Review: Top Duck (Phaethon Corp. #2) by Jaxon Reed @AuthorJaxonReed

Top Duck

Phaethon Corp. #2

by Jaxon Reed

Published: November 27, 2025

Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction, Space Marine

Blurb:

Bo Duckworth has assembled a ragtag team of ex-Marines and one ex-girlfriend who happens to be a heavily modified former SSI operative. Together they face their first assignment for Tom Savage and Phaethon Corp., the retrieval of a valuable solar unit.

But the Unshaven want someone on Bo’s team. In the midst of open warfare between mining companies on the frontiers of explored space, they seek to capture Bo’s ex and bring her to their leader, Moretti.

It’s a rat’s nest of danger, intrigue, and all-around trouble . . . a perfect environment for Top Duck!


Jump into the second book of this fast-release, high octane Space Marines saga!

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My Review:

Dive into the captivating Phaethon Corp. series with the thrilling second installment, Top Duck. From the very first page, this page-turner by Jaxon Reed will have you hooked, immersed in its captivating world.

The team of ex-Marines, led by Bo Duckworth, his ex-girlfriend Elle, and Tobias, embark on a mission to retrieve a valuable solar unit for the Phaethon Corp.

Their journey takes them to the planet Helsinki, where they encounter a group called the Unshaven, who have been trailing them.

The Unshaven have a particular interest in Elle, wanting to take her to their leader, Moretti. But Elle has no intention of going anywhere against her will.

As Bo and Elle are held at gunpoint, Tobias engages in a thrilling battle with the Unshaven, relishing the challenge. This captivating world of the Phaethon Corp. series continues to captivate and enthrall readers.

Embark on an exhilarating journey through the captivating universe of Phaethon Corp! This immersive world offers a thrilling blend of interstellar battles, space exploration, and encounters with advanced nanobots, reminiscent of beloved sci-fi classics like Star Trek and Stargate SG-1.

Eager to delve deeper into this captivating realm? The upcoming release of Miner War on December 25, 2025, promises to be an unforgettable adventure. Don't miss your chance to explore this extraordinary universe!

For all you space opera and science fiction enthusiasts, Top Duck is a must-read. Prepare to embark on the adventure of a lifetime – grab your copy today!

Check out all the books in the Phaethon Corp. series I’ve read.

Surplus Marines #1

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Amazon

Top Duck #2

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Amazon

Connect with Jaxon Reed

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

 

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Virtual Book Tour + Review: CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND 3 by Mike Martin @mike54martin @pumpupyourbook

Christmas traditions, old and new from Sgt. Windflower and his family and friends.

 

Title: CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND 3

Author: Mike Martin

Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing

Pages: 160

Genre: Mystery/HolidayFiction

Format: Paperback / Kindle / FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Sgt. Windflower loves Christmas and we’re happy to share what he and his family and friends do at Christmastime in Grand Bank or Marystown or Ramea, Newfoundland. Some of the stories feature Windflower and Sheila’s adorable daughters and of course Eddie Tizzard and his family make several spotlight appearances. Other stories take you back to Christmas seasons of many years long past and there’s even a return of a fabulous Newfoundland tradition, the Mummers.

Christmas is a time to celebrate but it is also a time to reminisce and remember. We hope that it will bring back pleasant memories for you and your family to share at Christmas and throughout the year. Come celebrate Christmas in Newfoundland with Sgt. Windflower Mysteries.

Read sample here.

Christmas in Newfoundland is available at Amazon.

Book Excerpt

A Christmas Wish

Richard Tizzard gazed out at the ocean from his small home in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. The wind was high, and the waves were crashing against the shore, sending spray up into the air. Already, his house had a thick coating of the stuff on the side facing the water and he could hear it creaking and groaning against this relentless onslaught.

