Press Release March 10, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: M. Thomas (Tom) Collins
Tom.collins@i65n.com

Author Tom Collins receives national recognition through the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD®

Franklin, Tennessee—The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD ® recognized Treasure of the Diary by Tom Collins as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Literary Fiction making it the fourth national award received by Collins.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected IPA Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

The literary fiction novel, Treasure of the Diary, is the seventh book in author Tom Collins’s Mark Rollins Adventure series. The story weaves historical events and familiar places into an educational and entertaining adventure when three college students discover a 150-year-old diary. The old journal belonged to a Confederate prisoner of war. The reader relives events of the Civil War and the plight of prisoners as the students read through the diary—page by page searching for a secret, one that they hope will lead them to treasure—a half a ton of buried gold!

In 2023, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries worldwide. Authors and publishers from countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Scotland, and South Africa, participated. Books submitted included writers based in cities such as Atlanta to Los Angeles; London to Nova Scotia; from Cape Town to Mumbai; from Albuquerque to New York City, as well as others. "We are proud to announce the distinguished favorites in our annual 2023 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD. This year included an array of quality and diverse independent books," Olczak said. "Independent publishing is pushing on every corner of the earth with great content. We are thrilled to be highlighting key titles representing global independent publishing." said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak. For more information, please visit independentpressaward.com; and to see this year's list of IPA Distinguished Favorites, please visit 2023 DISTINGUISHED FAVORITES: https://www.independentpressaward.com/2023df.

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M. Thomas (Tom) Collins writes from his home in Franklin, Tennessee, where his characters come to life and frequent familiar places in the bucolic middle Tennessee landscape and the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina. A pioneer entrepreneur of the information technology industry, Collins is now retired from the commercial world and devotes his time to creating his Mark Rollins Adventures series and authoring stories about Asheville and Western North Carolina. The 2023 award is fourth national award received by the author’s novels.

Half a Ton of Buried Gold is at the Center of Tom Collins’s New Novel.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2023

Media Contact:
M. Thomas (Tom) Collins
615/948-1544
Tom.collins@i65n.com

Half a Ton of Buried Gold is at the Center of Tom Collins’s New Novel

A gang of confederate irregulars stormed a Union train carrying gold. Unable to outrun pursuing troops, the surviving train robbers stashed the gold in Western North Carolina where it remained waiting to be discovered.

Treasure of the Diary, the seventh book in author Tom Collins’s Mark Rollins Adventure series, weaves historical fiction and familiar places into an educational and entertaining adventure mystery when three college students discover a 150-year-old diary. The old journal belonged to a Confederate prisoner of war. The reader relives events of the Civil War and the plight of prisoners as the students read through the diary—page by page searching for a secret, one that they hope will lead them to buried gold.

M. Thomas (Tom) Collins writes from his home in Franklin, Tennessee, where his characters come to life and frequent familiar places in the bucolic middle Tennessee landscape and the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina. A pioneer entrepreneur of the information technology industry, Collins is now retired from the commercial world and devotes his time to creating his mystery series, Mark Rollins Adventures and authoring stories about Asheville and Western North Carolina. His book Exploring Asheville—Its History Attractions, Mysteries, Ghosts, and Tall Tales earned the top spot as the 2022 winner in the regional literature category at both the Independent Press Awards and the NYC Big Books Awards. Also winning in the Big Book Awards was his novel, Beyond Visual Range, as a 2022 Distinguished Favorite in Military Fiction.

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Collins’s books are available from neighborhood bookstores and online sources. E-book editions are available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks,  Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes,and directly from Audible.com.

To request a review copy of this or other books by the author, or inquire about a live or online appearance, contact the author at www.authortomcollins.com.

News Release 05/10/2021--Stories from Applewood Manor by Tom Collins

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2021

Media Contact:
M. Thomas (Tom) Collins
615/948-1544
Tom.collins@i65n.com

Local Author Tom Collins’s new book focuses on Asheville, North Carolina.

Nashville, TN – Just as we are beginning to travel again, local author Tom Collins put the finishing touches on his eighth book, Stories from Applewood Manor—a book that will have you packing your bags to visit the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina.

The new book is quite a departure from the adventures mysteries that to date has been his preferred genre. Stories from Applewood Manor is a collection of short stories that explores Asheville, North Carolina’s history, attractions, mysteries, ghost stories, and tall tales from the perspective of an historic bed and breakfast inn (circa 1912), the Applewood Manor.

The Author Explained – My son and his wife purchased the bed and breakfast inn in 2020, and I was immediately struck by its ambiance. There is a feel about the historic Applewood Manor that is unique. More than a hundred years old, it touches the past yet shares the remarkable character and culture of Asheville—a city that has been called many things: weirdest, happiest, quirkiest, most haunted place in America, Santa Fe of the East, New Age Capital of the World, Paris of the South, Beer City USA, and Land of the Sky. The Manor and its city have many secrets, mysteries, and legends—some factual, some alleged, some exaggerated and some hard to believe at all. I have tried to capture their spirit and personality through the stories in the book’s five sections:

1. Stories About the Historic Inn

2. Moments in the History of the City

3. Things to Do and See in Asheville

4. Mysteries and Ghost Stories

5. Tall Tales from the Rocking Chair Porch

M. Thomas (Tom) Collins writes from his home in Franklin, Tennessee, where his characters come to life and frequent familiar places in the bucolic middle Tennessee landscape and the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina.

A pioneer entrepreneur of the information technology industry, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the ALM publication, Law Technology News, for his contribution to the use of technology in the legal services community. Citytech, a London-based publication, called him an “outstanding individual and visionary” when he was named as one of the Top 100 Global Tech Leaders. Although now retired from the commercial world, he continues to write and speak on leadership and management as well as pen his series of Mark Rollins Adventure mysteries and his short story series, Stories from Applewood Manor.

Other works by the Tom Collins:

Mystery Series:

• Mark Rollins’ New Career & the Women’s Health Club

• Mark Rollins and the Rainmaker

• Mark Rollins and the Puppeteer

• The Claret Murders, a Mark Rollins Adventure

• Diversion, a Mark Rollins Adventure

• Beyond Visual Range, a Mark Rollins Adventure

Professional Guidance:

• The Language of Excellence

For more information about Tom Collins’s book, to inquire about a review copy, or to schedule an interview, please contact him at 615/948-1544 or tom.collins@i65n.com.