Room 13 by Kenneth Gilmore ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #RoomThirteen #KennethGilmore #Biography

Room 13 by Kenneth Gilmore

History / War / Biography

Date Published: April 13, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

 

About the Book:

What happens when training ends—and real combat begins?

In ROOM 13: A Fighter Pilot’s Story, Colonel Kenneth Gilmore delivers a gripping, firsthand account of life as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam/Laos conflict, where survival was never guaranteed—and every mission could be your last.

This powerful military memoir traces Gilmore’s extraordinary journey from a college football coach to an elite U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, flying some of the most iconic aircraft of the era, including the F-102, F-101, A-1 Skyraider, and F-106.

But nothing could prepare him for the brutal reality of war.

✈️ 220 Combat Missions. One Life-Changing Experience.

Assigned to fly the A-1 Skyraider—an aircraft with one of the highest loss rates of the Vietnam War—Gilmore quickly learned that traditional training fell short in the face of enemy fire.

After being shot down during mission 130, he survived hours on the ground before rescue—an experience that would forever shape his life, leadership, and understanding of war.

🔥 The Seven Rules That Meant Survival

In the chaos of combat, Gilmore and a fellow pilot developed seven essential rules for survival—lessons forged under extreme pressure and life-or-death conditions.

These principles became the foundation of his leadership when he later returned to command and mentor fellow fighter pilots as an Operations Officer.

🎖️ A Story of Courage, Leadership, and Sacrifice

Over the course of his career, Gilmore flew 220 combat missions and earned numerous honors, including three Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism. His rapid rise through the ranks to Colonel reflects both his skill and leadership—but also came at a cost, pulling him away from the cockpit he loved.

 

About the Author:

Colonel Kenneth Gilmore (USAF Ret.) is a decorated Vietnam War fighter pilot and author of ROOM 13: A Fighter Pilot’s Story. With over 220 combat missions in the A-1 Skyraider and three Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism, his experiences in air combat shaped both his military career and Phis life. Today, he shares his story to honor fellow pilots and educate future generations about the realities of war.

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“Huzza!” Toasting a New Nation, 1760-1815 by Timothy Symington ~ #Nonfiction #History @ToastFab4

“Huzza!”  Toasting a New Nation, 1760-1815

Timothy Symington

Genre:  Nonfiction/History

Publisher:  McFarland Books

Date of Publication:  September 29, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-4766-9315-6 Print

ISBN: 978-1-4766-5056-2 ebook

ASIN: BOCK62JP5L

Number of pages: 273

Word Count: 125,000. 

Tagline: Drinking toasts to the American Revolution and beyond!

About the Book:

During the early years of the United States, toasts captured popular sentiments regarding people and events.  Sometimes they were used to spread national ideology and partisan political views.  They could even be “weaponized” against political opponents, such as during the bitter election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1800.  “Huzza!”  Toasting a New Nation, 1760-1815 is a retelling of the familiar historical narrative, but toasts are used to tell the story of the events and people between the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

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Read an Excerpt:

