Adventure lovers, aviation enthusiasts, and fans of fast-paced fiction—get ready to take off with Rod Lewin’s thrilling new novel, The Missing Mallard Mystery. As part of his Virtual Book Tour, we’re inviting readers to climb aboard the Wayward Wind, the vintage World War Two flying boat piloted by series hero Mitch Blaine and his brilliant (and often begrudging) sidekick, Beyer. Together, they soar into the skies over Australia’s Outback to solve the disappearance of a Grumman Mallard loaded with millions in pearls.

This blog post isn’t just a spotlight—it’s a full-throttle, multi-sensory celebration of The Missing Mallard Mystery. From playlists to characters, lists to club picks, here’s your exclusive guided tour into the world of Rod Lewin’s aviation-fueled fiction.

Top 5 Reasons to Read The Missing Mallard Mystery

1. It’s like Clive Cussler meets Indiana Jones… with wings.
   If you love high-stakes treasure hunts, daring escapes, and globe-trotting thrills—this one’s for you.
2. The setting is refreshingly unique.
   Western Australia’s pearl-diving coastlines and crocodile-filled Outback aren’t your typical thriller backdrops. They’re vivid, dangerous, and fascinating.
3. You don’t have to be an aviation geek to enjoy it.
   Lewin weaves technical authenticity into the narrative with ease, offering just enough detail for plane buffs without ever slowing the pace.
4. The duo at the heart of the story is unforgettable.
   Mitch Blaine is a rugged, world-weary pilot with quick instincts, while Beyer is an erudite, reluctant co-adventurer with a dry wit that makes every scene sparkle.
5. It’s based on real-life experience.
   Lewin is a veteran aviator, and it shows. The realism in flight scenes and atmospheric tension comes from decades in the sky.

The Missing Mallard Mystery: Soundtrack for an Aerial Adventure

What might be playing in the background as Mitch and Beyer skim across the Timor Sea or outwit pirates in the bush? Here’s a fitting playlist:

• “Into the Wild” – LP
• “Run Through the Jungle” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• “Sons of the Sea” – Bear McCreary (instrumental)
• “The Passenger” – Iggy Pop
• “Outback” – Midnight Oil
• “Skyfall” – Adele (for a touch of espionage and cinematic flair)
• “High Hopes” – Pink Floyd
• “Far Side of the World” – Jimmy Buffett
• “Brothers in Arms” – Dire Straits
• “No Time for Caution” – Hans Zimmer (from Interstellar)

This soundtrack matches the novel’s blend of edge, elegance, and emotional lift.

Meet Mitch Blaine: A Character Introduction

Mitch Blaine is the kind of protagonist who feels instantly iconic. A seasoned pilot with a steel exterior and occasional glints of heart, he’s not in it for the fame—he’s in it because someone has to fly the mission. Whether it’s navigating through typhoons or evading pirates, he thrives in peril and chaos.

Q: What drives you to get involved with something as dangerous as this pearl heist mystery?
“I’m not a hero. I just know how to fly into trouble and—on good days—out of it. But when an old mate calls for help, I don’t say no.”

Q: What’s your biggest weakness?
“Aside from trusting Beyer to pack the right coffee? Probably my inability to leave a mystery alone.”

Rod Lewin’s Book Club Picks

Wondering what kinds of books Rod Lewin might recommend between flights? These titles align with the energy, intelligence, and heart of The Missing Mallard Mystery:

1. The Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett – A masterclass in suspense.
2. Sahara by Clive Cussler – A globe-trotting treasure hunt with vintage vehicles.
3. Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts – For aviation lovers who crave action.
4. The River of Doubt by Candice Millard – True-life exploration meets peril and discovery.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir – For readers who enjoy brilliant problem-solvers in extreme situations.
6. The Lost City of Z by David Grann – If you liked the jungle elements of Mallard, this is a must.

Bookish Fun Facts

• The Grumman Mallard flying boat featured in the book is a real aircraft, used historically in pearl diving operations in Australia.
• Mitch’s aircraft, the Wayward Wind, is a PBY Catalina, one of the most famous seaplanes of WWII.
• Rod Lewin has flown all over the world, including the Virgin Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Greek Islands—and those landscapes inspire the scenery in his novels.
• The Missing Mallard Mystery is the fourth book in the Mitch Blaine series, but it also works as a stand-alone adventure.
• The author’s autobiography, Steel Spine, Iron Will, is based on his real-life recovery from a plane crash.

Ready to Join the Adventure?

If you love smart, atmospheric fiction full of grit, danger, and heart—The Missing Mallard Mystery is ready for takeoff. Whether you’re a book club host, an armchair traveler, or someone who just loves a good, old-fashioned mystery with a fresh twist, this novel delivers.

Explore more, including author info and tour updates, at:  www.outskirtspress.com/rodlewinpby

#MissingMallardMystery #RodLewinBooks #VirtualBookTour2025 #AdventureReads #AviationFiction

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Gloria Smith’s Finntown Girl offers a poignant, character-driven glimpse into a little-known chapter of American history. Set in 1940s rural Georgia, this young adult novel explores the resilience of a Finnish-American girl named Helmi as she navigates cultural identity, silence, faith, and family hardship. With emotional depth and literary grace, Finntown Girl is a novel that stays with you—and it belongs on the shelf of every reader who appreciates coming-of-age stories grounded in both history and heart.

