Saturday, November 30, 2013
Who Did It Better?
Woman in Blue Dress 1
Woman Blue Dress 2
Woman in Blue Dress 3
Girl in Blue Dress 4
So you tell me - Who did it better?
Christmas Reading
I promised myself that I was not going to fall into the holiday bliss for the purposes of reading a holiday book. Any holiday book. But two interesting things happened.
1. I won a book called Jingle Bell Romance by Mia Ross
2. I won a 654 page book called The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. The funny story here is when I entered, I thought it was a book about trees and gifts and those kind of Christmas mysteries. There was not much of a description (I think they did that on purpose) It is a MYSTERY book, with Christmas stories. For example one story is "Gold, Frankincense and Murder". You see my point.
So I am going to be reading those books to in between my others that I have to read and see if I cannot find a really happy Christmas book. Jingle Bell Romance seems cute. But I have so many other books to read. However if it is a Christmas book, I will fit it in! If anyone want to leave a suggestion, even if it is a children's book, please do so! Write it in the comments section.
So I will keep you posted on my Holiday adventures :)
It is never to early to wish Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, or whatever you wish to people. So to all of you I say enjoy the month, enjoy your books, make time for your family, and do not forget to read my blog! Santa likes it a lot!
(This is the truck delivering all my books hehehe)
1. I won a book called Jingle Bell Romance by Mia Ross
2. I won a 654 page book called The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. The funny story here is when I entered, I thought it was a book about trees and gifts and those kind of Christmas mysteries. There was not much of a description (I think they did that on purpose) It is a MYSTERY book, with Christmas stories. For example one story is "Gold, Frankincense and Murder". You see my point.
So I am going to be reading those books to in between my others that I have to read and see if I cannot find a really happy Christmas book. Jingle Bell Romance seems cute. But I have so many other books to read. However if it is a Christmas book, I will fit it in! If anyone want to leave a suggestion, even if it is a children's book, please do so! Write it in the comments section.
So I will keep you posted on my Holiday adventures :)
It is never to early to wish Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, or whatever you wish to people. So to all of you I say enjoy the month, enjoy your books, make time for your family, and do not forget to read my blog! Santa likes it a lot!
(This is the truck delivering all my books hehehe)
Review of "Curve Day" but L.R. Currell
This was a very good book.
It occurs in the future, where there are not many jobs, population overgrowth, death and disease as well as crime on the rise. and what the government has come up with is Curve Day. On this day, you are allowed to kill whoever you want with no penalties, no questions asked. Any other day you can of course kill someone but you pay a severe penalty. No one gets away with crimes like they used to. You sit no longer than 6 months, if that on death row. So the book starts off explaining this and the fact that Curve day has been working out, there has been, for example a decrease in population and less crime. If you have a beef with someone, why kill them and be punished for that crime and die? Why not wait until Curve Day. But watch you back if someone is mad at you on curve day. But this book starts at the preparations for the 10th Curve Day.
We learn first about each individual that will be affected by Curve Day later on in the book.
One Month before Curve Day a boy named Leonard and his uncles are preparing for Curve Day. They do not have a lot of money so they do what they can.
Mike Tasco is in the Military and he has to work (they get paid a handsome sum to work on Curve day) to protect the barrios. The barrio he has to protect is not bad. His son Chip is not fighting overseas this year so will be in charge of a crew protecting a different barrio.
Sebastian and his friend Bruno just want to be someplace safe with their girlfriends.
Then there is Mary the police officer and her sickly mother. Mary does not have to work Curve Day so she can stay home. Or can she?
And Mr. Wilkonson. You will just have to read about him he is too much of a character and to smart to give anything away here. He was one of my favorite characters.
And there is Carrie who's husband beats here. Will her brother be able to get his kill in, because he would like nothing better. Or will he get killed first?
Then we have Leonard Goldstein, who has created a company capitalizing on Curve Day. The past three years they have asked for tapes of the bloodiest and deadliest kills. A man or woman by the name Decimator 360 has won each year. They want this year to be brilliant and Leonard and his bodyguard Clive come up with a great idea to draw the viewers in.
The book in awesome form counts down 3 weeks until Curve day, and all the preparations each family is making, 2 weeks, 1 week, 1 day, the morning of, and throughout the day. It is so suspenseful it drives you crazy. The author goes back and forth between all of the major people involved.
The best thing is finding out who Decimator 360 is. At least it was for me.
This is a quick paced, cannot put it down book. I do not give spoilers away but there are twists and turns that you will hit your head and say "WOW! I did not see that coming". There are people you will root for, and against. And the end of the book my jaw was on the ground.
Get this book ASAP for a bit of a social commentary and just a great read action packed book!
It occurs in the future, where there are not many jobs, population overgrowth, death and disease as well as crime on the rise. and what the government has come up with is Curve Day. On this day, you are allowed to kill whoever you want with no penalties, no questions asked. Any other day you can of course kill someone but you pay a severe penalty. No one gets away with crimes like they used to. You sit no longer than 6 months, if that on death row. So the book starts off explaining this and the fact that Curve day has been working out, there has been, for example a decrease in population and less crime. If you have a beef with someone, why kill them and be punished for that crime and die? Why not wait until Curve Day. But watch you back if someone is mad at you on curve day. But this book starts at the preparations for the 10th Curve Day.
We learn first about each individual that will be affected by Curve Day later on in the book.
One Month before Curve Day a boy named Leonard and his uncles are preparing for Curve Day. They do not have a lot of money so they do what they can.
Mike Tasco is in the Military and he has to work (they get paid a handsome sum to work on Curve day) to protect the barrios. The barrio he has to protect is not bad. His son Chip is not fighting overseas this year so will be in charge of a crew protecting a different barrio.
Sebastian and his friend Bruno just want to be someplace safe with their girlfriends.
Then there is Mary the police officer and her sickly mother. Mary does not have to work Curve Day so she can stay home. Or can she?
And Mr. Wilkonson. You will just have to read about him he is too much of a character and to smart to give anything away here. He was one of my favorite characters.
And there is Carrie who's husband beats here. Will her brother be able to get his kill in, because he would like nothing better. Or will he get killed first?
Then we have Leonard Goldstein, who has created a company capitalizing on Curve Day. The past three years they have asked for tapes of the bloodiest and deadliest kills. A man or woman by the name Decimator 360 has won each year. They want this year to be brilliant and Leonard and his bodyguard Clive come up with a great idea to draw the viewers in.
The book in awesome form counts down 3 weeks until Curve day, and all the preparations each family is making, 2 weeks, 1 week, 1 day, the morning of, and throughout the day. It is so suspenseful it drives you crazy. The author goes back and forth between all of the major people involved.
The best thing is finding out who Decimator 360 is. At least it was for me.
This is a quick paced, cannot put it down book. I do not give spoilers away but there are twists and turns that you will hit your head and say "WOW! I did not see that coming". There are people you will root for, and against. And the end of the book my jaw was on the ground.
Get this book ASAP for a bit of a social commentary and just a great read action packed book!
Meet R. Scott Boyer - Author and Friend
Hello my dear readers! Today is going to be a lot of fun. I get to talk about not just a great writer, but a personal friend of mine, R. Scott Boyer. I have an amazing post to share with you from him but--first I want to tell you briefly how Scott and I met.
There have been a lot of changes in the book world since I was forced to stop reading in 1999 due to my health. The biggest changes being access to e-books, as well as the ease which with you can communicate with other readers and even with authors. With these goals in mind, I joined Goodreads.com back in mid-September and immediately I began building my profile, making friends, and writing reviews. I scoured the site looking for free books and book giveaways to get my hands on as many new books as possible.
On October 6th, I noticed a post by Scott in one of the forums with an offer for a free copy of his book, Bobby Ether and the Academy (http://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Ether-Academy-Scott-Boyer/dp/1482084821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385829589&sr=8-1&keywords=bobby+ether+and+the+academy). Well I was I ecstatic! I had noticed lots of authors giving away e-books, but felt left out because I had no Kindle or Nook or anything. Scott’s offer didn’t specify, and I had high hopes of getting my hands on an actual hardcopy of a book finally. So I wrote Scott and told him I was interested in his book, along with most of my life story, lol!
That same day I got a lovely letter back from Scott stating that he thought my story was moving, and that he too suffered from a variety of ailments, including debilitating headaches, which I also suffer from. We found a common link in our suffering. He went on to explain that his offer had been intended as an e-book only, but that because of my situation, he was going to make an exception and send me a hardcopy of the book. Scott also offered to reach out to another author and friend of his, Jennifer Niven, and see if perhaps she would be willing to send me a copy of one of her books. I’m happy to report that she sent me a copy of The Aqua Net Diaries which I devoured and loved! You can find Jennifer here: http://www.jenniferniven.com/
Nowadays, Scott and I write back and forth almost everyday. He is very wise, very comforting, and sweet––confirming what I suspected when he first agreed to send me his book: Scott is just a really good man. The Academyarrived on October 12th, and I was so excited to receive it and hold it in my hands. I love the cover! I could not put it down. I stayed up late at night reading it after spending all day reading other books I had agreed to read for R4R. I finished ten days later. I loved Bobby Ether and the Academy. I did a complete review that can be found on Goodreads here: (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/735511895), as well as posted to Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2P6R58SG1CM7W/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm . I want everyone to know about this incredible book. I have also recently posted it on Booklikes (http://mollydee5.booklikes.com/post/697251/bobby-ether-and-the-academy-by-r-scott-boyer).
On Oct 14th, while exchanging emails about how much I was enjoying his first book, Scott mentioned that he had already completed book two. Alright! Book two is named Bobby Ether and the Temple of Eternity. By then another friend of mine told me about a download called "Kindle for PC". So now Scott was able to offer, and send me, a copy of Bobby Ether and the Temple of Eternity in mobi form. I devoured half of The Temple of Eternityin a few days. Then I got busy with a bunch of R4Rs and had to set it aside. Now that I have completed a very long R4R, I think I will be done with Bobby Either and the Temple of Eternity. In a day or two, tops.
