Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival by Beverly Abear ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #AmazingAmandaCarnival #BeverlyAbear #KidsBooks

Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival by Beverly Abear

Kids Books / Young Adult

Date Published: 01-14-2026

Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival includes comedy and yet realistic life issues. Readers will laugh, giggle, worry, and cheer Amanda's attempts at growth. Amanda is a pre-adolescent girl who deals with body issues, middle-school drama, angst with new girls, coming of age issues such as seeing beyond the surface, handling responsibilities of leadership, and questions about faith. Set in a mid-size central Minnesota town, the story is told exclusively from Amanda's point of view. Amazing Amanda is a clean, family friendly story.

This is Abear's debut novel.

Coming soon: Book 2 Amazing Amanda and the Mystery of the Black Cat and Book 3 Amazing Amanda and Her Bright New Day. The series takes readers through Amanda's entire sixth-grade experience.

 

Read an Excerpt:

Amanda lurched down the hall, flapping her arms like a pelican trying to dry her armpits, and flew past the locker area and into her homeroom class. As sunshine streamed through open windows, she hoped a breeze reached her soon.
She shrank down when she got into her seat, the last desk in the middle row of five. Head and shoulders taller than most students and twice as wide, she preferred the back. That was better than hearing, “Amanda scrunch down so I can see,” or “Amanda, could you move a bit to the left?” and other—not so nice—comments.
When the bell rang, she punched out her left arm. “Yay! I made it on time.”
“Watch it,” Charlie Piggott said in the row to her left. His blue eyes widened. “Almost got me that time.”
“Sorry.” Amanda grimaced. “Really.”
“It’s okay. Better luck next time.”
“Huh?”
“To hit your target.”
She frowned. “I don’t want to hit you.”
He broke out in a grin. “Amanda, I’m just kiddin’ ya.”
Amanda grinned back. “You’re a pal.” After she dragged her science stuff from the book bag, she kicked the bag under the desk. Tucking her thatch of brown hair behind her ears, she wiped sweat from her forehead and closed her eyes to slow her breathing. She sensed the noise and chatter fading away…
“Before you get too settled, Amanda.” Miss Holter’s voice pierced through Amanda’s mist of serenity. “Please close the door.”
Amanda scrambled to her feet, smacking her thighs against the desk. “Ow!” She gritted her teeth and lumbered to the door.
As she started to close it, Miss Holter said, “Then come to the front of the class.”
Amanda jerked, slamming the door.
“Uh Oh’s” escaped from several students as heads swiveled toward her.
Confused, Amanda stumbled over a bookbag on her way to the front, mumbling, “One more thing and I’m going to scream.”
Standing beside Miss Holter made Amanda feel almost petite.
When the teacher turned, she whispered to Amanda, “Go ahead and sit in the chair there beside my desk.”
Amanda glimpsed the corners of her teacher’s mouth turn up ever so slightly and wondered what she wanted. If I’m not in trouble, why am I here? Miss Holter, her favorite teacher, had never done anything to embarrass her before.
The teacher motioned for their full attention. “In faculty meeting this morning, Principal Primson announced we’re having a carnival fundraiser. The sixth grade will be putting on the event. A student representative will help organize the students as we work on the carnival. The four homeroom teachers each nominated one student who must accomplish three challenges.”
“Sounds like too much work,” Mark Nelson said, scrunching his face.
The teacher nodded. “It will be. But a student with real leadership potential should not find the challenges too difficult. The tasks may even be invigorating for him or her.”
A zing of excitement crept up Amanda’s spine.
The teacher crossed her arms with a smug look. “My nominee—no, pardon me—our section 6B nominee is the very best.”

About the Author:

As a teacher for almost thirty years, Beverly Abear enjoys writing for middle-grade and young adult readers. She has several stories in progress that she hopes to finish and get published. The Amanda stories are mostly set in a k-6th elementary school like the one the author attended in northern Minnesota. Because her faith has greatly affected her life, Beverly's passion for her readers is that they grow to trust in the Lord and enjoy an abundant life in Him.

Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival is Beverly's debut novel.

