Losing Austin
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOSING AUSTIN by Michael J. Bowler Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY!
About The Book
Title: LOSING AUSTIN
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Pub. Date: June 10, 2025
Publisher: Michael J. Bowler Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 213
Fifteen-year-old Austin Bowman vanishes off the face of the earth. Was he kidnapped, abducted by aliens, or murdered by his hotheaded brother, Colton? Despite the rumors and his troubled kid reputation, only Colton knows he didn’t kill Austin. He also knows what drove his brother from the house that rainy day. Or does he?
Riddled with guilt, Colton spends every waking moment trying to find Austin. Searching online for similar missing kids, he meets Keilani, a girl from Hawaii whose younger brother vanished the same day as Austin. Internet explorations reveal other kids who also disappeared, always on rainy days. Since none of these kids have been heard from since, alien abduction seems the most likely answer.
Colton endures years of frustrating dead ends and high school graduation beckons. Then something so shocking occurs that the world descends on the Bowman home in the form of media, law enforcement, even Homeland Security, and Colton’s life will never be the same.
Review for Losing Austin
Alright, Losing Austin was way outside my usual reading lane—but dang, it totally hooked me.
Colton, our main guy, is tagged as “troubled” and still reeling from his brother’s vanishing during a freak rainstorm. We get front-row seats to his brain as he digs into the mystery—cue internet rabbit holes, spooky patterns, and kids who go missing when it rains (not creepy at all). Then there’s Keilani, who’s on her own emotional side quest. Together, they start uncovering something seriously strange.
There’s a sci-fi twist that creeps in until suddenly everything flips upside down with emotional stakes. No plot armor, no lazy saves—just gritty, layered storytelling.
Fair warning: there’s no romance here, so don’t come looking for swoony moments. But if you’re into eerie vibes, slow-burning suspense, and endings that make you blink at the wall for a solid minute… Losing Austin might just be your next favorite read. Perfect for YA mystery lovers who don’t mind getting a little uncomfortable in the name of a good mind-bend. Bonus points if you enjoy questioning reality and characters you’re not always sure you can trust.
About the Author
Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in San Rafael, California. He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University. He went on to earn a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.
Putting his degrees to use Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for many years, both in general education and to students with disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook. Using what he learned from his master’s degree Michael wrote two screenplays. His horror screenplay, “Healer,” was a Semi-Finalist, and his urban fantasy script, “Like A Hero,” was a Finalist in the Shriekfest Film Festival and Screenplay Competition. He also partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II.”
Michael is a passionate advocate
for the fair treatment of children and teens and serves as a volunteer Big Brother with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and has been a volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles for over thirty years. He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed him and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.
Michael’s goal as an author is for teens to experience empowerment and hope; to see themselves in his diverse characters; to read about kids who face real-life challenges; and to see how kids like them can remain decent people in an indecent world. The most prevalent theme in his writing and his work with youth is this: as both a society, and as individuals, we’re better off when we do what’s right, rather than what’s easy.
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Giveaway for Losing Austin
1 winner will win a finished copy of LOSING AUSTIN, US Only.
Ends June 24th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Losing Austin Tour Participants
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Thanks for your post about my book and for your wonderful review. I love it when my books take readers by surprise ( in good ways, of course.) Take care!