Scott and I talk almost every day still. As I have started this book blog, he has been invaluable with suggestions and constructive criticism. I offered the same for his second book, but it is perfect so far! I am proud to call Scott my friend, and I believe he feels the same about me (He really does!) :) Scott has a blog on his website where he has posted some great articles. When I read it, I was attracted to one in particular called "The Multiverse." I told Scott how much I liked it and he offered to allowed me to re-post it here. So without further ado, here is "The Multiverse" by R. Scott Boyer:
The MultiVerse (The Awesome Power of ‘Save As’)
Posted on October 11, 2013
One of the biggest fears many writers have is the fear of not getting it right. Often times, this anxiety can be so debilitating that the story grinds to a halt, the author unable to progress because the story’s current status isn’t perfect (perfection is a myth, but that’s a post for another time). The purpose of this post is to assure my fellow writers that there is a way to escape the incapacitating fear of imperfection. I call it ‘the multiverse.’
The multiverse is the multitude of universes created by alternate versions of the same story. Here’s how it works: Any time I feel like something I’m working on is less than perfect crap, I either make a new document to work on a specific section, or ‘Save As’ and create a whole new draft. Now I’m free to beat, bludgeon, and disembowel the scene I’m working on without fear of harming a single ‘verse’ in the prior draft. Heaven forbid the new version ends up worse than the original, I just start over again with another draft in another alternate universe.
I confess it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Like many authors, I frequently get attached to my writing. Scenes written in the pool (see my post about this here) are especially dear to me, which makes deleting them especially gut wrenching. Thanks to the multiverse, I don’t have to. Whenever I feel the need to carve out or trim down something I really like, I simply make a new file.
Now, all those alternate events still exist. Bobby and Jinx have had dozens of adventures that didn’t make it into the final draft of the Academy. In my first full version, I had a sixty-page section in which Bobby and his friends explored additional levels of the Archives, discovering ancient catacombs and an old headmaster’s crypt. Later, Bobby and the gang got caught and sent to the mines (again). There, Ashley locked Bobby inside a sealed chamber and deactivated the hydraulic door, causing it to explode under the geothermal pressure, nearly burying Bobby alive.
Due to length, I condensed this section following my second draft (the book was 131k words at the time), but those earlier versions still exist. In the multiverse, Bobby and his friends still find Master Jong’s scroll-copying station tucked away deep in the catacombs, and Jinx’s imagination still runs wild, convincing him that a hooded Master Jong is really a ghoulish apparition.
The bottom line is that, courtesy of the multiverse, nothing is every truly gone. All of those wonderful adventures still exist, like actors frozen in time, ready to resume as soon as their audience returns.
So the next time you’re struggling with what to write next, or afraid to mess up what you’ve already got, take advantage of ‘Save As’ and expand your multiverse. Then go ahead and explore the possibilities risk-free. I think you’ll be pleased with the results.
For anyone interested, my book, Bobby Ether and the Academy, is a young adult adventure story that blends urban fantasy with new-age/spiritual fiction (Think Harry Potter meets the Celestine Prophecy). It’s full of excitement, mystery, and just a hint of magic. More information can be found on the Facebook page, or on the about me section of this site
(Since this was taken from Scott's site I encourage you to go to Scott's site yourself: http://rscottboyer.com/ and visit Scott's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyEtherAndTheAcademy
And I would also to wish Scott a Happy Birthday!!!! We spoke on his birthday which was Wednesday. He had a great time celebrating. I do not know if he wants me to tell his age but he does not look it :) So everyone, even if you do not comment to me, go over to Scott's site or Facebook page and wish him a Belated Happy Birthday!!
There have been a lot of changes in the book world since I was forced to stop reading in 1999 due to my health. The biggest changes being access to e-books, as well as the ease which with you can communicate with other readers and even with authors. With these goals in mind, I joined Goodreads.com back in mid-September and immediately I began building my profile, making friends, and writing reviews. I scoured the site looking for free books and book giveaways to get my hands on as many new books as possible.
On October 6th, I noticed a post by Scott in one of the forums with an offer for a free copy of his book, Bobby Ether and the Academy (http://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Ether-Academy-Scott-Boyer/dp/1482084821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385829589&sr=8-1&keywords=bobby+ether+and+the+academy). Well I was I ecstatic! I had noticed lots of authors giving away e-books, but felt left out because I had no Kindle or Nook or anything. Scott’s offer didn’t specify, and I had high hopes of getting my hands on an actual hardcopy of a book finally. So I wrote Scott and told him I was interested in his book, along with most of my life story, lol!
That same day I got a lovely letter back from Scott stating that he thought my story was moving, and that he too suffered from a variety of ailments, including debilitating headaches, which I also suffer from. We found a common link in our suffering. He went on to explain that his offer had been intended as an e-book only, but that because of my situation, he was going to make an exception and send me a hardcopy of the book. Scott also offered to reach out to another author and friend of his, Jennifer Niven, and see if perhaps she would be willing to send me a copy of one of her books. I’m happy to report that she sent me a copy of The Aqua Net Diaries which I devoured and loved! You can find Jennifer here: http://www.jenniferniven.com/
Nowadays, Scott and I write back and forth almost everyday. He is very wise, very comforting, and sweet––confirming what I suspected when he first agreed to send me his book: Scott is just a really good man. The Academyarrived on October 12th, and I was so excited to receive it and hold it in my hands. I love the cover! I could not put it down. I stayed up late at night reading it after spending all day reading other books I had agreed to read for R4R. I finished ten days later. I loved Bobby Ether and the Academy. I did a complete review that can be found on Goodreads here: (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/735511895), as well as posted to Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2P6R58SG1CM7W/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm . I want everyone to know about this incredible book. I have also recently posted it on Booklikes (http://mollydee5.booklikes.com/post/697251/bobby-ether-and-the-academy-by-r-scott-boyer).
On Oct 14th, while exchanging emails about how much I was enjoying his first book, Scott mentioned that he had already completed book two. Alright! Book two is named Bobby Ether and the Temple of Eternity. By then another friend of mine told me about a download called "Kindle for PC". So now Scott was able to offer, and send me, a copy of Bobby Ether and the Temple of Eternity in mobi form. I devoured half of The Temple of Eternityin a few days. Then I got busy with a bunch of R4Rs and had to set it aside. Now that I have completed a very long R4R, I think I will be done with Bobby Either and the Temple of Eternity. In a day or two, tops.
Scott and I talk almost every day still. As I have started this book blog, he has been invaluable with suggestions and constructive criticism. I offered the same for his second book, but it is perfect so far! I am proud to call Scott my friend, and I believe he feels the same about me (He really does!) :) Scott has a blog on his website where he has posted some great articles. When I read it, I was attracted to one in particular called "The Multiverse." I told Scott how much I liked it and he offered to allowed me to re-post it here. So without further ado, here is "The Multiverse" by R. Scott Boyer:
The MultiVerse (The Awesome Power of ‘Save As’)
Posted on October 11, 2013
One of the biggest fears many writers have is the fear of not getting it right. Often times, this anxiety can be so debilitating that the story grinds to a halt, the author unable to progress because the story’s current status isn’t perfect (perfection is a myth, but that’s a post for another time). The purpose of this post is to assure my fellow writers that there is a way to escape the incapacitating fear of imperfection. I call it ‘the multiverse.’
The multiverse is the multitude of universes created by alternate versions of the same story. Here’s how it works: Any time I feel like something I’m working on is less than perfect crap, I either make a new document to work on a specific section, or ‘Save As’ and create a whole new draft. Now I’m free to beat, bludgeon, and disembowel the scene I’m working on without fear of harming a single ‘verse’ in the prior draft. Heaven forbid the new version ends up worse than the original, I just start over again with another draft in another alternate universe.
I confess it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Like many authors, I frequently get attached to my writing. Scenes written in the pool (see my post about this here) are especially dear to me, which makes deleting them especially gut wrenching. Thanks to the multiverse, I don’t have to. Whenever I feel the need to carve out or trim down something I really like, I simply make a new file.
Now, all those alternate events still exist. Bobby and Jinx have had dozens of adventures that didn’t make it into the final draft of the Academy. In my first full version, I had a sixty-page section in which Bobby and his friends explored additional levels of the Archives, discovering ancient catacombs and an old headmaster’s crypt. Later, Bobby and the gang got caught and sent to the mines (again). There, Ashley locked Bobby inside a sealed chamber and deactivated the hydraulic door, causing it to explode under the geothermal pressure, nearly burying Bobby alive.
Due to length, I condensed this section following my second draft (the book was 131k words at the time), but those earlier versions still exist. In the multiverse, Bobby and his friends still find Master Jong’s scroll-copying station tucked away deep in the catacombs, and Jinx’s imagination still runs wild, convincing him that a hooded Master Jong is really a ghoulish apparition.
The bottom line is that, courtesy of the multiverse, nothing is every truly gone. All of those wonderful adventures still exist, like actors frozen in time, ready to resume as soon as their audience returns.
So the next time you’re struggling with what to write next, or afraid to mess up what you’ve already got, take advantage of ‘Save As’ and expand your multiverse. Then go ahead and explore the possibilities risk-free. I think you’ll be pleased with the results.
For anyone interested, my book, Bobby Ether and the Academy, is a young adult adventure story that blends urban fantasy with new-age/spiritual fiction (Think Harry Potter meets the Celestine Prophecy). It’s full of excitement, mystery, and just a hint of magic. More information can be found on the Facebook page, or on the about me section of this site
(Since this was taken from Scott's site I encourage you to go to Scott's site yourself: http://rscottboyer.com/ and visit Scott's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyEtherAndTheAcademy
And I would also to wish Scott a Happy Birthday!!!! We spoke on his birthday which was Wednesday. He had a great time celebrating. I do not know if he wants me to tell his age but he does not look it :) So everyone, even if you do not comment to me, go over to Scott's site or Facebook page and wish him a Belated Happy Birthday!!