     Israel Putnam of Connecticut, who led the rebels at Bunker Hill in June, was one of the first to be singled out for honors when the war began. The Connecticut Gazette printed toasts from a July 25 dinner in London attended by the Freeholders of Middlesex. General Putnam was toasted “and all those American Heroes, who, like men, nobly prefer death to slavery and chains.” Sons of Liberty leader Dr. Joseph Warren, who was killed on the battlefield, received the following toast from the Field Officers of the Sixth Brigade in Cambridge: “Immortal Honor to that Patriot and Hero Doctor Joseph Warren, and the Brave American troops, who fought the Battle of Charlestown on the 17th of June 1775.” This list of toasts, appearing in the August 21, 1775, issue of the Boston Gazette, or Country Journal started with a toast to the Continental Congress instead of to the British monarch. The officers raised their glasses instead to all the colonies, the Stamp Act riots, Lexington and Concord, and an end to the “present unhappy Disputes.” Dr. Warren would be a consistently toasted figure into the early 1800s.
     George Washington replaced George III as the main recipient of toasts, becoming the most toasted individual in the new nation. The King was now the enemy. Even English supporters of colonial rights, such as John Wilkes and Edmund Burke, were replaced by American military heroes. English support for the rights of the colonists, however, had not disappeared. The Virginia Gazette printed toasts the London Association made in October 1775. Association members wished for “axes and halters, at public expence, to all those who attempt to trample on the liberties of their fellow subjects, either in Great Britain or America,” and that “kings remember that they were made for their subjects, and not their subjects for them.”
     The former British corset-maker Thomas Paine brilliantly explained why the colonists should no longer rely on the King to protect their liberties. His pamphlet, Common Sense, demanded that Americans free themselves of Britain’s control. Paine wrote that “One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in Kings, is that nature disapproves it, otherwise she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule, by giving mankind an Ass for a Lion.” His words reached everyone in the colonies, and so he and his work were toasted: “May the INDEPENDENT principles of COMMON SENSE be confirmed throughout the United Colonies.”
     Most colonies had already taken Paine’s advice to heart and declared themselves to be independent states. Members of the Virginia convention calling for a resolution for national independence gave toasts in May: “The American independent states” and “The Grand Congress of the United States, and their respected legislatures.” Washington attended a feast at the Queen’s Head Tavern in New York City, where toasts were given to the Continental Congress and the American army, and to the memory of General Richard Montgomery, killed in the disastrous invasion of Quebec in December 1775. The final toast was “to ‘Civil and religious liberty to all mankind’—mankind, that is, except Tories.” Tories, the conservative supporters of the Crown, received extra abuse in the Patriots’ toasts: “Sore Eyes to all Tories, and a Chestnut Burr for an Eye Stone.”

About the Author:

Timothy Symington received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Saint Anselm College and his Master of Arts degree in American History from Adams State University.  A former educator, he now contributes to the Journal of the American Revolution.  “Huzza!”  Toasting a New Nation, 1760-1815 is his first book.

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ToastFab4

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Sub Tales 4 by Frank Hood ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #SubTalesFour #CharlesHood #FrankHood #History

 

Sub Tales 4 by Frank Hood

History - US submarine Force

Date Published: 09-08-2023

 

Sub Tales 4 is the latest offering by brothers Charles and Frank Hood in their prolific output of nonfiction books about the US Submarine Force. Like the three volumes preceding it in the series, Sub Tales 4 offers a detailed recounting of some of the most pivotal and poignant moments in the rich history of the Silent Service. Arranged as an anthology of individual short stories, the book covers many subjects with prose, photographs, maps, schematics, and other illustrations to complement the narrative.

About the Author:

Charles Hood is a Physician in South Carolina. He is the principal author of 7 of the 8 books in the Poopie Suits Series of True Stories, not fiction, from the US Submarine Force. Covering decades and wars and the Cold War, these stories offer insight into the severe world of the men (and now women) living inside a steel tube designed to sink.  What were the pressures they faced, the close calls, the unique encounters in ports, how did their families cope?  These subjects, and a whole lot more are covered in the Poopie Suits Series.

Frank Hood served on a nuclear submarine from 1968-1972 and his story "Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots - Tales from a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War"  was his story.  Surviving an odd interview with VADM Hyman G. Rickover was the first test.  His story interweaves with the culture of the time, the Vietnam War, campus protests, the race with the Soviets to build deeper diving, quiter submarines, and a lot more.

 

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Hiroshima Twins by Fumiko Tkahashi ~ Translated by Paul Kyriazi ~ #History ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #HiroshimaTwins #FumikoTakahashi

 

Hiroshima Twins 

by Fumiko Tkahashi

Paul Kyriazi (Translator)

HISTORY

Date Published: November 1, 2022

 

When the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima, the Nakamura family lived at ground zero. Miraculously, the entire family of ten survived. The father stopped at a friend’s house for tea before going to work. … That saved him. One daughter was late for work hanging laundry. … That saved her. One son was working in the hull of a ship. … That saved him.

You’ll read how the others were saved, often told by the twins and other family members in their own words.

And remember this … Even the most impossible parts of the story, really happened.

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Book Blitz & #Giveaway ~ Thomas Jefferson Family Secrets by William G. Hyland, Jr. @Williamhyland12 ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #ThomasJeffersonFamilySecrets #WilliamGHylandJr #Nonfiction

 

Thomas Jefferson Family Secrets by William G. Hyland, Jr.

Nonfiction / Biography / History

Date Published: 2-1-22

Publisher: Palmetto Publishing / Blackstone Publishing

About the Book:

A fascinating biography of Thomas Jefferson that presents an entirely new and provocative look at the final years of his life, as seen through the eyes of his most trusted family confidants. A powerful profile based on fresh research and unpublished memoirs.