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Purchase Links:

https://mybook.to/AmazingAmandaCarnival

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Forest Legend -The Tale of Ol’ Split Toe by Dan Ellens ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #ForestLegend #DanEllens #YoungAdult #YA

Forest Legend -The Tale of Ol’ Split Toe by Dan Ellens

The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Science & Nature/Environment Science Fiction/Time Travel Literature & Fiction/Action & Adventure

Date Published: 03-31-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Mother Nature struggles to maintain equilibrium in a changing world while fire, disease, logging, human displacement, and war repeatedly destroy forests of centuries-old trees. Split Toe, a deer chosen at birth for a unique education, travels through time to understand the interconnected workings of a Michigan forest. He meets humans along the way: Ice Age hunters who trap and kill a mastodon; Mukwoh, a young Ojibwe hunter who stalks Split Toe through swamp and forest; loggers clearcutting Michigan’s white pines; Edra, a woman advocating for the trees; Angus and Grace, pioneers who become a first generation of family farmers; scientists from the future studying the impact of nuclear radiation.

Split Toe witnesses two hundred years of conflict building between modern humans -- who fight to control the natural world -- and Mother Nature, who repeatedly reaches for balance. He wonders whether human ways will ultimately overpower Mother Nature, until he meets a boy who changes everything.

Read an Excerpt:

Chapter 5 – The Sacred Circle – AD1409

Page 54

Copyright @ 2026 by Daniel S. Ellens 

And here, within the ancient circle, the barrier between the physical world and the spirit pool was thin. He could hear them now, whispering to each other in the wind.

Waawaashkeshi breathed deeply, looked up into the tree foliage, and asked the spirits the question that was weighing on him.

“Was that really necessary? The hungry cougar? The human stalking me? This flea? The problem at the river? I nearly broke my neck. It is still sore.”

Waawaashkeshi stretched his neck upward and to the side in a circular motion, lifting his chin. He was speaking to himself. Listening for an answer that would come from within.

“Am I not a chosen deer? Why do you not protect me from such things?”

The spirit’s answer seemed to whisper through his mind like wind through the leaves.

“Waawaashkeshi, you know that physically, you are an ordinary deer. You learn from experience as any other living thing learns from experience. You are as big and strong as your kind can be. Your chances of survival are better than other deer because of your strength and the wisdom you’ve gained from your experiences. Your adversaries are mighty, which will only make you stronger … if you survive. Your judgment grows, like a river fed by many streams. You would never be able to understand what you must learn if you were not an ordinary deer who faces real suffering. You are not protected from the natural trials of life because trials are a part of life. Do you think you could understand the strength of the river without such a crossing? Do you think you would have found out about the living soil if you had not crossed the river? Knowing such things is important. Your experiences will guide you in the future. They will help you understand the natural world, the forest, and its inhabitants. They will help you survive. These are your lessons.”

About the Author:

 

 Dan Ellens is an outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about connecting people with nature. He spends nearly half of each year in an isolated, electricity-free treehouse on Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary with woodstove heat, handpump water, and oil lamp lighting.

Dan has written four nonfiction books intended to inspire adventure, promote self-sufficient lifestyles, and connect people with nature.

 

While not in the wilds, Dan and his wife live in the small community of Salem, Michigan.

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Instagram

LinkedIn: Daniel S. Ellens

Purchase Links:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon eBook

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Burn Her They Said by Cherish Wright (The Anomalies of Ampara Deicra, #1) ~ Fantasy, Romance

Burn Her They Said
Cherish Wright
(The Anomalies of Ampara Deicra, #1)
Publication date: June 26th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

What would you endure for those you love?

Imperial Grand Witch Tasch was born with emotional influencing magic stronger and stranger than any other witch—an Anomaly the Emperor requires to manage his temper and that of those he interacts with under threat of harm to those she cares the most. He assigns five sorcerers–all Anomalies–each the strongest in their magical form. After years of enduring the hardship of serving the Emperor, they form an alliance intending to free every citizen.

One sorcerer changes everything.

Until a sorcerer named Varic is found to have magic surpassing Tasch’s Lead Guard, to which the Emperor sends him to serve in the Imperial Army, diverting from his claim to have assigned only the strongest sorcerers in the Continent to Tasch’s detail no longer being accurate.

Varic is made to strengthen his magic until even he cannot contain it, resulting in the worst magical catastrophe in history. Wielding power the Emperor covets, he sends Tasch to rehabilitate him with the false belief her magic alone can make him want to live. Tasch soon discovers Varic is another survivor of the same corrupt system and they forge a strong bond, free from the Emperor’s prying eyes for once in her life. In the months Varic requires for healing, they fall in love—a love so forbidden, the consequences are too dire to mention.

Oppression forms unbreakable bonds.

Increased attacks on the Imperial Palace require drastic measures, prompting the Emperor to assign Varic over Tasch’s detail. The problem being now that bordering lands are escalating their efforts to reclaim necessary resources the Emperor hoards, Varic’s presence makes it impossible for he and Tasch to hide their feelings for one another, as well as the signs her magic is fading drastically. And with no heir apparent due to the Emperor’s belief he will discover the answer to immortality, they need to be more careful than ever.

