to fund the bakery, she’s forced to accept Richard’s money. She also succumbs to the lure of his romantic interest. Soon she’s catapulted into a world of luxury and excitement in Los Angeles as she supervises the opening of a second Bonne Chance in Hollywood.

But in her efforts to save the bakery, will she lose herself? Set in Portland, Los Angeles, and Paris, the novel illuminates the crazy path romance can take us on—and the circuitous route that will lead the way home. With its themes of identity, self-determination and following your dreams, The Bonne Chance Bakery is a feel-good novel with a serious message at its core.

Book Information

Release Date: September 28, 2022

Publisher: Independent

236 pages; eBook $4.99

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KWEBUt

Book Excerpt

I watched Richard Bishop alight from his long black limo and thought three things nearly simultaneously: first, that I'd forgotten to remove my apron, which was dotted with specks of pink macaron batter, bits of pale blue butter cream, and a huge dab of yellow ganache. Second, that it was amazing how quickly and efficiently crowds parted for someone famous. Third, that Richard Bishop was the most freakishly attractive human being I'd ever laid eyes on. 

He was handsome in a the-Gods-bestowed-every-blessing-known-to-man-and-heaven kind of way. In a superhuman way. Apparently, also in a movie star way, though I'd never actually seen a movie star in person. But I was awed by his appearance, nearly knocked over by the sight of him. Especially because he seemed to me like my fictional idol Ford Dooley come to life, walking into the Bonne Chance. 

Jack and I stood in the doorway from the back hall to the showroom, watching as Richard made his way through the crowd outside, smiling, nodding, shaking hands, and pointing at people. His assistant held the bakery door open for him, while customers who had been in line gawked and craned their necks to watch him enter, then rushed to get a glimpse from the doorway behind him. Those who couldn't see from the door peered in through the glass door and storefront windows. 

And now Richard Bishop stood just inside the front door, grinning like a dog who knows he's about to go for a walk. He had the same eagerness as a dog, too, and a sense of being present unlike anybody I'd ever met. He wore a black turtleneck and trousers that fell in a perfectly cut line from waist to ankle. With his dark hair and dark clothes, he stood out among the pale blue and pink decor of the showroom and the muted jewel tones of the macarons, like a raven amid a flock of hummingbirds. He looked like he carried his own permanent illumination source, as if the sun shot beams of light upon him wherever he wandered. The man radiated charisma, and he wielded it effortlessly, smiling at each person in the crowd peering in the door one at a time and finally beaming his sunny grin at me.

I was not only awed by him, I was speechless, too. Because what do you say to a legend when he appears in your tiny little shop on a rainy September afternoon?  Especially after you refused to close said shop for his benefit?

If you're me, you say, "So you came anyway," and then wince because it sounded so snotty.

But Richard just grinned—that blinding smile—and walked toward me with his hand extended. "Madeleine Miller? I'm Richard Bishop. Pleased to make your acquaintance."  His voice was deep and low, his hand warm and soft, and then, unexpectedly he said, "Can I hug you? I'm a hugger."

Do you say no to a hug from a movie star slash business mogul? Do you say no to a hug from Richard Bishop slash Ford Dooley? Even when it strikes you as the tiniest bit creepy? Um, no. And so, I let him enfold me in his arms.  His turtleneck pressing against my cheek was as soft as cat's fur, and smelled vaguely of cinnamon, like the apple pie macaron I'd been trying to perfect. I tore myself from him before he pulled away from me, grimaced briefly at the crumbs my hug had deposited on him, then smiled in what I hoped was a bright, perky manner. 

About the Author

The great-granddaughter of pioneers who walked across the Oregon Trail, Charlotte Rains Dixon considers herself a westerner through and through. Many of her stories are set in her home state of Oregon, where her characters reside in fictional versions of her favorite wine area and coast towns, as well as Portland, where she lives. She is the author of the novel Emma Jean’s Bad Behavior and the forthcoming The Bonne Chance Bakery.

When not writing fiction, Charlotte teaches writing in the south of France, England, and around the Pacific Northwest. She also coaches writers privately. She is Director Emeritus and a current mentor at the Writer’s Loft, a certificate-in-writing program at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Spalding University and is the author of a dozen non-fiction books. Her fiction and articles have appeared in numerous publications.