The Quote, The Review, The List - for Saturday
A Bookish Quote:
If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
by Oscar Wilde
************************************************************************************************
The Review
Kirkus Review
The Absence of Mercy
by John Burley
KIRKUS REVIEW
Abandoned in the woods, the first victim is a local high school student, a 15-year-old boy. The brutality of his death contrasts with the precision of the blows, head wounds accurately driven into the weak points of the human skull. It appears this is not the murderer’s first execution.
This serial killer lurks in the idyllic town of Wintersville, just miles from the Ohio River. He savages his victims with not only a long, tapered, mysterious instrument, but also his teeth, ripping flesh, shredding blood vessels, amputating fingers. Medical examiner Ben Stevenson methodically catalogs the wounds, recording each laceration and avulsion with clinical objectivity. Simultaneously, Stevenson wants to protect his family and his young assistant, Nat, from the horror, but no one is safe from a murderer who strikes in broad daylight. The case weighs upon Ben, straining his relationship with his wife, Susan, a family practitioner, and their two sons, 16-year-old Thomas and 8-year-old Joel. His fears prompt nightmares of close calls with his own sons—a clown that menaced Thomas, an accidental fall that left Joel comatose. Hopes rise when a victim is found alive, barely clinging to life. Although Monica Dressler replays much of her ordeal in her dreams, she unfortunately recalls little of her assailant. As Thomas helps Monica recover and Susan becomes increasingly anxious, Ben works with law enforcement to piece together the evidence. Using his experience as an emergency room physician, Burley skillfully uses the step-by-step discovery of evidence to ratchet up the tension in his debut novel. Tool markings on the victims’ bones, DNA evidence collected from their skin and even unusual dental impressions lifted from their wounds add up. Soon, Ben can no longer deny that the evidence points much too close to home.
A smart, disturbing and heartbreaking thriller.
This will be on my "To Read" list.
************************************************************************************************
The List
From Barnes & Noble:
Here is a list of Christmas books that Barnes and Noble is currently selling. I hope you enjoy it!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/top-christmas-book?store=allproducts&keyword=top+christmas+book
If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
by Oscar Wilde
The Review
Kirkus Review
The Absence of Mercy
by John Burley
KIRKUS REVIEW
Abandoned in the woods, the first victim is a local high school student, a 15-year-old boy. The brutality of his death contrasts with the precision of the blows, head wounds accurately driven into the weak points of the human skull. It appears this is not the murderer’s first execution.
This serial killer lurks in the idyllic town of Wintersville, just miles from the Ohio River. He savages his victims with not only a long, tapered, mysterious instrument, but also his teeth, ripping flesh, shredding blood vessels, amputating fingers. Medical examiner Ben Stevenson methodically catalogs the wounds, recording each laceration and avulsion with clinical objectivity. Simultaneously, Stevenson wants to protect his family and his young assistant, Nat, from the horror, but no one is safe from a murderer who strikes in broad daylight. The case weighs upon Ben, straining his relationship with his wife, Susan, a family practitioner, and their two sons, 16-year-old Thomas and 8-year-old Joel. His fears prompt nightmares of close calls with his own sons—a clown that menaced Thomas, an accidental fall that left Joel comatose. Hopes rise when a victim is found alive, barely clinging to life. Although Monica Dressler replays much of her ordeal in her dreams, she unfortunately recalls little of her assailant. As Thomas helps Monica recover and Susan becomes increasingly anxious, Ben works with law enforcement to piece together the evidence. Using his experience as an emergency room physician, Burley skillfully uses the step-by-step discovery of evidence to ratchet up the tension in his debut novel. Tool markings on the victims’ bones, DNA evidence collected from their skin and even unusual dental impressions lifted from their wounds add up. Soon, Ben can no longer deny that the evidence points much too close to home.
A smart, disturbing and heartbreaking thriller.
This will be on my "To Read" list.
The List
From Barnes & Noble:
Here is a list of Christmas books that Barnes and Noble is currently selling. I hope you enjoy it!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/top-christmas-book?store=allproducts&keyword=top+christmas+book
Thursday, November 28, 2013
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Today I am taking a reading break. I know this will shock some of you but I am a football fanatic so today is my day. Especially, if you have read my profile, I am a Steelers fan since the age of 8 so I am waiting patiently until 8p. Hubby is working. I am off as well as many others. Look for the blog on Friday. Have a great day!!
ps this Green Bay game is CRAZY!!
ps-don't forget
ps this Green Bay game is CRAZY!!
ps-don't forget
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Quote, The Review, The List - for Wednesday
A Bookish Quote
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
************************************************************************************************
Kirkus Riview
MY MISTAKE-A Memoir
by Daniel Menaker
KIRKUS REVIEW
A well-known editor’s funny and thoughtful memoir of wrong turns, both in and out of publishing.
As Menaker (A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation, 2010, etc.) sums up his life, he can’t get past his mistakes—the big ones he’ll never stop paying for and the small ones that changed his life. As a young man, he goaded his older brother during a game of touch football, leading to his brother's fatal injury and leaving himself with a lifetime of guilt. He smoked, quit and got lung cancer years later. He began working for the New Yorker, where it was easy to sweat the small stuff under the famously idiosyncratic editorship of William Shawn. Urged to find another job, he stayed for 26 years, skating on thin ice even as he climbed the editorial chain. There were rules of decorum ("You don't say 'Hi' to Mr. Shawn—you say 'Hello’ ”) and regular surprises on what would or would not pass the Shawn smell test. When Menaker suggested ending a story with a mild pun, Shawn told him it "would destroy the magazine." "What you want to write is an article," Shawn admonished him at one point, "and the New Yorker doesn't publish…articles." On the plus side, Menaker learned high-level editing, not just from Shawn, but from the contrasting examples of magazine stalwarts Roger Angell (rough and tumble) and William Maxwell (kind and gentle). After the Tina Brown coup, Menaker moved on to Random House, where he eventually became editor-in-chief, wrestling to stay afloat and to stay alive.
Menaker doesn’t just recount experiences; he digs away at them with wit and astute reflection, looking for the pattern of a life that defies easy profit-and-loss lessons.
************************************************************************************************
The List
From Barnes & Noble - This Season's Biggest Books-http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/books-bestselling-books/379003057/#Storefront_Module_2
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
************************************************************************************************
Kirkus Riview
MY MISTAKE-A Memoir
by Daniel Menaker
KIRKUS REVIEW
A well-known editor’s funny and thoughtful memoir of wrong turns, both in and out of publishing.
As Menaker (A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation, 2010, etc.) sums up his life, he can’t get past his mistakes—the big ones he’ll never stop paying for and the small ones that changed his life. As a young man, he goaded his older brother during a game of touch football, leading to his brother's fatal injury and leaving himself with a lifetime of guilt. He smoked, quit and got lung cancer years later. He began working for the New Yorker, where it was easy to sweat the small stuff under the famously idiosyncratic editorship of William Shawn. Urged to find another job, he stayed for 26 years, skating on thin ice even as he climbed the editorial chain. There were rules of decorum ("You don't say 'Hi' to Mr. Shawn—you say 'Hello’ ”) and regular surprises on what would or would not pass the Shawn smell test. When Menaker suggested ending a story with a mild pun, Shawn told him it "would destroy the magazine." "What you want to write is an article," Shawn admonished him at one point, "and the New Yorker doesn't publish…articles." On the plus side, Menaker learned high-level editing, not just from Shawn, but from the contrasting examples of magazine stalwarts Roger Angell (rough and tumble) and William Maxwell (kind and gentle). After the Tina Brown coup, Menaker moved on to Random House, where he eventually became editor-in-chief, wrestling to stay afloat and to stay alive.
Menaker doesn’t just recount experiences; he digs away at them with wit and astute reflection, looking for the pattern of a life that defies easy profit-and-loss lessons.
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The List
From Barnes & Noble - This Season's Biggest Books-http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/books-bestselling-books/379003057/#Storefront_Module_2
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Kirkus on "Bobby Ether and The Academy"
My friend and author R. Scott Boyer recently had his book reviewed on Kirkus. It was a great review. I just posted my review here on my blog although I had posted it to goodreads, booklikes, and Amazon weeks ago. I am currently reading the next book in the series and am halfway finished. But I will be having Scott on to guest blog soon so I want you to become familiar with him and his works. So take a look here:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/r-scott-boyer/bobby-ether-and-the-academy/
ENJOY!!!
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/r-scott-boyer/bobby-ether-and-the-academy/
ENJOY!!!
Review of "Bobby Ether and The Academy" by R. Scott Boyer
This was one amazing book! The author was nice enough to send me a copy so right away I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. This is a great book for young and old. It is I would say an adventure, mystery, fiction.
It is about a boy named Bobby Ether who, one night, is taken from his home and believes he sees his parents die. Thinking he has nowhere to go, he is taken and goes sort of willingly to "The Academy". He does not quite fit in there. But he soon finds the other kids that do not quite fit in and makes good friends.
Again, I do not do spoilers in a review. What happens on this amazing journey is Bobby, finding out who he is, finding out things about his parents, his grandparents, and his extended family he never knew he had.
Bobby is targeted for the Academy from a display he put on that one woman noticed (this is right in the beginning of the book) at Bobby's basketball game. Bobby does have special powers. But not the kind of special powers we are used to seeing in these types of books.
Bobby has to go to regular classes at The Academy and classes that teach him how to use his powers.
Go on a journey with Bobby as he finds his family, finds out about how to knock down his emotional walls, finds the power within, help his friends, and finds out about something big and amazing going on in the world that has been around for a long time and that he is now a part of. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends.
You will turn page after page and root for Bobby. I know I did!