In an Empire where Dragons are revered like Gods, one power-hungry tyrant rules it all, while Tasch and her Guards .

Dragonfall meets A Discovery of Witches in this dark fantasy forbidden romance between Imperial Grand Witch Tasch whose magic is fading, and Varic, the sorcerer she saved years earlier who will stop at nothing to return the favor. Family, power, and Empire collide in the first of this series as everything Tasch has ever known begins to change. Will they find a way to save her without major consequence to the citizens, or will her magic fade entirely?

Amazon

Meet the Author:

Writer of Dark Romantic Gothic Fantasy with character driven stories with MC’s in their 30’s

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter

—

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

The Fablecastle Chronicles by Trina Spillman ~ Magical Realism #BewitchingBookTours

The Fablecastle Chronicles

Trina Spillman

Genre: Magical Realism

Publisher: Trina Spillman

ISBN: 9798649138604

ASIN:B08956JDBP

Number of pages: 252

Word Count: 47,500

Cover Artist: BrainyGeeks

Tagline: How do you report the truth when the truth could end everything?

About the Book:

Maggie McCullough is a star reporter for the Daily Mirror. In her monthly column, Setting the Record Straight, she revealed the truth behind the fables you may remember from your childhood. Those interviews brought her to the attention of someone in another dimension, someone claiming to be Lucifer. 

Join Maggie and Andrew Wolfgang, her boyfriend and quasi bodyguard, as they travel to Earth and hopscotch across this strange dimension, in pursuit of a story that explains the truth behind Lucifer’s origins, the mutation he unleashed on Earth’s inhabitants, what really happened to the ark following the great flood, and why pyramids dot the planet. 

Can Maggie write her earth-shattering article and escape Earth before all hell breaks loose?

Purchase from Amazon

Watch the Book Trailer

Read an Excerpt:

Maggie and Andrew approached the bar and were relieved they had arrived twenty minutes early. That is, until an attendant approached Maggie and said, “Good evening, Miss McCullough. If you would follow me, I will lead you to your private cabana. Your guest has already arrived and is waiting for you.” Maggie held up her finger and said, “I’ll be right with you.” “Certainly, take all the time you need.” The man moved to the end of the bar and waited discreetly. Maggie grabbed Andrew’s elbow and dragged him to the opposite corner of the bar. She was a little frazzled. “I am not going into a closed tent without you being able to watch me, especially since I have no idea who I’m supposed to be interviewing.” “Tell the waiter you are claustrophobic, and you need one of the side flaps on the cabana removed. That way I can keep an eye on you during the interview.” “Perfect.” Maggie summoned the waiter and explained what she needed. He seemed irritated but, without a word, walked to the cabana and unzipped the side flap, revealing an attractive man of medium build with a head of thick auburn hair lit with natural highlights of red and blond. Hair color to die for, Maggie thought. She squeezed Andrew’s elbow and whispered, “Here goes nothing.”

Andrew didn’t want her interviewee to be alerted to his presence, so keeping a respectable but short distance from Maggie, he nonchalantly whispered, “You’ll do great.” Maggie followed the attendant to the cabana where the man was sitting. He stood as she approached and held her chair out for her. She thanked him and sat. Turning toward the waiter, the stranger authoritatively commanded, “Bring the 1869 Chateau Lafite.” “Very good, sir. Will there be anything else?” “No,” he said dismissively. The waiter left. The man sitting across from Maggie said, “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lucifer, but you can call me Luc.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Maggie extended her hand. The man sitting across from her looked at it with disgust. She slowly withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap. A palpable energy radiated from him and made her skin crawl. Maggie quickly drew a protection spell in her notebook and was relieved when the unsettling sensation abated. Luc addressed Maggie. “There are a few ground rules that will need to be established before we commence.” Maggie said, “Absolutely. Please, continue.” “First, don’t speak unless spoken to. Secondly, there is a lot of information to cover and I will tell you what is important and what isn’t. Lastly, don’t be irritating. Keep your questions relevant and we will get along swimmingly.” What a dick, Maggie thought, but bit her tongue since she was positive such a comment would undoubtedly irritate him. “Duly noted.” “You may proceed and ask your first question.” Maggie jumped right in and asked, “What story do you want to set straight?” Luc chuckled. “I am not the figure humans have made me out to be and I would like to tell my side of the story.” 

