Welcome to Day 7 of #RRBC’S ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR!
I am proud to be hosting Author John Podlaski!
Title: When Can I Stop Running?
Cover:
Blurb:
2019 KCT RRBC Runner-Up Silver Award Winner
#RRBC 2020 Rave Review awards: BOOK OF THE YEAR
The year is 1970, and the story follows the two soldiers – impressionable Detroit teenagers – during their long night in a Listening Post (‘LP’), some 200 meters beyond the bunker line of the new firebase. Their assignment as a “human early warning system”, is to listen for enemy activity and forewarn the base of any potential dangers. As they were new to the “Iron Triangle” and its reputation, little did they know that units before them lost dozens of soldiers in this nightly high-risk task and referred to those assigned as “bait for the enemy” and “sacrificial lambs”.
Sitting in the pitch black tropical jungle – with visibility at less than two feet – John’s imagination takes hold throughout the agonizing night, and at times, transports him back to some of his most vivid childhood memories – innocent, but equally terrifying at the time.
As kids, we instinctively run as fast as we can to escape imaginary or perceived danger, but as soldiers, men are trained to conquer their fears and develop the confidence to stand their ground and fight. Running is not an option.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/UZzOQN5Te6I
Amazon purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H9BESNC
Author bio: John served in Vietnam during 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He has spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and has recently received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They own a 1997 Harley Davidson Heritage and are both members of the Great Lakes Chapter of South East Michigan Harley Owner’s Group. Both retired in 2013 and enjoy not working anymore. John has authored and published four books on Amazon: “Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel”, “When Can I Stop Running?”, “Unhinged”, and “Unwelcomed”. He is currently working on a sequel to “When Can I Stop Running?”
Social links: John Podlaski | Facebook
(20) John Podlaski (@pdoggbiker) / Twitter
Author reading of preface – https://youtu.be/pmNMB5srYns
Thank you for supporting the books and authors along the RRBC ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR! These authors are generous in their support of others so we want to show our support of them in return. You may follow along each day of the tour by visiting the tour’s home page. Be sure to leave a comment below to ensure that you have a chance at winning a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
pamelascanepa 
Great story John …. definately going on my read list.
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Thanks, Phil. I’m confident you’ll enjoy the story.
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Good morning, Pamela. Thank you for hosting John today. I read “Unhinged,” and am looking forward to reading more of his work.
John, Thank you for your service and sacrifices during the Vietnam War. Writing “Cherries” must have been difficult, but the story needed to be told.
Best wishes!
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Kaen, thank you for visiting on my tour. I’m glad you enjoyed my story and are looking forward to reading more of my work. Thanks for all your support!
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Hi Pamela, what a delightful site. I am so glad you are hosting John and this book. I read this book and was immersed immediately into the characters and experience. I found it worth every second. Quite honestly, John puts everything into his writing. It pulls at all the emotions and you cannot escape being a stakeholder in the outcome. John, well done.
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Thank you, Rox, for stopping by and supporting me on my tour. I’ve finished my sequel to this book, my daughter is currently editing it. If all goes well, I should publish before summer. So if you haven’t read WHEN CAN I STOP RUNNING? yet, get started so you can enjoy DEATH IN THE TRIANGLE when it becomes available.
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Hi John, Hi Pamela,
John, i‘m very happy to see you on the Tour. I have read your book, Unhinged and was truly unhinged. 🙂 I have „When Can I Stop Running „ on my TBR list. I wish you all the best.
Pamela, nice meeting you. All the best in your writing career too, and thank you for hosting John.
Shalom aleichem
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Hello, my sister-in-arms! Thank you, Pat for stopping by on this tour. As you enjoyed UNHINGED, I’m confident you will enjoy this story as well. My sequel to this story should be available before summer starts. Thanks for your support!
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John, missed this before and am so glad to have found it now! This story sounds like a true nail-biter, where you feel you are right there with the protagonists. What a time that was during that war, and you deserve our thanks for serving there. I have Unhinged on my kindle, and now this will join it on my tbr list. Hope the tour was a good one for you.
Pam, it was lovely getting to know a bit about you – I love the banner on your blog! Thanks for hosting John.
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John Podlaski is one talented author. Mind you, I only make those statements when they are true. Now, here’s another true statement – I am a member of his fan club! Way to go, RWISA-John!
Pamela, thanks for hosting!
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Nonnie, thank you so much for your kind words. I’m also thankful to be a member of this famed book club – I have learned LOTS from you and the rest of the bunch who support one another. I’m looking forward to the rest of the tour and have already signed up for the 2021 WC&BE conference.
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Thankful to be a member of RRBC? Signed on for the ’21 Writers’ Conference and Book Expo already? Not only is he talented, he’s smart, too!!!
LOL
Good for you, John! We are so happy to have you as part of our amazing RRBC/RWISA Family!
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This was such a great story. I loved it! John really knows how to immerse the reader into his story. Thanks for hosting, Pamela. 🙂
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Thank you, Yvette, for visiting me during this tour and for being such a stout supporter of my books. Watch for the sequel of this book – it picks up later that morning where WHEN CAN I STOP RUNNING? left off. Good luck on your vacation this summer – I hope all your planning pays off and you have a wonderful time. Sorry I’ll miss you on your trek through Michigan.
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Congrats and best wishes, John! Unhinged is on my kindle and I look forward to a great read.
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Pamela, thank you for hosting me and my work during this sponsor’s tour. I am most appreciative and have downloaded one of your books and added it to my TBR list. Looking forward to more of your work.
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That’s awesome, John, thank you! Your work does sound quite interesting, and I wish you the best with the sequel!
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Hi Pamela, thank you for hosting John with this great post. I have read and enjoyed this book and aim to read Cherries. I am very interested in war and enjoy stories about the different wars. In this case, John is a veteran which makes his books even more special as they are based on real experiences.
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Hi Pamela–Thanks for hosting John. I really love his blog and now I must add this one to my reading list. His writing is so real and captivating. As the spouse of a Vietnam veteran, I know how realistic John’s works are. Thanks, John, for keeping your honor and memories alive, whether in non-fiction or fiction.
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Looking forward to reading your brave work, John. My professor father had many young students who had to go to Vietnam. I heard some of the stories and will benefit from yours too. All the best to you.
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Thank you for hosting, Pamela. The best to you as well.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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