I hope there is a sequel!!!
It is about a boy named Bobby Ether who, one night, is taken from his home and believes he sees his parents die. Thinking he has nowhere to go, he is taken and goes sort of willingly to "The Academy". He does not quite fit in there. But he soon finds the other kids that do not quite fit in and makes good friends.
Again, I do not do spoilers in a review. What happens on this amazing journey is Bobby, finding out who he is, finding out things about his parents, his grandparents, and his extended family he never knew he had.
Bobby is targeted for the Academy from a display he put on that one woman noticed (this is right in the beginning of the book) at Bobby's basketball game. Bobby does have special powers. But not the kind of special powers we are used to seeing in these types of books.
Bobby has to go to regular classes at The Academy and classes that teach him how to use his powers.
Go on a journey with Bobby as he finds his family, finds out about how to knock down his emotional walls, finds the power within, help his friends, and finds out about something big and amazing going on in the world that has been around for a long time and that he is now a part of. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends.
You will turn page after page and root for Bobby. I know I did!
I hope there is a sequel!!!
Some TOP Lists
From the Washington Post:
The Top 10 books of the year http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/top-10-books-of-the-year/2013/11/21/c4d92a7c-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
The best books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/top-10-best-books-top-graphic-novels-and-top-audio-books/2013/11/22/3e5690ec-52ca-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_gallery.html
Notable fiction of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/notable-fiction-of-2013/2013/11/21/e9a81232-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Notable nonfiction of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/notable-nonfiction-of-2013/2013/11/21/fdc4a820-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Top 10 graphic novels of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/top-10-graphic-novels-of-2013/2013/11/21/314be21c-35b5-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Best audiobooks of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/best-audiobooks-of-2013/2013/11/21/15b75efa-35b5-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
5 best photography books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/5-best-photography-books-of-2013/2013/11/21/dee6e742-4d56-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html
Best photo books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/best-photo-books-of-2013/2013/11/22/918cc19e-52fe-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_gallery.html
Do you recognize anything that you have read? Or maybe now you have some more books to add to your To Read list.
The Top 10 books of the year http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/top-10-books-of-the-year/2013/11/21/c4d92a7c-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
The best books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/top-10-best-books-top-graphic-novels-and-top-audio-books/2013/11/22/3e5690ec-52ca-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_gallery.html
Notable fiction of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/notable-fiction-of-2013/2013/11/21/e9a81232-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Notable nonfiction of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/notable-nonfiction-of-2013/2013/11/21/fdc4a820-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Top 10 graphic novels of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/top-10-graphic-novels-of-2013/2013/11/21/314be21c-35b5-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
Best audiobooks of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/best-audiobooks-of-2013/2013/11/21/15b75efa-35b5-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html
5 best photography books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/5-best-photography-books-of-2013/2013/11/21/dee6e742-4d56-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html
Best photo books of 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/best-photo-books-of-2013/2013/11/22/918cc19e-52fe-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_gallery.html
Do you recognize anything that you have read? Or maybe now you have some more books to add to your To Read list.
Bookmarks
What does your bookmark mean to you?
Do you have a special bookmark? Or do you just use a scrap of paper?
Is the bookmark as important as the book?
I think so.
I have a huge assortment of bookmarks and, I have to have the right bookmark for the right book. I have been very lucky lately on winning books from Goodreads.com and a lot of the authors were nice enough to include bookmarks. WOW! How awesome. The perfect bookmark for the perfect book.
I went to New York ComicCon this year and the free bookmarks I came home with would blow your mind. A huge bag. I almost felt guilty I had so many. But they were free! I am still looking up information about OTHER books that was printed on the bookmarks.
It is funny if my bookmark falls out, I have a fit. I really do. It usually happens when I carelessly and quickly grab a book to take it somewhere else, which I try not to do. But I am more upset about the bookmark hitting the floor than I am about me loosing my place in the book.
I am frequently reading more than one book at a time so I have to have the right bookmark for the correct book.
I just was able to read again recently after not being able to read for close to 14 years. So Kindle is still new for me. I wish I had a virtual bookmark. I would love to pick an image and somehow make a bookmark that is marked as such in the dotcom part. I would also have a separate one for every book. I may work on that. Virtual bookmarks. Customized. (my mind wanders)
Have I taken little scraps of paper and used them as bookmarks? Sure. But only until I can find my special bookmark.
I love the Barnes and Noble section of all the really fancy and expensive bookmarks. I want to buy them all. Maybe it is the collector in me.
I am very attached to my bookmarks and sometimes do not even want to use the same bookmark twice because I associate it with a certain book.
I remember when I folded pages in and my grandmother told me about bookmarks. I still hate to fold a page in. Only if it is absolutely necessary. But it happens rarely. I would rather close the book and look up where I was than fold the page of a book. I always used to use the same bookmark. When I was in High School I really got into bookmarks. I made homemade ones. They were full of sparkles and color. And stickers. And just recently coming back to reading, I love that the bookmarks match the book, like I have seen with not only what authors have sent me, but what I saw at ComicCon.
I hope you all have a special bookmark. If not go treat yourself to one! Start with one and see where it leads. :)
Do you have a special bookmark? Or do you just use a scrap of paper?
Is the bookmark as important as the book?
I think so.
I have a huge assortment of bookmarks and, I have to have the right bookmark for the right book. I have been very lucky lately on winning books from Goodreads.com and a lot of the authors were nice enough to include bookmarks. WOW! How awesome. The perfect bookmark for the perfect book.
I went to New York ComicCon this year and the free bookmarks I came home with would blow your mind. A huge bag. I almost felt guilty I had so many. But they were free! I am still looking up information about OTHER books that was printed on the bookmarks.
It is funny if my bookmark falls out, I have a fit. I really do. It usually happens when I carelessly and quickly grab a book to take it somewhere else, which I try not to do. But I am more upset about the bookmark hitting the floor than I am about me loosing my place in the book.
I am frequently reading more than one book at a time so I have to have the right bookmark for the correct book.
I just was able to read again recently after not being able to read for close to 14 years. So Kindle is still new for me. I wish I had a virtual bookmark. I would love to pick an image and somehow make a bookmark that is marked as such in the dotcom part. I would also have a separate one for every book. I may work on that. Virtual bookmarks. Customized. (my mind wanders)
Have I taken little scraps of paper and used them as bookmarks? Sure. But only until I can find my special bookmark.
I love the Barnes and Noble section of all the really fancy and expensive bookmarks. I want to buy them all. Maybe it is the collector in me.
I am very attached to my bookmarks and sometimes do not even want to use the same bookmark twice because I associate it with a certain book.
I remember when I folded pages in and my grandmother told me about bookmarks. I still hate to fold a page in. Only if it is absolutely necessary. But it happens rarely. I would rather close the book and look up where I was than fold the page of a book. I always used to use the same bookmark. When I was in High School I really got into bookmarks. I made homemade ones. They were full of sparkles and color. And stickers. And just recently coming back to reading, I love that the bookmarks match the book, like I have seen with not only what authors have sent me, but what I saw at ComicCon.
I hope you all have a special bookmark. If not go treat yourself to one! Start with one and see where it leads. :)
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.
I just wanted to say I want to take my blog further so as of today I will be doing a book quote each day, a book review from Kirkus whether it is an Indie, or Fiction, etc., and the link (or if I can figure out how to paste it correctly here, hey I am not perfect!) New York Times Best Seller list. I do not think everyone wants separate posts so I am going to combine the above with maybe something else, a game or a giveaway. I would still like to keep my reviews and interviews separate. But that may change. As always, if you want to see something, if you like it the way it is, or have a suggestion, I do this for the readers, so please comment!! Feel free to e-mail me at
Chocolatemint515@aol.com
Please put "Mismatched Bookends" in the subject portion.
I will have a "Who Did It Better" later and one, possibly two book reviews. And I am doing final editing on a piece by a guest blogger that I KNOW you will all love, plus there are many interviews coming up (the authors confirmed), and cover reveals, book blitzs, all the other fun things I posted about I believe two days ago.
So hang in there with me! Read a lot and enjoy it. And I hope to have this be the blog that you will come to. Remember I do all genres. Someone, and I appreciate it, mentioned early on that my blog was a horror blog. I took a look and they were correct.It appeared that way. I had just happened to have read some horror short stories, and had promoted a horror story. It was a coincidence. Although I love horror, if you look carefully you will see I have reviewed a broad range of genres so far. I have reviewed children's books, fiction, sci fi, etc. Today will be my first LGBT. So I am excited about it. I am almost done and it is an amazing book. Great story. Great writing.
I hate to include this but I do suffer from many disabilities and unfortunately the past four days have been horrible for me. I think I listed my conditions previously, I will not do that again but the Multiple Sclerosis is kicking my butt. It is interesting I won a book on how to get better from any illness about three weeks ago. Maybe I should start reading that! But I apologize that the blog had to suffer a bit but trust me nothing got done here at home base either. I feel a tad better today but far from normal. I think it is early holiday stress. I had to have a pep talk with myself. :)
So please continue to enjoy my blog. I work very hard on it. I love the support and individual comments I have received here in the comments section and in other forums. Again this is really not my blog it is our blog.
Happy Reading!
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS
I tried to paste the list, no dice so just click here for the New York Times Best Sellers in hardcover fiction, e-book, etc.
ENJOY!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html
ENJOY!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html
KIRKUS REVIEWS INDIE REVIEW OF THE DAY
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RICHARD MUSTO
by Joe Lamport
KIRKUS REVIEW
A winsome character sketch that celebrates a homeless man’s quirky personality and picaresque life story.