But inside, with the wood stove piled high, Richard and his old dog, Rusty, were perfectly comfortable and content. Both of them were coming to the end of their lives and Richard had accepted that almost completely. His children were trying to keep him hanging on as long as possible, but he was fine with what he knew was an inevitable outcome. 

He loved the quote by the great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore that his friend, Doctor Vijay Sanjay had shared with him. He smiled to himself as he repeated it to Rusty. “’Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp as dawn has come’.” Rusty seemed to smile, too, at this saying. 

It wasn’t that he wanted to go, but Richard Tizzard was getting himself ready. In the meantime, he planned to enjoy his family to the upmost. His two daughters, Margaret and Brenda lived in Grand Bank with their almost grown-up families. His son, Eddie, lived in Marystown now with his wife Carrie and their two children. Little Hughie was almost two and the joy of Richard’s life while the baby, Sophie, was quickly overtaking her brother as his favourite. 

He smiled again when he thought about Eddie and his young family. It reminded him of when he had a young family of his own back in the tiny community of Ramea. Ramea is and was a small village off the southwest coast of Newfoundland that was only accessible by ferry. It did, however, have a rich fishing ground nearby and for many years provided a good livelihood for Richard and his four brothers, all of whom fished the abundant waters for many years.

But in the early 1990’s the inshore cod fishery collapsed and by 1992, when the cod moratorium was declared, all of them were out of work. The older brothers retired their boats and licenses and took the government support that was offered. Richard was too young for that, so he used the payout to move to Grand Bank. First, he worked in the fishing industry on a crew of a longliner operating out of Marystown. But when that work diminished, he went back to his true love, carpentry and woodworking.

He still did a little personal work on the side but his days of working for a living were over. He enjoyed all his family and the grandchildren tremendously, but the truth was that all he had left today were memories. Like many older people he spent a lot of time reminiscing and remembering these days. And as it was getting near Christmas, he thought a lot about Christmas from his past.

Growing up in his mom and dad’s saltbox house in Ramea. Christmas was a very quiet and peaceful affair. But he still remembered it fondly as one of the nicest times of the year. His father and older brothers were fishermen, so the winter was a slow season. They fixed their nets and did a few odd jobs around the house, but most of their time was spent cutting and splitting wood for the cast iron woodstove that heated their home and was action central for all cooking and baking.

About two weeks before Christmas his mother would start her Christmas baking. Shortbread cookies, mince pies and next year’s Christmas cakes. This year’s cakes were all ready to be unwrapped in a week or so and that would begin the ‘season of eating’ his dad called it. Richard loved the smell of the cookies and cakes as the days went by and to hear his mother singing, usually some old hymn or Christmas song like Angels We Have Heard on High or Away in a Manger. 

The men would continue their work as usual until a few days before Christmas Day. Then, his father would announce that it was time to get their tree and the whole family, except his mother, who was almost literally chained to the stove in the kitchen, would head out with their horse and sleigh to find a Christmas tree. They didn’t have to go far.

The houses in Ramea were built mostly around the harbour in sheltered nooks and crannies out of the constant wind. That meant almost all the land above them was still heavily forested with an abundance of Balsam firs that made the perfect Christmas trees. His father would lead the procession into the forest, but the tradition in the Tizzard family was that all the children would draw straws to see would pick their tree. The year Richard drew the shortest straw he was so excited he almost peed his pants.

As the others urged him on, making suggestions, Richard took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them and turned around, he saw it. A six-foot Balsam fir with many branches that spread out from top to bottom. “That’s it,” he cried, and everyone cheered. They cut it down and put it on the back of the sleigh to go home. When they arrived, their mom had made a pot of hot cocoa and while the tree was drying out in a corner they sat around and enjoyed their sweet, hot treat with some home-made cookies.

When Richard closed his eyes today, he could still smell that Christmas tree in their kitchen and taste that delicious hot cocoa. He remembered his mom sitting by herself next to the stove smiling. That was one of her last Christmas holidays with them, he recalled. She died like so many others at that time from complications in the birth of his youngest sister. Christmas was never quite the same in their household after that.