 

Meet the Author:

Trina Spillman, who also writes under the pen name Selene Greenleaf, crafts both practical witchcraft guides and immersive works of fiction that span romance, magical realism, and contemporary thrillers. Splitting her creative life between Colorado’s mountain landscapes and a growing library of story ideas, she blends current events, folklore, plant magic, and real-world rituals to invite readers into transformative experiences. Under Selene Greenleaf, she’s the author of Witchcraft Essentials: A Modern-Day Guide to Spells, Herbs, and Crystals; Cupid's Craft: Love Spells for Valentine's Day; and her forthcoming Plant Magic Encyclopedia: Rituals & Remedies, resources designed to help modern practitioners weave intention and botanical wisdom into everyday life. 

Writing as Trina Spillman, she’s best known for her engaging fairy tale retellings. Upcoming projects include: 

A New Dawn — a gripping political thriller of power, ethics, and love, to be released by The Wild Rose Press 

Collateral Justice — the powerful sequel to A New Dawn, where a hidden alliance of the world’s elite blurs the line between justice and vengeance. 

The Witches of Fablecastle— When a witch hunter’s mirror exposes her forbidden magic, Holly McCool flees through a portal to Fablecastle, only to learn she’s the one destined to stop him from tearing both worlds apart. 

The Quantum Hitchhiker’s Guide to Escaping the Matrix — a witty, mind-bending manual on how to hack reality, rewrite your personal code, and manifest with humor, consciousness, and a touch of modern witchcraft.  

Whether she’s exploring the ethics of power in a thriller or sharing herbal recipes for daily rituals, Trina/Selene’s work reflects her unwavering belief in the healing and transformative power of words. 

https://authortrinaspillman.com 

https://authortrinaspillman.com/mailing-list

https://www.instagram.com/authortrinaspillman/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18389879.Trina_Spillman

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else by Kelly Lorenzen ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #DoWhatYouLove #Outsource #KellyLorenzen #Nonfiction

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else by Kelly Lorenzen

Entrepreneurship 101: Start, Grow, and Succeed Without Burning Out 

Nonfiction:

 Small Business / Entrepreneurship / Workbook. 

Date Published: November 20, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else® is a practical, no-fluff guide and workbook for new and growing entrepreneurs who want to build a sustainable business without burning out. Written for real life and small businesses, this book meets you exactly where you are, whether you’re launching from a tiny town, running a family-owned shop, or growing something scrappy in a big city.

Designed to be read and used at the same time, this Entrepreneurship 101 resource helps business owners gain clarity, create momentum, and reclaim breathing room. Readers are guided to read a little, do a little, and see results without overwhelm or jargon. The approach is grounded, actionable, and written by a fellow business owner who understands the realities of building while juggling life.

Who It’s For

●     New and newer entrepreneurs, solo or family-run, who feel stretched thin or overwhelmed.

● Small-business owners who want simple, real-world guidance, not theory or hype.

Why It Matters Now

●     The way we market, operate, and grow has changed. In 2025, overwhelm is common and delegation often comes too late. This book provides a clear, practical path to simplify sooner, outsource with confidence, and protect your energy as you grow.

What Readers Will Gain

●     Bite-size guidance you can act on immediately.

●     Encouragement from an entrepreneur who has built, led, and rebuilt through real-life challenges.

● A clear roadmap to build a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience as an entrepreneur, CEO, and philanthropist, author Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, shares proven strategies for confident delegation, streamlined marketing, and systems that actually work. Her personal journey, including navigating health setbacks and professional rebuilds, shapes the grounded, compassionate advice throughout the book.

Each chapter concludes with simple, step-by-step momentum exercises designed to help readers implement what they learn right away. Inside, readers will discover how to:

●     Build a brand that sounds like you and connects with the right audience.

●     Create marketing systems that work on repeat.

●     Delegate without losing control or quality.

●     Build systems that keep running, even when you can’t.

● Reclaim your calendar, avoid burnout, and future-proof your business.

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else® is the practical playbook new and growing entrepreneurs wish they’d had from day one. It is clear, encouraging, and designed for sustainable success.

 

About the Author:

 

 My name is Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, and I am an award-winning entrepreneur and the CEO of KLM Consulting, Marketing & Management. I am also a podcast host, speaker, breast cancer survivor, author, wife, and mom. With more than two decades of experience building and scaling companies and coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, I am deeply committed to helping small and family-owned businesses succeed.

My team, often referred to as “business owner duplicates”, partners with clients as a fractional C-suite and project implementation arm, helping business owners simplify operations, hand off marketing, build systems, and scale sustainably. The goal is simple: allow owners to focus on what they love while confidently outsourcing the rest.

Contact Links:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

LinkedIn

Purchase Link

Amazon

This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.