Richard Musto, an 87-year-old homeless man living on Sixth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, is a Runyonesque figure who has a jumble of colorful memories and habits. He’s a fastidious housekeeper, carefully keeping his milk-crate–and-cardboard campsite ship-shape and his patch of sidewalk clean and mopped; a dapper dresser in black beret and American-flag cravat; an amateur expert on military history and cinema, always happy to act out a scene; a cigar-smoking bon vivant and incorrigible ladies’ man, always ready with witticisms for the Hooters gals; and a clear thinker with an acerbic take on the world (sample pensée: “A lot of guys / stop to ask me / what’s the secret of life / and I’ll say to them / how the hell should I know”). Lamport, bemused by Musto, spent many an evening hanging out and recording the man’s back story, which included combat in World War II, many knockabout jobs, an enduring passion for the ponies, a sexless marriage and countless adventures in cross-dressing and BDSM, which, he claims, began with the nuns at his grammar school. (One of Musto’s more improbable sideline career jags was as a ladies’ maid and lingerie model.) The author tells Musto’s tale in limpid, engaging free verse, which suits the narrative’s offbeat content and poetic mood; along the way, he sprinkles in atmospheric odes to the bustling New York streetscape, along with somewhat overdone stanzas invoking the muse. The portrait also has some dark edges, including an ugly family feud that makes Musto “all the more human in his monstrosity.” Musto appears in Michel Delsol’s arresting black-and-white photographs, looking like an elfin version of an Easter Island statue. Overall, Musto emerges as a resilient survivor, weathering the obliteration of his camp by city workers with a soft curse and plucky aplomb. The result is a heartening lesson on “How to live life in extremis / Yet to the fullest.”
A romanticized but beguiling saga of one man’s life on the streets.
Pub Date:Nov. 15th, 2013
Page count:186pp
Publisher:Roll Your Own Press
Program:Kirkus Indie
Review Posted Online:Nov. 15th, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue:Dec. 15th, 2013
SUPPORT YOUR INDIE AUTHORS!!!!!! I have this book ob my too read list!!!
by Joe Lamport
KIRKUS REVIEW
A winsome character sketch that celebrates a homeless man’s quirky personality and picaresque life story.
Richard Musto, an 87-year-old homeless man living on Sixth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, is a Runyonesque figure who has a jumble of colorful memories and habits. He’s a fastidious housekeeper, carefully keeping his milk-crate–and-cardboard campsite ship-shape and his patch of sidewalk clean and mopped; a dapper dresser in black beret and American-flag cravat; an amateur expert on military history and cinema, always happy to act out a scene; a cigar-smoking bon vivant and incorrigible ladies’ man, always ready with witticisms for the Hooters gals; and a clear thinker with an acerbic take on the world (sample pensée: “A lot of guys / stop to ask me / what’s the secret of life / and I’ll say to them / how the hell should I know”). Lamport, bemused by Musto, spent many an evening hanging out and recording the man’s back story, which included combat in World War II, many knockabout jobs, an enduring passion for the ponies, a sexless marriage and countless adventures in cross-dressing and BDSM, which, he claims, began with the nuns at his grammar school. (One of Musto’s more improbable sideline career jags was as a ladies’ maid and lingerie model.) The author tells Musto’s tale in limpid, engaging free verse, which suits the narrative’s offbeat content and poetic mood; along the way, he sprinkles in atmospheric odes to the bustling New York streetscape, along with somewhat overdone stanzas invoking the muse. The portrait also has some dark edges, including an ugly family feud that makes Musto “all the more human in his monstrosity.” Musto appears in Michel Delsol’s arresting black-and-white photographs, looking like an elfin version of an Easter Island statue. Overall, Musto emerges as a resilient survivor, weathering the obliteration of his camp by city workers with a soft curse and plucky aplomb. The result is a heartening lesson on “How to live life in extremis / Yet to the fullest.”
A romanticized but beguiling saga of one man’s life on the streets.
Pub Date:Nov. 15th, 2013
Page count:186pp
Publisher:Roll Your Own Press
Program:Kirkus Indie
Review Posted Online:Nov. 15th, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue:Dec. 15th, 2013
SUPPORT YOUR INDIE AUTHORS!!!!!! I have this book ob my too read list!!!
A BOOKISH QUOTE
"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him."
-Maya Angelou
-Maya Angelou
Monday, November 25, 2013
A BOOKISH QUOTE
"The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read."
-Abraham Lincoln
-Abraham Lincoln
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 25th! DO NOT FORGET TO GET YOUR NEW STORY FOR FREE FROM EVANS LIGHT!
A few days ago, I posted about Evans Light's new story "Don't Need No Water". Well the day is here! For today and until 11/28 you can get his new story on Amazon for free! You will love it I promise. You can see my review right here on my blog.
For Evans' book go to http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Need-Water-Evans-Light-ebook/dp/B00GQOF03G
Make sure you write a review and tell Evans how much you loved it.
Don't forget to follow him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evans-Light/182936385102626?ref=br_tf
And follow him and Adam Light on Twitter https://twitter.com/BrothersLight
For Evans' book go to http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Need-Water-Evans-Light-ebook/dp/B00GQOF03G
Make sure you write a review and tell Evans how much you loved it.
Don't forget to follow him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evans-Light/182936385102626?ref=br_tf
And follow him and Adam Light on Twitter https://twitter.com/BrothersLight
Currently Reading "RUBY" by author Cynthia Bond
I was very lucky to receive an advanced release copy of this book from a giveaway on "Goodreads.com" This book is not due out until April, 2014.
I am happy to say I cannot wait to get into it and finish it to give you a review. Hopefully it is a book you are looking forward to reading.
Synopsis (from Goodreads.com)
Ephram Jennings has never forgotten the beautiful girl with the long braids running through the piney woods of Liberty, their small East Texas town. Young Ruby, "the kind of pretty it hurt to look at," has suffered beyond imagining, so as soon as she can, she flees suffocating Liberty for the bright pull of 1950s New York. Ruby quickly winds her way into the ripe center of the city--the darkened piano bars and hidden alleyways of the Village--all the while hoping to see the red hair and green eyes of her mother. When the funeral of her childhood best friend forces her to return home, thirty-year-old Ruby Bell will find herself reliving the devastating violence of her girlhood. With the terrifying realization that she might not be strong enough to fight her way back out, Ruby struggles to survive her memories of the town's dark past. Meanwhile, Ephram must choose between loyalty to the sister who raised him and the chance for a life with the woman he has loved since he was a boy.
Full of life, exquisitely written, and suffused with the pastoral beauty of the rural South, Ruby carries the reader along in a rush: through the red dust and gossip of Main Street, to the pit fire where men swill bootleg outside Bloom's Juke, to Celia Jennings's kitchen where a cake is being made, yolk by yolk, that Ephram will use to try to begin again with Ruby. With a sense of the poetry and power of Toni Morrison, an ingenious structure, and a breathtaking, lyrical prose all her own, Cynthia Bond creates an unflinching portrait of man's dark acts and the promise of the redemptive power of love.
Tell me what you are reading!! I would love to know. :)
I am happy to say I cannot wait to get into it and finish it to give you a review. Hopefully it is a book you are looking forward to reading.
Synopsis (from Goodreads.com)
Ephram Jennings has never forgotten the beautiful girl with the long braids running through the piney woods of Liberty, their small East Texas town. Young Ruby, "the kind of pretty it hurt to look at," has suffered beyond imagining, so as soon as she can, she flees suffocating Liberty for the bright pull of 1950s New York. Ruby quickly winds her way into the ripe center of the city--the darkened piano bars and hidden alleyways of the Village--all the while hoping to see the red hair and green eyes of her mother. When the funeral of her childhood best friend forces her to return home, thirty-year-old Ruby Bell will find herself reliving the devastating violence of her girlhood. With the terrifying realization that she might not be strong enough to fight her way back out, Ruby struggles to survive her memories of the town's dark past. Meanwhile, Ephram must choose between loyalty to the sister who raised him and the chance for a life with the woman he has loved since he was a boy.
Full of life, exquisitely written, and suffused with the pastoral beauty of the rural South, Ruby carries the reader along in a rush: through the red dust and gossip of Main Street, to the pit fire where men swill bootleg outside Bloom's Juke, to Celia Jennings's kitchen where a cake is being made, yolk by yolk, that Ephram will use to try to begin again with Ruby. With a sense of the poetry and power of Toni Morrison, an ingenious structure, and a breathtaking, lyrical prose all her own, Cynthia Bond creates an unflinching portrait of man's dark acts and the promise of the redemptive power of love.
Tell me what you are reading!! I would love to know. :)
Review of "Independent Study" by Joelle Charbonneau
I won this book in a contest so I did not know it was part of a series. The first book "The Testing" was published in 6/13. This book I am reviewing I got an advanced copy of (thank you!) and is not set for release until 1/14 and the third book "Graduation Day" is due out 6/14.
This book stands on its own. It is a science fiction/post apocalyptic book. It occurs after the seven wars that destroyed the country. The main character Cia, is from the colonies. You are lucky to be chosen for The Testing if you are from the colonies. Those who live in Tosu city are assured getting into The Testing. The Testing is to help pluck out the best and brightest minds in all of the colonies so that they can all work together to rebuild what the wars destroyed. For example, Cia's father is a Botanist who works on getting rid of deadly plant strains, among other things.
Cia is so nervous about The Testing and the book starts off by telling you how hard The Testing is and when you pass, what areas of study you can be assigned to. Cia wants to go into Engineering but is chosen for Government. But there are other things on Cia's mind. Mainly where do the students that do not pass The Testing go? The students that pass The Testing are told the students who fail The Testing are reassigned. Cia is about to find out what that really means.
Once Cia starts her internship, she learns more and more secrets about The Testing and about how the University is really run. She also learns horrible secrets about those in power and how this relates to the highest people in government. Not to mention which of her fellow students she can trust.
This book was an honest to goodness page turner. So many things to remember, so many secrets hidden. Information gets revealed a little bit at a time, building suspense. I knew it was a series but was still sad at the end because I want to read the nest book in the series now! At least I can read the first one.
