Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Elizabeth Jaeger for their latest release, Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19.

Book: Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19
Author: Elizabeth Jaeger
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
Genres: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Page Count: 275pages
Publisher: Unsolicited Press

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About the Book

When the world first went into lockdown, on a lark, Jaeger started a blog. Then, on Day 12, the unimaginable happened. Her dad got sick and she rushed him to the hospital. What followed was a close look at what it was like to watch a loved one suffer from COVID. After a nineteen day battle, her father died and the family was stricken with grief. But grieving during the pandemic was drastically different than in a time of normalcy. There were no funerals. No religious services. No ability to mingle with friends. Just the heavy feeling of loss, which at times was suffocating. Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 captures life in New York City – the constant sound of sirens, the new graves dug daily, the eerie silence and desolation of local playgrounds – the epicenter of the virus. In flashbacks throughout the narrative, vignettes illustrate her dad in happier times-a doting father, an adoring grandfather, a man who always put family first. It depicts encountering COVID up close and places it in a political and personal context. While the story is about one family, it is not unique. COVID touched everyone’s lives and many endured a similar experience.

You can find Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 here:
Amazon | Goodreads

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About The Author

Elizabeth Jaeger

Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 is Elizabeth Jaeger’s first book. Her essays, short stories, book reviews, and poetry have been published in various print and online journals, including Margate Bookie, Caustic Frolic, The Blue Nib, Capsule Stories, Watchung Review, Ovunque Siamo, and Italian Americana.  Newtown Literary published “The Treehouse,” which is a chapter from her novel in progress. Jaeger earned an MFA in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA in history from William Paterson University.

You can find author Jaeger here:
Author Website | Instagram | TikTok

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author James Dunlop for their latest release, Half Made Up.

Book: Half Made Up
Author: James Dunlop
Series: The Misjudgements of Andy MacKay (Book #1)
Publication Date: February 23, 2025
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Conspiracy
Page Count: 312 pages

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About the Book

How far would you go for a friend? Andrew MacKay, the sort who’d sooner bet his last penny on a losing horse than lift a finger for anything resembling responsibility, is about to find out. An incurable gambler, chain-smoker, and binge drinker, Andy’s only real talent lies in outliving his own poor choices. But when his mate is shot dead and robbed of a classified secret, Andy finds himself bound to retrieve it, purely out of loyalty and an alarming lack of common sense.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and terrorists with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI-5, who want him behind bars, if he hopes to recover the secret, and stop the zealots from killing thousands.
Time is running out.

Andy’s got only one chance to make things right. Can he do it?

You can find Half Made Up here:
Amazon | Goodreads

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About The Author

James Dunlop

Although he was born in London, at the age of 6 weeks James decided to emigrate to Canada with his parents. He grew up in Vancouver, eventually determining that he wanted to experience inhospitable weather. So, he headed for points east. Unable to monetize his philosophy degree, he found his way into the world of advertising and became a copywriter in Toronto, where he currently lives. He has written hundreds of advertising campaigns, and now teaches the craft at local colleges. Half Made Up is his first book.

You can find author Dunlop here:
Author Website

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author H. Meadow Hopewell for their latest release, Rage Against the Machine.

Book: Rage Against the Machine
Author: H. Meadow Hopewell
Series: The Given Path Trilogy (Book #1)
Publication Date: November 22, 2024
Genres: Science fiction, Speculative fiction, Spiritual Science fiction
Page Count: 345 pages
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing

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About the Book

Award-winning director, Roare Murdock, is approached by a private group of investigative journalists who invite her to spearhead a documentary. She agrees to join the project to expose the dark side of transhumanism. With the assignment comes grave danger to herself and those around her. And someone in her close circle of trusted associates is not what he seems. She wonders why God would choose a wayward follower like her to warn the masses of an imminent threat to humanity.

Amid the challenges and dangers of research and filming, Hunter Barraclough, Roare’s biological father, enters her life for the first time. When Roare reaches her breaking point, help comes from an unlikely source, Sloane McInerney, Roare’s bodyguard. Sloane has his own reasons to join forces with Roare to unmask a malevolent AI lab whose CEO plots to destroy human souls through AI and other-worldly technology. As she battles demonic forces, Roare uses fear and anger to her advantage. But how long will she last before she questions her own survival?