– Excerpted from Christmas in Newfoundland 3 by Mike Martin, Ottawa Press and Publishing, 2025. Reprinted with permission. 

My Review:

CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND 3

I love the Windflower family. I love all the stories about their lives, especially the Christmas ones. I love reading about the girls and getting to know them as they grow. I love seeing more of Winston and Sheila and their relationship with each other and the girls. They are wonderful people, whom you wish you were a part of their inner circle of friends.

WAITING FOR SANTA

I really loved WAITING FOR SANTA. I loved reading Stella’s story about the Christmas present she wanted. The story was touching and nearly broke my heart at one point. I loved how Santa interacted with the parents. That was so amazingly wonderful to me. I can’t wait to read more stories in CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND 3.

ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

WOW! Another wonderful story! Winston is reminiscing about the past with his Auntie Marie. The girls are practicing for the Christmas show. The love I feel for this family just keeps on growing. ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE, what a great title for this story.

CHRISTMAS IN PINK LAKE

Winston is still reminiscing about his life when he was a little boy. I loved the story about his Grandfather and the stories with his Auntie Marie and all his friends and family growing up, and how they spent their Christmases together. I now know more about who and how Winston became the person he is today and where his big heart came from.

SOME OLD FASHIONED FUN

What an interesting story, a group of friends getting together and spending time with each other while entertaining others during the festive season. SOME OLD FASHIONED FUN was another heartfelt story that kept me hanging on just to see what the “mummers” actually did.

CHRISTMAS AT THE MUG-UP CAFE

CHRISTMAS AT THE MUG-UP CAFE, another great story added to the collection. I loved how Winston and Sheila stepped up to help their friends, Bert and Moira, when they needed them the most during the holiday. Another heart-warming story.

CHRISTMAS AWAY

Corporal Eddie Tizzard and his fiancée, Carrie Evanchuk, are going to visit her family on Christmas in Estevan a City in Saskatchewan, Canada. I loved getting a sneak peek into Eddie and Carrie’s life and getting to know Carrie’s family’s life on their farm.

A MARYSTOWN CHRISTMAS

A MARYSTOWN CHRISTMAS turned out to be a really nice story. The more I read, the more I liked it, and by the end, I was in love with it. It is a story about Eddie, Carrie, and their baby, Hughie, and a nice man Eddie meets, and Santa, of course.

A CHILLY CHRISTMAS

A CHILLY CHRISTMAS was another heart-warming story about how Winston and others came together to prepare a Christmas dinner and gifts for others, and deliver it to those who couldn’t get out.

A GREEN CHRISTMAS

A GREEN CHRISTMAS turned out to be a really nice Christmas for the girls, Stella and Amelia Louise, who loved it very much. I loved how Winston and Grampa Herb talked to the girls and answered their questions about why there was no snow.

THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS

Another great story about how Winston made Christmas special for their girls, Amelia Louise, Stella, and everyone on their street by making the girls' wishes come true for this Christmas. I love how much Winston loves his girls and all the things he is willing to do to make them happy.

A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE is a story about Winston and Gupta visiting the old folks around town on Christmas, just spending time with them and talking with them about the good old days. When they visited Jarge Skinner, a good friend of Winston’s late Uncle Frank, no one was home, and that was not like Jarge at all; he was always home. After asking around, they find that Jarge is not the only one missing. Winston and the whole town are looking for Jarge and his friends. Where are they? What happened to them?

A CHRISTMAS WISH

Richard and his old dog Rusty were sitting by the fire while Richard was thinking about his life as a little boy with his family at Christmas time. Richard was alone now; his children were all grown up with families of their own. Richard is missing his wife and son, both of whom had passed on many years ago.

 

About the Author

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 16 books in this light mystery series with the publication of Friends are Forever. 