This book is listed under YA, and SciFi, and Post Apocalyptic. So if you like any of those genres, you will like this book. I do not do spoilers so this is a short review. But you will love the character of Cia. She is a smart and kick-ass heroine but she is not only physically strong but emotionally strong. And the Tests that are given are just amazing, and the secrets and things going on under everyone's nose are mind-blowing.
Make sure you pick it up when it comes out January, 2014!
This book stands on its own. It is a science fiction/post apocalyptic book. It occurs after the seven wars that destroyed the country. The main character Cia, is from the colonies. You are lucky to be chosen for The Testing if you are from the colonies. Those who live in Tosu city are assured getting into The Testing. The Testing is to help pluck out the best and brightest minds in all of the colonies so that they can all work together to rebuild what the wars destroyed. For example, Cia's father is a Botanist who works on getting rid of deadly plant strains, among other things.
Cia is so nervous about The Testing and the book starts off by telling you how hard The Testing is and when you pass, what areas of study you can be assigned to. Cia wants to go into Engineering but is chosen for Government. But there are other things on Cia's mind. Mainly where do the students that do not pass The Testing go? The students that pass The Testing are told the students who fail The Testing are reassigned. Cia is about to find out what that really means.
Once Cia starts her internship, she learns more and more secrets about The Testing and about how the University is really run. She also learns horrible secrets about those in power and how this relates to the highest people in government. Not to mention which of her fellow students she can trust.
This book was an honest to goodness page turner. So many things to remember, so many secrets hidden. Information gets revealed a little bit at a time, building suspense. I knew it was a series but was still sad at the end because I want to read the nest book in the series now! At least I can read the first one.
This book is listed under YA, and SciFi, and Post Apocalyptic. So if you like any of those genres, you will like this book. I do not do spoilers so this is a short review. But you will love the character of Cia. She is a smart and kick-ass heroine but she is not only physically strong but emotionally strong. And the Tests that are given are just amazing, and the secrets and things going on under everyone's nose are mind-blowing.
Make sure you pick it up when it comes out January, 2014!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
10 More Pages....
I have only 10 more pages to read in an ARC book I have been reading. I cannot wait to do the review. I am sure there will be a part two. There has to be! I always get sad at this time of a book, as it ends, because I am so invested in the story and the characters and I want to make it last. Now it will be over, probably leaving me with a lot of questions.
But I have an R4R, a beta read, and a new ARC (release date of April 2014) that I cannot WAIT to start on.
But I need sleep now. I am going to read the last 10 pages later. Let the mystery linger a while longer. :)
Be on the lookout for my review later.
But I have an R4R, a beta read, and a new ARC (release date of April 2014) that I cannot WAIT to start on.
But I need sleep now. I am going to read the last 10 pages later. Let the mystery linger a while longer. :)
Be on the lookout for my review later.
Coming Up!
What to be on the look out for!
Interview with some great authors. I do not want to name any names yet. I want to really keep that under wraps. But you will love who they are and they will be some great interviews.
I have a fabulous guest blogger coming by. We are just making some last minute edits to the piece and look for that shortly.
I will have a giveaway or two. Good stuff!
I have more cover reveals coming up.
I have a book blitz and some book tours as well for you.
I have a review on two ARC books. One I am almost done with and the other I just got in the mail. I am hoping to get the authors on board for an interview.
Plus my usual fun games like "Who Did It Better?" and other book related topics to come.
All of this is happening before December 15th. Not far away! So keep on the lookout. Or you may miss something great.
Interview with some great authors. I do not want to name any names yet. I want to really keep that under wraps. But you will love who they are and they will be some great interviews.
I have a fabulous guest blogger coming by. We are just making some last minute edits to the piece and look for that shortly.
I will have a giveaway or two. Good stuff!
I have more cover reveals coming up.
I have a book blitz and some book tours as well for you.
I have a review on two ARC books. One I am almost done with and the other I just got in the mail. I am hoping to get the authors on board for an interview.
Plus my usual fun games like "Who Did It Better?" and other book related topics to come.
All of this is happening before December 15th. Not far away! So keep on the lookout. Or you may miss something great.
LIFE AND BOOKS
So sometimes we want to read and want to blog but life gets in the way. There are important things to do, and sometimes we plain do not feel good and need a day of sleep. For those of you who do not know, I have a few illnesses which I do not really like to talk about unless I can help you with the same things I am struggling with, but the worst are the Migraines and Multiple Sclerosis. My MS is acting up as of this week and hit me hard yesterday as it is today. For those of you who do not know, one of the worst symptoms of MS is sleep. I am talking 12-20 hours a day. It sounds great I am sure to those of you who lack sleep but it is no picnic. It is not just sleep it is complete fatigue.
So I love my readers and want to give you something fun so I am going to post a few things. Whatever you do in your life whether it is prayer, or meditation, etc, please, and I really hate to ask this, please include me so I can keep bringing you my book blog.
Have a great weekend!!
So I love my readers and want to give you something fun so I am going to post a few things. Whatever you do in your life whether it is prayer, or meditation, etc, please, and I really hate to ask this, please include me so I can keep bringing you my book blog.
Have a great weekend!!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
A BRAND NEW STORY FROM AUTHOR EVANS LIGHT!!
Evans Light, who is an author I have featured here before, has a new e-book titled "Don't Need No Water"
This e-book will be launched with a three-day giveaway on Amazon from Monday, November 25, 2013 to Wednesday, November 27, 2013.
Synopsis:
When his beloved Sissy ends up dead in the local jailhouse after being taken in for a misdemeanor, Iverson doesn't believe for a minute that she committed suicide. After he and his brothers learn the harsh truth about what really happened, what the Sheriff and his friends did to her, they set out to make the whole town pay for their sins - and nothing but the truth can stop the flames of hell that burn in the wake of their brutal vengeance.
eBook Link (Kindle format): http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Need-Water-Evans-Light-ebook/dp/B00GQOF03G
I had a chance to read an advanced copy and, as usual with Evans, I am just dumb founded. My jaw is dropped, and I have chills. Evans is the new Steven King of our generation, even better, with my apologies to Steven King. Evans knows horror. He knows how to put in the details that stick with you. He knows how to describe something that you can picture so vividly it is like a movie scene in your mind. And he knows when to push with force, and when to pull back.
This short story was amazing. It was simply about a man seeking revenge for his believed dead girlfriend. All the rage that Iverson let loose on his town, in the wake of what he found out happened to Sissy, his girlfriend, was it warranted? It was sure as heck payback and revenge of the worst kind. This story is creepy from the first word to the last. If you have never read an Evans light book, and are a horror fan, you will praise this day as the day you found this author and his work. If you are already familiar with Evans, you will be more pleased than usual.
You can buy the book now!! I suggest that. I would not have been able to wait. But if you can, sit and wait patiently, but not in the dark, until 11/25.
This e-book will be launched with a three-day giveaway on Amazon from Monday, November 25, 2013 to Wednesday, November 27, 2013.
Synopsis:
When his beloved Sissy ends up dead in the local jailhouse after being taken in for a misdemeanor, Iverson doesn't believe for a minute that she committed suicide. After he and his brothers learn the harsh truth about what really happened, what the Sheriff and his friends did to her, they set out to make the whole town pay for their sins - and nothing but the truth can stop the flames of hell that burn in the wake of their brutal vengeance.
eBook Link (Kindle format): http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Need-Water-Evans-Light-ebook/dp/B00GQOF03G
I had a chance to read an advanced copy and, as usual with Evans, I am just dumb founded. My jaw is dropped, and I have chills. Evans is the new Steven King of our generation, even better, with my apologies to Steven King. Evans knows horror. He knows how to put in the details that stick with you. He knows how to describe something that you can picture so vividly it is like a movie scene in your mind. And he knows when to push with force, and when to pull back.
This short story was amazing. It was simply about a man seeking revenge for his believed dead girlfriend. All the rage that Iverson let loose on his town, in the wake of what he found out happened to Sissy, his girlfriend, was it warranted? It was sure as heck payback and revenge of the worst kind. This story is creepy from the first word to the last. If you have never read an Evans light book, and are a horror fan, you will praise this day as the day you found this author and his work. If you are already familiar with Evans, you will be more pleased than usual.
You can buy the book now!! I suggest that. I would not have been able to wait. But if you can, sit and wait patiently, but not in the dark, until 11/25.
COVER REVEAL! "PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES" BY RHIANNON FRATER
So it is the witching hour and I have a surprise for you. The cover of the book "Pretty When She Dies" (Pretty When She Dies #1) by Rhiannon Frater
Published by: Permuted Press
Publication date: Late November, 2013 (reissue)
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Before the cover reveal, here is a Synopsis:
Amaliya wakes under the forest floor, disoriented, famished and confused. She digs out of the shallow grave and realizes she is hungry…
… in a new, horrific, unimaginable way…
Sating her great hunger, she discovers that she is now a vampire, the bloodthirsty creature of legend. She has no choice but to flee from her old life and travels across Texas. Her new hunger spurs her to leave a wake of death and blood behind her as she struggles with her new nature.
All the while, her creator is watching. He is ancient, he is powerful, and what’s worse is that he’s a necromancer. He has the power to force the dead to do his bidding. Amaliya realizes she is but a pawn in a twisted game, and her only hope for survival is to seek out one of her own kind.
But if Amaliya finds another vampire, will it mean her salvation… or her death?
And here is the fabulous cover!!
Here is the Goodreads.com link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5966254-pretty-when-she-dies?ac=1
AND MAKE SURE YOU GET A COPY RIGHT NOW!! From Amazon, Kindle, and more places! Use the following link:
http://rhiannonfrater.com/portfolio/pretty-when-she-dies/
AUTHOR BIO:
Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website:
http://www.rhiannonfrater.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2310121.Rhiannon_Frater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhiannon.frater
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
I hope this was all you wanted it to be. I enjoyed presenting the cover reveal to you. So now all that is left is for you to purchase the book! ENJOY!!!