You can find Rage Against the Machine here:
Amazon | Goodreads

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About The Author

H. Meadow Hopewell

H. Meadow Hopewell discovered a love for creative writing in college. A move to New Zealand reignited the flame. Between her love for science, pursuing God, and writing, her first novel An Emerging Star was born. When not writing, she maintains a photography blog. She lives on the North Island with her husband, two spoiled cats, and a farm dog who wants to be a house pet.

You can find author Hopewell here:
Author Website

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Suze Leonie for their latest release, Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre.

Book: Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre
Author: Suze Leonie
Publication date: 1 October 2014
Genres: General Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction
Page Count: 157 pages
Publisher: Fidessa Literary

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About the Book

When famous new media artist Eli Schmidt inherits a mysterious chest from his emotionally detached grandmother that he is instructed not to open, he can’t curb his curiosity. Inside, he finds a lost and lonely doll named Devorah, who begins to heartbreakingly scream for the love of her life, Yonah. Wishing he had obeyed orders, Eli has no choice but to go on a journey to reunite the pair. To his great distress, this means he must give up his treasured peace and quiet and do what he loathes the most: interact with other people. While Eli desperately tries to break free from this burden, Devorah amplifies her control, embroiling him in a battle that will forever change the course of his life.

You can find Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre here:
Amazon

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About The Author

Suze Leonie

Suze Leonie is a literary fiction and children’s fiction author and illustrator from a Dutch coastal town. She has a passion for literature and philosophy and when she isn’t writing or drawing, she’s usually found with a book in her hand. In the spring of 2024 Suze Leonie made her debut with the novel Ivan, Boris and Me, which is the first book in a collection of literary works that heavily focus on human psychology. When Suze Leonie is able to let go of her precious books she enjoys going to museums, good food, board games and long walks on the beach.

You can find author Leonie here:
Author Website | X | Instagram

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Bernt Erik Bjontegard for his latest release, History Rules my Tomorrow.

Book: History Rules My Tomorrow
Author: Bernt Erik Bjontegard
Publication date: 12/5/23
Genres: Memoir, Biography
Page Count: 366 pages
Publisher: –

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About the Book

A question to ponder: are we as humans pre-programmed to “follow in our father’s footsteps?” Is there something inherent in our heritage? Do we repeat what our forefathers and mothers did?

And if so, can we apply these inherited cross-generational learning methods as we invent the next generations of intelligent systems? Rather than creating AI that is artificial and intended to replace human work, can we create intelligent systems that AUGMENT the human’s work and support him or her? Can we invent intelligent systems that learn and improve themselves with the mind of creating betterment for all humans as well?

Erik Bjontegard left Norway when he was 18 to study in the UK, then moved on to California. Not realizing until later in life, his actions and behavior, his quests for new discoveries, and his desire to invent followed his father and grandfather on his mother’s side. Now an accomplished inventor, former NASA rocket scientist, deep sea robotics, and submarine explorer, he is now navigating the new Phygital realms connecting the physical and digital.

In this engaging and inspiring autobiography, Bernt “Erik” Bjontegard narrates his life filled with the stories of his grandparents’ sacrifices during WWII, his own mistakes and discoveries, and poses important questions on how to engage the listeners and their families to assist in creating and inventing better human-technology interfaces. Learning from his history, he is embarking on the journey to make his tomorrow better than today.

You can find History Rules My Future here:
Amazon | Audible | Everand | Apple Books | OverDrive | Kobo | Storytel | Audiobooks | YouScribe | Libro.fm | Hoopla | Nextory | Chirp

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About The Author

Bernt Erik Bjontegard

Bernt “Erik” Bjontegard is the inventor of the patented, award-winning Spark Compass™, a Contextually Intelligent™ communication platform used globally to deliver the right message to the right person at the right time and place. As founder and CEO of Total Communicator Solutions, Inc., Erik has led innovative deployments at events like Wimbledon and America’s Cup, for brands like Puma and Coca-Cola, and even for public health initiatives in the UK. He holds multiple pioneering patents, many of which have been cited by industry giants, including IBM, Apple, Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm.