Charlotte lives with her husband in Portland, Oregon, in a multi-generational home that is by turns boisterous and exuberant but seldom quiet. She believes no breakfast is complete without a crossword puzzle to work and no Happy Hour can actually be happy without popcorn.(Wine goes without saying.) Despite frequent stays in France, she regularly fractures the language. She is, however, fluent in Carney. Charlotte writes stories about places you long to live filled with people you’d love to know.

Learn more about Charlotte at her website, charlotterainsdixonauthor.com and be sure to sign up for her author newsletter at charlotterainsd.substack.com.

You can also connect with her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Wordstrumpet.

Sponsored By:

⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐The Rescue by Sher J. Stultz #YA #Scifi

 

A captivating space-time continuum mystery that toggles between generations with strong-willed characters and intertwining plots that keep readers guessing until the end…

By Sher J. Stultz

It all starts when the sheets go slack, and Aeneas vanishes! He and his two best friends, C.J. and Tabitha are spellbound as they watch the video feed of his disappearance and witness him climbing through his bedroom window an hour later, wearing different socks. Aeneas Entwistle, a slightly above average eighth grader is about to discover that the mystery of waking up with different socks is much more than just a prank.

Adding to that dilemma, Aeneas is struggling with new feelings for Tabitha and loses his cool during her birthday party. Meanwhile, Aeneas’s twenty-something daughter, Cassie has traveled thirty-eight years from the future hoping to find any small detail that might help locate her missing father. Enlisting Harold, the Entwistle’s quirky housekeeper, Cassie works to rescue a middle-aged Aeneas, who vanishes into the timestream when a 7.2 earthquake strikes northwest Washington in May of 2053. But Cassie’s presence in the past might have unforeseen consequences for everyone in her circle. As she struggles to find her father, a carefully guarded family secret is revealed, and Cassie must choose between altering the past or violating the shamanic rules of time travel!

“Author Sher J. Stultz weaves an intricate plot filled with unexpected twists and turns that hooks you in from the first page and refuses to let go until the end. Moving at a blistering pace, the narrative is full of intrigue, mystery, and a sense of wonder that you find in well-written adventure tales. The characters are colorful and full of life. Their distinct quirks and idiosyncrasies only make them more appealing to the reader. I adored the friendship between Aeneas, Tabitha, and C.J. I also found myself enjoying the dynamic between Cassie and Harold. Recommended to young adult sci-fi/fantasy lovers.” – Reviewed By Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

Book Information

Release Date: January 2022

Publisher:  Independent

Soft Cover: ISBN:979-8455440540; 290 pages; $14.99; eBook $3.99

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7ND264

Book Excerpt

Entwistle Farm, Walla Walla, Washington, July 1986

William’s whole body shook, causing his teeth to chatter in his head like a jackhammer. He was freezing, even though it was summer. William picked himself up off the hardwood floor and leaned against his upstairs bedroom windowsill. Heat shimmered over rows of crops in the fields behind their house.

“Not this again,” he groaned. William had been caught in a stream of energy, trapped in his own memories of the past. When he was inside the stream he would wish with all his might he was home, and an unseen force would jerk him back. 

A familiar sound reached his ears. His brother Archie was calling him to come downstairs. Archie and Larry were going out to the barn to test Larry’s new invention, a small remote-controlled plane with a camera attached. 

William yelled back to his brothers, “I’m gonna shower.” 

William tried to walk, but his legs were like jelly. He stumbled into the bathroom, gingerly stepped into the shower, and turned the nozzle. He rested his head against the tiles and let warm water fall on his body. 

 

About the Author

Sher Stultz lives with her family in the Puyallup river valley. The Timestream Travelers Chronicles is her debut series. Her inspiration for this series came from teaching middle school science and her deep curiosity with genetics and time travel. As a science teacher for seventeen years, she is always delighted to bump into former students and learn about the new adventures in their lives. In her spare time, she kayaks, dances, practices yoga, and goes camping or hiking. In the summertime Sher grows pollinator gardens for bees and hummingbirds, attends outdoor concerts, and reads in her hammock. An ardent conversationalist, Sher enjoys many genres of books and music and will happily converse with anyone on a variety of topics! Her first novel, The Rescue has been warmly received, garnering an indie B.R.A.G. Medallion, a Bookfest gold medal, and was cited as Pacific Book Awards Finalist. Book two in the Timestream series is slated for release in early 2023.

Website: https://www.timestreamtravelerchronicles.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timestreamtraveler/ 

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