Published by: Permuted Press
Publication date: Late November, 2013 (reissue)
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Before the cover reveal, here is a Synopsis:
Amaliya wakes under the forest floor, disoriented, famished and confused. She digs out of the shallow grave and realizes she is hungry…
… in a new, horrific, unimaginable way…
Sating her great hunger, she discovers that she is now a vampire, the bloodthirsty creature of legend. She has no choice but to flee from her old life and travels across Texas. Her new hunger spurs her to leave a wake of death and blood behind her as she struggles with her new nature.
All the while, her creator is watching. He is ancient, he is powerful, and what’s worse is that he’s a necromancer. He has the power to force the dead to do his bidding. Amaliya realizes she is but a pawn in a twisted game, and her only hope for survival is to seek out one of her own kind.
But if Amaliya finds another vampire, will it mean her salvation… or her death?
And here is the fabulous cover!!
Here is the Goodreads.com link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5966254-pretty-when-she-dies?ac=1
AND MAKE SURE YOU GET A COPY RIGHT NOW!! From Amazon, Kindle, and more places! Use the following link:
http://rhiannonfrater.com/portfolio/pretty-when-she-dies/
AUTHOR BIO:
Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website:
http://www.rhiannonfrater.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2310121.Rhiannon_Frater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhiannon.frater
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
I hope this was all you wanted it to be. I enjoyed presenting the cover reveal to you. So now all that is left is for you to purchase the book! ENJOY!!!
COVER REVEAL SOON!!!
Sometime after midnight EST, I will be doing the cover reveal for "Pretty When She Dies" by Rhiannon Frate
So check back in a little bit for a great cover and a great new book!
So check back in a little bit for a great cover and a great new book!
Interview with Author Anton Troia
Today we have the opportunity to have author Anton Troia with us. Anton Troia was born and raised in New York City, where he still lives with his two audacious dogs. He was a former Emergency Medical Technician, and studied electronic engineering at DeVry University.
Anton's stories warn about the dangers of technological progress. He'll often take some swipes at future societies plagued by technological induced traumas. Besides ecological traumas, Anton's themes focus on political, psychological, physical and social repercussions as well.
If you're a fan of cryptids, aliens, and things that go bump in the night, then give Anton's books a whirl. Anton Troia instills the supernatural indirectly, with covert, but artful insinuations. When reading his stories-expect a good blend of Science Fiction, paranormal horror, dysfunctional romance, and pulpy goodness. Most importantly, Anton will always delve into the ongoing tug of war between science and ethics, and he has a knack for seamlessly weaving historical fact and mythology.
Stay tuned at the end of the interview for where you can find Anton so you can find out where to get his book, find his Facebook page, and keep up to date on his progress of the sequel to The Last Overseer. Plus he has a lot of other neat things in store for you. I frequently visit his Facebook page because his mind never stops and that is a good thing!
If you know me, you will always hear me spouting off about how our planet is being ruined. I have found a companion in Anton Troia. Read my review to find out about his book and what we both think this planet may be headed for!
Without further ado, an interview with Anton Troia.
1. You started out as an EMT and a student in Electrical Engineering. What made you want to write a book?
I always had a fascination with stories! I think they are the most powerful form of communication. I myself usually ask a lot of questions, and am an observer by nature. Over time, I realized that I had observed a lot in my thirty plus years, and needed to get things off of my chest. I became an academic researcher after a spiritual experience I had. And after that, I began writing The Last Overseer, which took about two years to finish.
2. I know you are a big fan of Science Fiction. How did that start?
It started when my late Uncle came over to my house one day with two VHS tapes that he had rented. One was called “Enemy Mine" which is probably one of the most underrated science fiction films ever made. A true masterpiece. And the other, was a little film called “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”. I was about 7 years old at the time, and what I saw on the TV that day became permanently etched in my mind forever. The world was never the same again.
3. Your book "The Last Overseer" is a Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic book. What made you decide to use that theme as your story?
It is just a vision of the many possibilities that we face as a society. I find that the post apocalyptic scenario really makes for one hell of a wake-up call, and teaches us about the frailty of modern society, mostly due to our dependence on computers and technology. I always wanted to express the importance of preserving natural environments such as forests and sustaining global bio-diversity with clean, free energy. Because if we don’t, well...just read my book and find out what could happen!
4.Were your characters based on anyone that you know? Or were any of their qualities or quirks based on anyone you know?
Yes, of course! Most authors create characters based on themselves or people they know. I find that all of my 3 protagonists share some of my personal attributes, experiences and what-nots. I can’t say I modeled an entire character after myself or a relative though :)
5. Charlie was the most interesting character for me. Hard to figure out. We spoke and you described him as you "Anti-Hero" where I saw him as a Hero. Can you tell me a little bit more about the character of Charlie?
Ahh...great question. Charlie’s history is still being written after all. He has the potential to be a great hero, but, like many of his kind before him, he may inevitably fall or cause others to fall. Find out what happens in the sequel to The Last Overseer.
6. Your book is full of absolutely amazing images of machines and devices and futuristic visions. I know you spent a lot of time researching. But how did you come up with all of those wonderful futuristic images?
Well, I simply took what was already established in science fiction and expanded on them. Take for example, things like “Disruptor pistols and microwave guns” --No matter what science fiction story you read, you will always read about ray guns and such...and I just added my own tweaks. For instance, one of my favorite pieces of tech. in my story is what I called a “Matter Dissolution Device”. This operates like a standard ray gun, emitting a strong surge of plasma or proton beam, so strong that it simply melts sold matter into gas. I found that this device would be great for removing rubble after an Earthquake. As for Charlie’s zero-point energy gun, that was based on anti-gravity technology but with a little twist...in that he can not only push gravity but harness it. Last but not least, my favorite--the Eye-Net lenses--which are Contact lenses with Internet browsing capability! That idea came from out of nowhere :)
- That was one of my favorite ideas. I am glad you mentioned the Eye-Net lenses.
7. I loved the relationship between Eleana and her father. I really loved how compassionate Elena was. Tell me more about how you envisioned Elena and how you worked her into the story.
OH wow, that’s a first. I wanted a character in my story with great empathy and a great filial nature. Of course, it had to be a female! There’s a lot of readers out there that like the strong, female lead—the heroine. However, most of those female characters lack what makes females strong (in other ways besides kicking ass) Elena is strong, physically, mentally, and more. Emotionally.
8. Where is your favorite place to write? (I always have to ask! For example, outside on the deck or patio, at your desk, in bed, in front of the tv?)
My office! It’s a small little place, but cozy. It’s tough writing outdoors in a big city like New York. Too many car horns and noisy landscapers!
9. Are you able to keep your ideas in your mind or do you need to carry a notebook or recorder around with you?
Oh, I’m an avid note-taker! There’s so many ideas sometimes, that I have to write them down...just in case. Sometimes, the idea is so important that it stays with me, no need to write it down, but the little things...those I write down.
10. I know you have two Pomeranians. Do they help you at all? :)
Hahaha, quite the opposite. They are my little overlords, and demand lots of attention. However, they help remind me to embrace simplicity and live humbly. And so in a sense, they add years to my life.
11. Did you know you this was going to be a series when you first started?
No, not at all! I never thought I’d ever write another book! Period! But over time, I just felt there was so much left to tell, and my next book in the series will be much more character driven. Charlie and Elena take the spotlight, and I really wish I could tell you more!
12. Tell us what is coming up for you. What is on the horizon?
The sequel to The Last Overseer is coming along smoothly, and should be available sometime in early 2014. I also have several other projects on the back-burner, waiting to be dusted off and brought to fruition.
13. Is there anything else you would like to add?
First off, thank you dearly Melissa for this opportunity! I’d just like to post the official website for my novel, http://www.antontroia.com/
And last but not least, my facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/AntonTroia There you can find articles that pertain to the topics covered in my novel, as well as movie reviews, book reviews, and an occasional ramble about my daily writing process. However, most importantly, be sure to check out my facebook page for my giveaways. I love giving away all sorts of goodies!
Make sure you do go check out all the wonderful sites Anton mentioned. And I want to personally thank him again for his time, which I know is precious.
Anton's stories warn about the dangers of technological progress. He'll often take some swipes at future societies plagued by technological induced traumas. Besides ecological traumas, Anton's themes focus on political, psychological, physical and social repercussions as well.
If you're a fan of cryptids, aliens, and things that go bump in the night, then give Anton's books a whirl. Anton Troia instills the supernatural indirectly, with covert, but artful insinuations. When reading his stories-expect a good blend of Science Fiction, paranormal horror, dysfunctional romance, and pulpy goodness. Most importantly, Anton will always delve into the ongoing tug of war between science and ethics, and he has a knack for seamlessly weaving historical fact and mythology.
Stay tuned at the end of the interview for where you can find Anton so you can find out where to get his book, find his Facebook page, and keep up to date on his progress of the sequel to The Last Overseer. Plus he has a lot of other neat things in store for you. I frequently visit his Facebook page because his mind never stops and that is a good thing!
If you know me, you will always hear me spouting off about how our planet is being ruined. I have found a companion in Anton Troia. Read my review to find out about his book and what we both think this planet may be headed for!
Without further ado, an interview with Anton Troia.
1. You started out as an EMT and a student in Electrical Engineering. What made you want to write a book?
I always had a fascination with stories! I think they are the most powerful form of communication. I myself usually ask a lot of questions, and am an observer by nature. Over time, I realized that I had observed a lot in my thirty plus years, and needed to get things off of my chest. I became an academic researcher after a spiritual experience I had. And after that, I began writing The Last Overseer, which took about two years to finish.