A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. All That Glitters was shortlisted for the LOLA 2024 Must Read Book of the year award.

Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest Darkest Before the Dawn was released as an audiobook in 2024. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

His latest book is Christmas in Newfoundland 3: Sgt. Windflower Holiday Tales.

Visit Mike’s website at www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com. Connect with him at X and Facebook.

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Book Tour + #Giveaway: Corporate Almighty: 2098 by James Owens @RABTBookTours

 

Political Satire/Fiction

Date Published: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

At the turn of the next century, a corporate oligarchy rules America with an iron fist. Commercial jingles have replaced the Top Forty, babies come from factories, and the race captivating the nation isn’t between political candidates. It’s the cutthroat competition to find the formula for No-Sog Stay-Crisp Cornflakes.

The battle pits cereal titan Todd Swindell, head of Flakes Alive Incorporated, against Chad Scandalman of the Great American Flake Company. When Scandalman hires a diminutive assassin named Twinkle to bump off his rival’s top chemist, it sparks a war of the flakes that makes the bloody feud of York and Lancaster look tame by comparison.

But not everyone in the Cornflake capital of Domino, Indiana, is happy with the status quo. Ziggie Wexler, an unemployed pipefitter and all-around average Joe, knows that something is deeply wrong with his country.

All history prior to 2040 has been banned, but old-timers whisper about the days when people still voted for their leaders. After Ziggie posts fiery polemics against the state to the Clandestine Journal, he becomes a marked man. But in a world built on lies, there’s one truth he’s sure of. Somebody needs to fight back.

 

Interview with James Owens

What is your favorite part of the book?

Where Annie De Luca discovers the No-Sog, stay-crisp flake formula and, sexually amped, jumps her boyfriend.

Does your book have a lesson? Moral?

Recover your democracy, or pay with your life.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

I try to invent characters, but, along the way, they seem to adopt attributes of real people I have met throughout life.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

Ziggie Wexler, the protagonist, because he gives up his lifestyle to disseminate truth, and, ultimately gives up his life.

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

The CEOs Chad Scandalman and Todd Swindell. Their only cares are money and the upward thrust of the corporation.

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?

Dude, you’re a little weird but I love ya!

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

I want the book to stand on its own, but one figure, Ghant Wackersham, the last of the US Presidents, does sneak in from my previous book, Pods of Bubbledumb: A Study in Mass Depravity.

 

About the Author

Retired IT professional, James Owens is a trained computer engineer and technical documentation specialist who earned an A.A.S. in computer programming and a B.A. in English from Purdue University.

Immensely curious about human behavior, James spent the 1970s hanging out on the streets to observe people, many of whom became inspirations for his fictional characters. Later, he worked in cube farms at conservative insurance companies, where the idiosyncrasies of corporate personalities sparked his imagination.

James has spent the last decade reading and writing offbeat fiction about bizarre protagonists. Corporate Almighty: 2098, a dystopian tale about the rise of the corporation and the fall of democracy, follows his first two novels, Animal Candy and Pods of Bubbledumb: A Study in Mass Depravity.

Born and raised in an industrial suburb on the south edge of Chicago, James lives with his wife Sue and four cats in Evansville, Indiana.

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Book Tour: Book of Me by Kevin Hipes @RABTBookTours

The Life and Times of Kevin Hipes, the New York Forrest Gump

Memoir

Date Published: July 24, 2025

From the streets of Queens to the deck of an oil tanker in the Caribbean—meet Kevin Hipes, the real-life New York Forrest Gump.

Book of Me is not your average memoir. It’s a laugh-out-loud, tear-in-your-eye, one-of-a-kind true story collection from a man who has lived more lives than most of us can imagine. Factory worker. Hippie. Banker. Entrepreneur. Rockstar (sort of). Preacher. Politician. Oil tanker owner. Cancer survivor. Bipolar truth-teller. Kevin Hipes has worn all these hats—and more.