Originally from Norway, Erik began his journey as a snow shuffler and windsurf instructor, later earning a full scholarship to the University of Salford in the UK. He became a mechanical engineer, designing deep-sea robotics before working with NASA on the Space Shuttle program—something he proudly recalls with his favorite phrase: “I used to be a rocket scientist!” He later certified aircraft designs for Boeing and Airbus and has contributed to technologies that are now part of 5G infrastructure.

Erik’s career path has been anything but conventional, spanning fashion, real estate, and advanced telecommunications. His time with Qualcomm’s Corporate R&D team saw him contribute to emerging platforms like Vuforia and Gimbal, and it was there he learned to write patents and began his deep dive into innovation. Erik is also an honorary Fellow at the University of Salford and serves on advisory boards for several universities, sharing his visionary insights with future generations.

In his autobiography, Erik reflects on his life journey, his family’s sacrifices during WWII, and the inherited spirit of innovation that connects generations. He explores how human experiences can shape the development of intelligent systems that enhance rather than replace human work.

Through personal stories and big-picture questions, Erik invites readers to imagine a better future—one where technology supports humanity, not the other way around.

You can find author Bjontegard here:
Author Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Adam Knight for his latest release, Made of Iron: The Dina Jacobson Story.

Book: Made of Iron: The Dina Jacobson Story
Author: Adam Knight
Publication date: September 2024
Genres: Memoir
Page Count: 259 pages
Publisher: The Wordsmithy LLC

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About the Book

Made of Iron: The Dina Jacobson Story 1939, Southern Poland. Dina was a young Jewish woman. She anticipated getting married and raising a family in the same small town where she had grown up. War broke her life. But it would not break her. Dina endured years of suffering in Auschwitz concentration camp, then more years of homelessness after the war. She finally settled in America where, after finally raising that family, she dedicated her life to sharing her story with young people. I was one of them.

You can find Made of Iron here:
Amazon

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About The Author

Adam Knight

Adam Knight is an author and teacher in northern New Jersey, USA. His novel, At the Trough, was published in 2019 by NineStar Press. His memoir, Made of Iron: The Dina Jacobson Story, was published in 2024 by The Wordsmithy. His short fiction and essays have been published in a number of anthologies and online venues, including Arcturus Press,  Daily Science Fiction and Escape Pod. He is currently seeking publication for a cosmic horror novel about the sinking of the Titanic.

You can find author Knight here:
Author Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | X

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Raphael Pondfor his latest release, Bell Tower.

Book: Bell Tower
Author: Raphael Pond
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Genres: Science Fiction Thriller, Magical Realism, Hard Science Fiction, Dystopia 
Page Count: 304 pages
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press

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About the Book

In a future where one phrase can heal any pain, there exists a meditation unlike any other: Solosis. It’s a practice that forms an empathetic bond between two souls, unlocking unparalleled healing power. But its secrets are fiercely guarded by Sasha Sumzer, a mysterious meditation teacher with a darker agenda.
Sasha is determined to bring down Axiom, the social media giant that has reshaped society with its revolutionary Glow Domes—devices that have replaced smartphones and altered daily life forever. While Glow Domes captivate the masses, Sasha believes the human mind is the final frontier for true liberation.
As an unsuspecting group of individuals stumbles upon Sasha’s teachings, they become entangled in a dangerous game that forces them to question whether Solosis is a tool for healing or a weapon for control. To discover the truth , they must confront their deepest fears and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice to save the nation’s collective consciousness.
In this gripping thriller, the battle for the mind has begun—and the line between healing and manipulation is dangerously thin.

You can find Bell Tower here:
Amazon | Vine Leaves Press | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Book Bub | Book Sirens

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About The Author

Raphael Pond

Raphael Pond earned a degree in professional writing at York College of Pennsylvania. While there, he also studied the philosophy of technology and its effects on humankind. Raphael currently lives in Salem, Oregon where he is a personal trainer by day and a writer by night. In the summers, he and his wife like to go on adventures in nature. They are always looking for a good hike, hot spring, swimming hole, or rock wall to climb.

You can find author Pond here:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com