Here’s why Finntown Girl deserves a spot on your TBR list or your next book club discussion:

IF YOU LIKED THESE TOP 5 YA NOVELS, YOU’LL LIKE FINNTOWN GIRL

If you were moved by the heartfelt journeys in these emotionally resonant YA novels, you’ll likely connect with Helmi’s story in Finntown Girl. Gloria Smith’s debut brings together themes of identity, resilience, and quiet strength in the face of hardship:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Like Scout, Helmi offers a young perspective on injustice and family complexity.
2. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse – Both novels depict girls growing up in poverty-stricken, rural settings with lyrical sensitivity.
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Readers who loved Liesel’s introspection and survival through silence will find a kindred spirit in Helmi.
4. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson – Helmi, like Jacqueline, straddles two cultural identities with poise and reflection.
5. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan – A young girl navigating loss, change, and cultural dislocation connects these two stories.

If these titles are on your favorites shelf, Finntown Girl will be a powerful next read.

THE FINNTOWN GIRL PLAYLIST: SONGS TO SET THE SCENE

Looking to immerse yourself in the emotional tone and time period of Finntown Girl? These songs reflect the bittersweet beauty of Helmi’s 1940s Southern world—where hardship, hope and quiet strength intertwine:

• “Dream a Little Dream of Me” – Doris Day
• “Blueberry Hill” – Fats Domino
• “In the Mood” – Glenn Miller
• “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” – The Andrews Sisters
• “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Fats Waller
• “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong

Play these while reading for a fully atmospheric experience.

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT: MEET HELMI

In Finntown Girl, we meet Helmi, a quiet, introspective Finnish-American girl growing up in the backwoods of Georgia during World War II. Her world is small but filled with challenges—family trauma, poverty, and cultural friction—yet Helmi’s internal strength is quietly transformative.

Like Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or Cassie Logan in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Helmi doesn’t set out to be a hero. But her authenticity, empathy, and quiet resilience make her one. Her story resonates deeply with readers who value richly developed characters and emotionally honest storytelling.

BOOK CLUB PICKS: IF YOU ENJOYED THESE, TRY FINNTOWN GIRL

If your book club enjoyed these five titles, consider Finntown Girl for your next discussion:

1. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
2. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
3. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai
4. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Each of these novels—like Finntown Girl—offers a thoughtful look at a young girl’s journey to find her place in the world. Together, they provide rich terrain for discussion around courage, cultural identity, history, and hope.

5 THINGS THAT MAKE FINNTOWN GIRL A RICH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Finntown Girl is more than a coming-of-age novel—it’s also a layered, culturally rich portrait of a rarely depicted immigrant community in the American South. Here are five elements that give the book its historical and emotional depth:

1. The sauna as sanctuary. A central part of Finnish life, the sauna represents more than hygiene—it’s spiritual, familial, and symbolic of cleansing and renewal.
2. Bilingual identity. Helmi’s navigation between Finnish and English reflects the larger struggle of immigrant families to preserve heritage while assimilating.
3. Lutheran grounding. Deep-rooted religious values shape many of Helmi’s actions and thoughts, from her understanding of forgiveness to her sense of duty.
4. Silence as strength. Helmi’s reserved nature reflects a cultural tradition where emotional restraint is not weakness, but wisdom.
5. Collective resilience. The tight-knit Finnish community in the novel demonstrates how mutual aid and shared values help families survive adversity.

These authentic details give Finntown Girl a distinctive voice in the YA historical fiction landscape.

Whether you’re a lover of quiet stories with big emotional impact, a fan of historical fiction, or a book club looking for your next deep discussion, Finntown Girl by Gloria Smith offers something special: a literary journey into a hidden corner of America’s past told through the brave eyes of a girl named Helmi.

Learn more or order your copy at Outskirts Press https://outskirtspress.com/finntowngirl

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Self-publishing has never been easier—or more competitive. Advances in technology have empowered writers to bypass traditional gatekeepers, design professional-looking covers, and upload manuscripts with a few clicks. But with that power comes a hidden challenge many authors underestimate: discoverability.

Every day, thousands of new books are added to digital storefronts. That means your masterpiece isn’t just competing with traditionally published bestsellers, but also with a tidal wave of self-published books across every genre imaginable. The question becomes: how will readers find yours?

Strong writing is a good start, but only the foundation. Self-published authors now wear multiple hats—marketer, co-designer (because presumably you’re also using the expert assistance of an actual designer, right?), strategist—all rolled into one!

Understanding how metadata works (title, subtitle, keywords), leveraging categories, building an author platform, and gathering reviews are all crucial to standing out. Every detail matters, even ones you may not initially consider—like your book’s description or cover thumbnail—can impact your visibility and conversions.

Social media, email newsletters, podcast interviews, and Amazon advertising all play a role. But none of them guarantee sales. Discoverability isn’t solved with a single post or promotion; it’s a sustained effort, requiring time, patience, and a willingness to treat your book like a long-term product—not just a launch event.

That’s why the term “self-published author” has evolved—from the lone wolf handling every task solo to the savvy creative who partners with seasoned self-publishing professionals. These experts bring decades of experience to help ensure the book you’ve poured your heart and soul into actually reaches the readers who deserve to read it.

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