Told with warmth, humor, and heart, Kevin’s stories come alive in this unconventional autobiography. Originally recorded as a series of YouTube episodes on his channel Planet Hipes, these 66 episodes have been transformed into a compelling, easy-to-read book that invites you to laugh, cry, reflect, and recognize a bit of yourself along the way.

What you’ll find inside:

✅ Hilarious tales from childhood in Queens

✅ Life lessons learned the hard way—and the funny way

✅ Private struggles and surprising triumphs

✅ A faith-driven journey of self-discovery and humility

✅ A reminder that we’re all “special” in our own unique way

Whether you're looking for a good laugh, a touch of inspiration, or a wildly entertaining ride through 70 years of true-life adventures, Book of Me will leave you smiling, thinking, and maybe even saying, “Hey, I’ve got a story like that too.”

📺 BONUS: After reading the book, head to Kevin’s YouTube channel Planet Hipes and experience the stories told by Kevin himself—animated, real, and unforgettable.

Because life’s not about the destination—it’s about the journey. And Kevin Hipes has one hell of a story to tell.

About the Author

 

Kevin Hipes is a born storyteller, lifelong entrepreneur, and proud New Yorker with a personality as big as the adventures he's lived. Often called “the New York Forrest Gump,” Kevin’s life has taken him from the streets of Queens to the pulpit, to business boardrooms, and even to the deck of his very own oil tanker in the Caribbean. As Kevin often says “Forrest owned a shrimp boat, but I owned an Oil Tanker and my story is true!”

With no formal writing background, Kevin still managed to turn a lifetime of unbelievable experiences into a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply human book—Book of Me. Rather than writing in the traditional sense, Kevin recorded over 100 personal episodes for his YouTube channel, Planet Hipes, then compiled them into a unique memoir filled with wit, wisdom,determination, and raw truth.

As an uneducated street kid from Queens, Kevin has lived many lives from factory worker to Hippie, to rockstar (almost), banker, preacher, restaurateur, politician and more. He shares not just the ups and downs of a seven-decade journey but speaks intimately about being a cancer survivor who also struggled through and dealt with a bipolar disorder, keeping the high energy manic side while overcoming the devastating depressions that plagued him through most of his life. You will find Kevin’s faith in God, unrelenting positive mindset and sense of humor make for a powerful story boldly told in his own words.

Kevin currently lives in Orlando, Florida, where he owns and runs HCB Real Estate, a retail commercial brokerage and development firm. Book of Me is his debut memoir and a testament to the power of authenticity, faith, and self-deprecating humor.

Follow Kevin’s stories on YouTube: Planet Hipes and experience the animated storyteller in action.

 

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Cover Reveal: Merry Christmas, Tahra Mamoun by K.M. Gruchelska @RABTBookTours

 

Thriller/Paranormal

Date Published: Expected 3rd December 2025

A strange boy. A shortwave radio broadcasting numbers. A kidnapping plot.

 

Tahra Mamoun uses her power of remote viewing to escape the monotony of London, only to find herself trapped in the frozen tensions of East Berlin. There, she witnesses a spy drama unfolding around teenage Heinrich and his illegal shortwave radio: a device receiving messages from a clandestine numbers station.

Is it connected to his missing father? And will the Stasi kidnap the boy as an asset designed to serve the secret police?

Thrust into the heart of a Cold War conspiracy, Tahra must rely on her friend Edward to warn his mother. But how can one girl's mind save his family?

 

 

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Book Tour + #Giveaway: Earth’s Last Encore by Logan Peterson @RABTBookTours

Science Fiction

Date Published : 07-24-2025

Saddled with a dying sun, humanity has no time to catch its breath after barely fighting off alien invaders. A defective yet determined super-soldier, Lieutenant ‘Duck’ Diaz shoulders the task of proving humanity’s worth to the Stellarans, an advanced alien species offering salvation.