About the Author:

A Virginia native, William G. Hyland Jr. is the author of four widely praised historical biographies, including “In Defense Of Thomas Jefferson” (St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne Books), which was nominated for the Virginia Literary Award. He is a seasoned litigation attorney with a national law firm and nearly thirty years of high profile trial experience. He is also a former Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law. His professional lectures have included speeches at the National Archives and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Hyland is a member of the Virginia and New York Historical Societies and serves on the Board of Directors of the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society. Mr. Hyland holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama and a J.D. from Samford University. Before law school, Mr. Hyland held a Top Security clearance and worked for the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

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Book Teaser & #Giveaway ~ Thomas Jefferson Family Secrets by William G. Hyland Jr. @Williamhyland12 ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #ThomasJeffersonFamilySecrets #WilliamGHylandJr #Nonfiction

 

Thomas Jefferson Family Secrets 

by William G. Hyland Jr.

Nonfiction / Biography / History

Date Published: 2-1-22

Publisher: Palmetto Publishing / Blackstone Publishing

About the Book:

A fascinating biography of Thomas Jefferson that presents an entirely new and provocative look at the final years of his life, as seen through the eyes of his most trusted family confidants. A powerful profile based on fresh research and unpublished memoirs.

Read an Excerpt:

On April 13, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial on the edge of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. World War II had injected the two hundredth anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth with special significance. The tide of history had just shifted its course. One of the foremost political figures in American history finally took his place in the ultimate American pantheon, within sight of George Washington’s soaring monument and Abraham Lincoln’s brooding, seated statue. No American has ever before enjoyed such a transcendent status as Thomas Jefferson. And over the next 250 years of American history, no public figure would ever reach the same historic heights.

This is the triumphant “political” image of Jefferson, yet one far from reality. Jefferson had desired to live in the “tranquil, permanent felicity” that flowed from a secluded home life at his elegant mountain estate, Monticello.[i] But during the last seventeen years of his cloistered family life, his story was infused with high drama in a congealed world of alcoholism, domestic violence, family jealousies, bankruptcy, and a grisly murder. Then came a humiliating series of political wounds, including an alleged sexual affair with a slave, corroding Jefferson’s personal and professional reputation.

[i] Thomas Jefferson, Letters and Addresses of Thomas Jefferson, ed. William B. Parker (Buffalo: National Jefferson Society, 1903), 43.

About the Author:

A Virginia native, William G. Hyland Jr. is the author of four widely praised historical biographies, including “In Defense Of Thomas Jefferson” (St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne Books), which was nominated for the Virginia Literary Award. He is a seasoned litigation attorney with a national law firm and nearly thirty years of high profile trial experience. He is also a former Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law. His professional lectures have included speeches at the National Archives and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Hyland is a member of the Virginia and New York Historical Societies and serves on the Board of Directors of the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society. Mr. Hyland holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama and a J.D. from Samford University. Before law school, Mr. Hyland held a Top Security clearance and worked for the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

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Looking Through History's Window by David E. Young ~ Nonfiction, History

 

Looking Through History's Window

by David E. Young

Genre: Nonfiction, History

In growing up in a church, and then spending seven years in a Bible College and Seminary, I was blessed to hear many outstanding and gifted preachers and Bible teachers. Many used interesting stories or illustrations to drive their points home. In listing of some of these illustrations, I thought I would like to know more details. Sometimes I wondered (thankfully not too often) if the details of the story were really true or accurate as told. Beyond doubt, this could be partly attributed to years of reading “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” feature in virtually every newspaper’s Sunday comics section. With that in mind, I have included with each illustration not only a title, Scripture verse and topic word, but also the source of the historical story so anyone who is interested can, with the help of modern technology and internet databases, not only find more details regarding the story, but also find documentation to confirm that each story can be validated.

The details of every illustration are, as far as can be validated by historical records, are true.

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David Young feels truly blessed! He is now retired and lives with his wife Ruth in Sequim, Washington where he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren!

Author Page

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Think You Know Your States? Series Sale Blitz ~ Chelsea Falin @ThinkStates ~ #Giveaway ~ Nonfiction, State Trivia, History

Colorado: Cheeseburgers, Hot Springs, & the Rodeo

Think You Know Your States? Book 12

by Chelsea Falin

Genre: Nonfiction, State Trivia, History  

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that the cheeseburger was invented in Colorado?