Haunted by his failures and mistrusted by those he fights to save, Duck finds an unexpected ally in Hannily, the Stellaran princess who believes in the potential for unity. Together, they must bridge the divide between two fractured worlds, confronting betrayal, cultural rifts, and their own doubts to give humanity a second chance at survival—or risk losing everything to the void.

 

 

Interview with Logan Peterson

What is your favorite part of the book?

It’s actually one of the quieter scenes of the story where our heroine realizes that the hero can’t be everything he said he would be for her. It’s the start of her realizing that she has to change, not just for herself, but for him. Meanwhile, all of this is tied into an argument where two characters are misunderstanding each other because they have different expectations of themselves and each other. I’d call it one of the best relationship argument scenes you’ll ever read.

Does your book have a lesson? Moral?

For me, it all boils down to not letting your past or preconceptions of yourself prevent you from finding your purpose in life. Whether it be something you’ve been striving towards or something other people have set out for you, sometimes you must open yourself up to the fact that you or the people around you were wrong, and opening yourself up to change can be what ignites your destiny.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The main heroine is heavily based on my wife. It was hard not to turn her into my dream girl, but my wife loved her, so I would consider it a success. The rest of the characters are based on different aspects of myself, some in little ways and others in big ways.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

Eve is my favorite character. I’m a big fan of the Tsundere archetype, and being able to write a character whose intentions are good, but life has made her into kinda a bitch is so much fun. I love writing characters you hate at the beginning and then root for by the end, and Eve fits that to a tee.

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

Commander Vernon. Although I was in the Army, I never really got accustomed to authority. I’ve always been a punk at heart and would probably butt heads with him even more than Duck does.

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?

He would probably get tired of my goofy nature and think I was too wishy-washy. Duck is a very serious person, and he would get sick of my jokes because I would for sure make fun of him if we hung out.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Earth’s Last Encore can stand on its own, and while I do have plans for a second and third if it’s received well, I don’t like the idea of being tied down to one universe. I created this universe for a particular set of themes in mind, and once I’m done exploring those, it will be time to put it to rest so I can make a new world with special themes tailored to it.

About the Author

I am a working new father and served in the US Army where I drew inspiration for Earth’s Last Encore. I am a nerd at heart for Anime, Kpop, TCG’s, you name it. When I’m not writing overly introspective work I’m playing with my Corgi and new son. I currently reside in the Minnesota Twin Cities.

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Book Tour: Full Phoenix Rising by Duncan Robinson @ultrarobbo05 @RABTBookTours

 

Real Time Grace at the Speed of Jesus

Religion / Nonfiction / Christian Living / Spiritual Growth / Humor

Date Published: August 5, 2025

Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing

 

 What do a Russian in gold hot-pants, a cow-pat fight, and real-time grace have in common? They all show up in this wildly funny, deeply heartfelt exploration of what it means to live out faith in the mess of real life.

Full Phoenix Rising is not your typical Christian inspiration book. It’s part memoir, part stand-up comedy, and part soul-reflection, told by a black-sheep pastor with a knack for getting into trouble—and finding Jesus there. Duncan invites readers into his most awkward moments, spiritual insights, and hilarious disasters to remind us that God’s grace isn’t reserved for the polished and perfect—it’s for the ones still wiping off the cow poo and reaching for hope.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit in at church, questioned your worth, or just needed permission to laugh at how weird this whole faith thing can be, this book is for you. Come for the cow-pats, stay for the grace.

 

Interview with Duncan Robinson

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I think you become much more aware of the amount of work that needs to go into having a clear skeleton and understanding how concepts need to work together in a clear direction. I honestly thought you just string a bunch of chapters together and you have a book, but it is really important to have a shape to the narrative and know where you want to land the idea.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I remember doing toastmasters, and most people did a serious conversation on some topic. I wanted to do a stand-up comedy critique on people at school. Basically a satirical presentation of culture at the time. I remember at the state level getting a big round of laughter and really started to think about comedy to bring joy into people’s lives but also using it as a vessel to communicate truth or wisdom.

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

Back pain. Honestly sitting down for long periods of time is probably the hardest thing about writing!

Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

So I pastor 4 days a week, I coach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 2 times a week, I have a creative communications side business that books work sporadically. I am working on an AI project with a crew out of north America, and I’ve done a bunch of podcasts. Then in my spare time I’m married with 2 kids and coach two sports for them in basketball and baseball. Most people know that stuff, I think I often come across as extroverted but thoroughly enjoy being alone, I’ll often watch documentaries on youtube about like people living in rustic cabins in the snow and think I’d love to do that.

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Learn grammar better so I can write good.

What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?

I honestly think the best moment is when someone who you don’t know or have ever met sends a message to speak to the impact of your words. When that happens it is the best feeling.

Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book and why it is a must-read?

I don’t think many books are a must read outside of the bible. I certainly don’t feel that way about mine. I think its an important topic on how we approach grace in a way to model it after Jesus. I think the book is both a witty reflection on 20 years of pastoring alongside an important note towards the future of church being slower and a little messier. If you feel a little like a black sheep on a Sunday at church then I can relate (and do in the book). If that resonates with you then I encourage you to read it!

About the Author

Duncan Robinson—the Pastor of Disaster (his words, not ours) and Australia’s first Black Belt Pastor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—currently leads a small but mighty church in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

Before stepping into full-time ministry, Duncan spent years waking up Sydney with wisdom, wit, and questionable life choices as the host of one of the city’s most popular Breakfast Radio Shows.

With over 20 years of pastoral experience in Australia and the USA, he is fluent in both “G’day Mate” and “Bless your heart.” He’s married with two kids and an American Chocolate Labrador, who is convinced every sermon should include belly rubs.

Equipped to handle both heresy and headlocks, Duncan takes pastoral care very seriously—though whether a theological debate ends in grace or a grappling match depends entirely on the situation.

He proudly refers to himself as a Professor, purely to annoy actual academics. What can we say? He’s a man of many talents.

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Book Tour: Domestic Silence by Tut Yashar @RABTBookTours

Poetry

Domestic Silence by Tut Yashar is a powerful poetry collection that gives voice to the quiet battles many endure but rarely share. Written over the span of 18 months, these poems weave a deeply personal yet universal journey of survival and resilience in seek of liberation.

Through raw honesty and lyrical rhythm, Tut Yashar explores themes of love, loss, injustice, silence and happiness. At its heart, this book reflects the emotional reality of abuse—not only the pain itself but also the loneliness, judgment, and shame that often follow. Each poem is both confession and release, inviting readers to feel seen, validated, and less alone in their own struggles.

Domestic Silence is not just about one story—it is about many. It speaks to anyone who has felt trapped, silenced, or invisible, whether by circumstances, relationships, or society. It reminds us that healing is possible, that freedom can be reclaimed, and that our voices deserve to be heard.

Whether you are a survivor, an ally, or someone seeking deeper understanding of the human condition, this book offers hope, comfort, courage, and connection.

 

About the Author

 

 Tut Yashar is a poet and advocate for self-fulfillment whose words shine a light on the hidden corners of the human experience. With a background in law, finance and operations, she blends analytical precision with raw emotional honesty to create poetry that resonates deeply with readers. Writing has been her lifelong companion, a source of healing, and a way to transform pain into strength.

Her work explores themes of freedom, resilience, love, and the silent struggles we often carry alone. Tut’s poetry speaks to anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or silenced—reminding them that they are not alone and that healing is possible. Domestic Silence is her debut published collection, and she is also the author of two forthcoming poetry books. Through her writing, Tut strives to inspire readers to embrace their voice, reclaim their power, and discover self-fulfillment in the face of life’s challenges.

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