Or how about that Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana on all levels?

Or that Colorado has the highest "lowest point" of all the states?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Colorado, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Coloradans By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Colorado, and so much more! Want to learn about other states? Make sure you check out the other 'Think You Know Your States?' books! States currently covered include Florida, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, Indiana, Montana, and Missouri!

(Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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Missouri: Iced Tea, Earthquakes, & Parachuting

Think You Know Your States? Book 11

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that iced tea was invented in Missouri?

Or how about that the deadliest tornado AND the deadliest earthquake in US history took place in Missouri?

Or that the first parachute jump from a moving plane occurred in Missouri?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Montana, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Missourians By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Missouri, and so much more! Want to learn about other states? Make sure you check out the other 'Think You Know Your States?' books! States currently covered include Florida, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, Indiana, and Montana!

(Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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Montana: Elk, Cowboys, & Glacier National Park

Think You Know Your States? Book 10

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that the Montana Yogo Sapphire is the only North American gem to be included in the Crown Jewels of England?

Or how about that Montana’s average state population density is only six people per square mile?

Or that the largest migratory elk herd in the nation calls Montana its home?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Montana, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Montanans By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Indiana, and so much more! Want to learn about other states? Make sure you check out the other 'Think You Know Your States?' books! States currently covered include Florida, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Indiana!

(Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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South Dakota: Gold, T-Rex, & the Sioux

Think You Know Your States? Book 8 

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was found in South Dakota?

Or how about that South Dakota is home to the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota tribes which make up the Sioux nation?

Or that the world's only corn palace is located in South Dakota?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about South Dakota, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous South Dakotan's By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about South Dakota, and so much more! Interested in learning about a different state? Make sure to check out the states currently covered in the 'Think You Know Your States' book series! Currently covered states include Florida, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Idaho, and MississippI!

(Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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Mississippi: Root Beer, Blues, & the Big River

Think You Know Your States? Book 7 

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that Blues music was born in the Mississippi Delta, in the northwest section of the state?

Or how about that the state of Mississippi has more churches per capita when compared to any other state?

Or that the holiday we know as Memorial Day has it's origins in Mississippi?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Mississippi, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Mississippians By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Mississippi, and so much more! (Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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Idaho: Gems, Potatoes, & Hell's Canyon

Think You Know Your States? Book 6 

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that Idaho's name comes from a Native American word that means “the land of many waters.”

Or how about that Idaho grows nearly a third of the nation’s potatoes?

Or that the Idaho state capital building is the only one which is warmed by a renewable energy source?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Idaho, this book is a must read! Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year

*Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Idahoans By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Idaho, and so much more! (Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

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Wisconsin: Beer, Cheese, & Football

Think You Know Your States? Book 2 

Think you know your states?

THINK AGAIN!

Did you know that Wisconsin is home to around 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails?

Or how about that Wisconsin has the highest population of residents with Polish ancestry in the nation?

Or that Wisconsin has no toll roads?

If you want to find out more interesting, little known, well known, strange, or unusual facts about Wisconsin, this book is a must read!

Sections include:

*General State Facts

*Facts By City

*Sports

*Animals

*Strange News

*Infamous Crimes

*Natural Disasters

*Most Popular Baby Names by Birth Year *Population & Growth By Decade

*Famous Wisconsinites By Birth

Everything you'd ever want to know about Wisconsin, and so much more!

Also Check Out Think You Know Your States? Volume One - Florida: Lightning, Oranges, & Space Travel!!

(Book contains mildly violent subject matter in certain sections. Recommended for ages 10+, but is great for all ages with parental assistance and guidance)

**On sale for Only .99cents!!**

Add to Goodreads * Purchase from Amazon

Chelsea Falin is the multi-genre author of more than 35 titles. She's written books in the romance, erotica, young adult, children's, fantasy, paranormal, and nonfiction genres.

She began writing with intents to publish in 2006, and finally released her first book in 2009, at the age of 19. She has since released several standalone books and multiple series, which include "The Benson Family Chronicles,""Taming the Dragon Clan Chronicles," "The Growing Roots Series," "Curious Kids Series," and "Think You Know Your States? Series." Additionally, Chelsea is a content marketing specialist and book blogger.

In her personal life, Chelsea is a mom of two humans and three cats who enjoys reading, writing, cooking, fishing, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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