2. I know you are a big fan of Science Fiction. How did that start?
It started when my late Uncle came over to my house one day with two VHS tapes that he had rented. One was called “Enemy Mine" which is probably one of the most underrated science fiction films ever made. A true masterpiece. And the other, was a little film called “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”. I was about 7 years old at the time, and what I saw on the TV that day became permanently etched in my mind forever. The world was never the same again.
3. Your book "The Last Overseer" is a Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic book. What made you decide to use that theme as your story?
It is just a vision of the many possibilities that we face as a society. I find that the post apocalyptic scenario really makes for one hell of a wake-up call, and teaches us about the frailty of modern society, mostly due to our dependence on computers and technology. I always wanted to express the importance of preserving natural environments such as forests and sustaining global bio-diversity with clean, free energy. Because if we don’t, well...just read my book and find out what could happen!
4.Were your characters based on anyone that you know? Or were any of their qualities or quirks based on anyone you know?
Yes, of course! Most authors create characters based on themselves or people they know. I find that all of my 3 protagonists share some of my personal attributes, experiences and what-nots. I can’t say I modeled an entire character after myself or a relative though :)
5. Charlie was the most interesting character for me. Hard to figure out. We spoke and you described him as you "Anti-Hero" where I saw him as a Hero. Can you tell me a little bit more about the character of Charlie?
Ahh...great question. Charlie’s history is still being written after all. He has the potential to be a great hero, but, like many of his kind before him, he may inevitably fall or cause others to fall. Find out what happens in the sequel to The Last Overseer.
6. Your book is full of absolutely amazing images of machines and devices and futuristic visions. I know you spent a lot of time researching. But how did you come up with all of those wonderful futuristic images?
Well, I simply took what was already established in science fiction and expanded on them. Take for example, things like “Disruptor pistols and microwave guns” --No matter what science fiction story you read, you will always read about ray guns and such...and I just added my own tweaks. For instance, one of my favorite pieces of tech. in my story is what I called a “Matter Dissolution Device”. This operates like a standard ray gun, emitting a strong surge of plasma or proton beam, so strong that it simply melts sold matter into gas. I found that this device would be great for removing rubble after an Earthquake. As for Charlie’s zero-point energy gun, that was based on anti-gravity technology but with a little twist...in that he can not only push gravity but harness it. Last but not least, my favorite--the Eye-Net lenses--which are Contact lenses with Internet browsing capability! That idea came from out of nowhere :)
- That was one of my favorite ideas. I am glad you mentioned the Eye-Net lenses.
7. I loved the relationship between Eleana and her father. I really loved how compassionate Elena was. Tell me more about how you envisioned Elena and how you worked her into the story.
OH wow, that’s a first. I wanted a character in my story with great empathy and a great filial nature. Of course, it had to be a female! There’s a lot of readers out there that like the strong, female lead—the heroine. However, most of those female characters lack what makes females strong (in other ways besides kicking ass) Elena is strong, physically, mentally, and more. Emotionally.
8. Where is your favorite place to write? (I always have to ask! For example, outside on the deck or patio, at your desk, in bed, in front of the tv?)
My office! It’s a small little place, but cozy. It’s tough writing outdoors in a big city like New York. Too many car horns and noisy landscapers!
9. Are you able to keep your ideas in your mind or do you need to carry a notebook or recorder around with you?
Oh, I’m an avid note-taker! There’s so many ideas sometimes, that I have to write them down...just in case. Sometimes, the idea is so important that it stays with me, no need to write it down, but the little things...those I write down.
10. I know you have two Pomeranians. Do they help you at all? :)
Hahaha, quite the opposite. They are my little overlords, and demand lots of attention. However, they help remind me to embrace simplicity and live humbly. And so in a sense, they add years to my life.
11. Did you know you this was going to be a series when you first started?
No, not at all! I never thought I’d ever write another book! Period! But over time, I just felt there was so much left to tell, and my next book in the series will be much more character driven. Charlie and Elena take the spotlight, and I really wish I could tell you more!
12. Tell us what is coming up for you. What is on the horizon?
The sequel to The Last Overseer is coming along smoothly, and should be available sometime in early 2014. I also have several other projects on the back-burner, waiting to be dusted off and brought to fruition.
13. Is there anything else you would like to add?
First off, thank you dearly Melissa for this opportunity! I’d just like to post the official website for my novel, http://www.antontroia.com/
And last but not least, my facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/AntonTroia There you can find articles that pertain to the topics covered in my novel, as well as movie reviews, book reviews, and an occasional ramble about my daily writing process. However, most importantly, be sure to check out my facebook page for my giveaways. I love giving away all sorts of goodies!
Make sure you do go check out all the wonderful sites Anton mentioned. And I want to personally thank him again for his time, which I know is precious.
WE HAVE A WINNER!
I have been very blessed, as I have previously blogged about, of being on the receiving end of so many great book giveaway wins. Today is no different. I have won two. If you know of them, or have read them, or any books I review or mention, please let me know. We can do a discussion, or you can blog here if you want! :)
The Scrolls of Zndaria: The Golden Wizard by J.S. Jaeger
The Boy From The Woods - Jen Minkman
I just want to say, those of you that know me know I love children's books. I have reviewed some and have more that I won, and a list of ones I want to read. As far as Young Adult books, you all know that YA is not my favorite genre, but I have given each book a chance and had two nice surprises so far. So I am hoping with all my might that this one will be one too. Look for my reivews!
The Scrolls of Zndaria: The Golden Wizard by J.S. Jaeger
The Boy From The Woods - Jen Minkman
I just want to say, those of you that know me know I love children's books. I have reviewed some and have more that I won, and a list of ones I want to read. As far as Young Adult books, you all know that YA is not my favorite genre, but I have given each book a chance and had two nice surprises so far. So I am hoping with all my might that this one will be one too. Look for my reivews!
MAIL CALL!!!
Today in the mail I received three books I have been waiting for. I am very excited! Once I get to my list of all of the books I have won total, (I like to read them in order as much as I can. But, for example if someone has a new book coming out I will read the first one to get caught up.) I cannot wait to read these three interesting books.
Buddy-How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man by Brian McGrory
Derailed by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson
Salome by Beatrice Gormley
Buddy-How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man by Brian McGrory
Derailed by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson
Salome by Beatrice Gormley
While We Are Waiting.....
While we are waiting for our guest blogger and our author interviewer to wake up, I would like to post some Book Fashion! I got the idea when a lovely woman posted some AWESOME necklaces on Booklikes.com, not overdone, but with a book theme. They were really cute. Then I found bracelets. But I have found other things as well take a look and enjoy......
(Comics are books too!!!)
Did you enjoy my little Book Fashion Show? I know the women did!! Men-What would you like to see? Let me know! I will post it.
Happy Reading and have a Fashionable Day!!
(Comics are books too!!!)
Did you enjoy my little Book Fashion Show? I know the women did!! Men-What would you like to see? Let me know! I will post it.
Happy Reading and have a Fashionable Day!!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Review of "The Last Overseer" by Anton Troia
(see the longer version at goodreads.com)
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! (I do not do spoilers but the author and I spoke and we thought maybe there were one or two things that may be considered spoilers so fair warning)
This was an amazing Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic Book!
As the book opens, Brennan and his daughter Elena are getting ready for breakfast. They are former Earth dwellers that now live on another planet and have been there for 10 years. They were lucky to be chosen to go into space, away from Earth when all of the forces of Mother Nature were unleashed and caused mass destruction and death to many on Planet Earth.
During these past 10 years, Elena has grown bored with life on another planet and her father, who was in the Government on Earth, is also a Commander on their new home planet. Neither father or daughter have been back to Earth in 10 years.
It has been arranged that no person living in space can acquire any news or reading material regarding Earth via internet or by any other means.
During breakfast, Brennan gets orders to go to Earth. He knew something horrible must be going on because he travels everywhere but never to Earth. But with his faithful friend and fellow officer, he goes because he knows it must be of terrible importance.
What he finds is a disaster.
Earth looks the same. There are red and green zones, people get rations, people have radiation sickness which they are not supposed to have because Orion Corp.(the corporation Brennan works for and the biggest money making business in the galaxy) had put a chip in every person on Earth to allow them to not to become ill by radiation sickness.
Brennan cannot believe what is going on on Earth. He has to meet with some of the Draconians (people that work for Orion Corp), and The Overseer of Earth (Jasso) to be briefed. During this time, Elana has escaped her home planet to board a vehicle heading for Earth.
And it all happens from there, and it comes at you non stop.
Why is Earth in such bad shape? What is really going on? Why has Orion Corp. let this happen? And what of The Overseer? Is The Overseer to blame for Earth's problems? What did Brennan find out in his meeting?
Soon met Charlie, who knows all of the secrets. But who is he telling them too? And does the government know?
Elena knows.
Charlie had been preparing for possible Draconian visitors just because of some things that have occurred, and the fact that he is a little paranoid. And Elena, being interested in Charlie from a distance, then following him, finding him, and at first thinking him a crazy bum, listened to all of the technology that he is working on, and how it supposedly will change Earth and she believes in him. It may not all make sense to her but he seems to know what he is doing.
So does Charlie find a way to overcome the Draconians (the rulers and enforcers of the Orion Corp, under Jasso) and the Police that are eventually sent for him? Does Elena find her father on Earth? Is Charlie's invention a weapon of mass destruction or a beginning of new and helpful technology on Earth that will help regrow, repopulate, and rebuild...or is it all a hallucination by a mentally unbalanced man?
I compare this to the movie (but loosely) "Solyent Green", way ahead of its time. I see Anton Troia of being in that same category. His ideas are not so out there that it will take thousands of years for the events described to happen, but maybe a few decades. And maybe not in exactly the same way, but close. That is how I see it.
I really enjoyed "The Last Overseer" and I cannot wait for the sequel!!
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! (I do not do spoilers but the author and I spoke and we thought maybe there were one or two things that may be considered spoilers so fair warning)
This was an amazing Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic Book!
As the book opens, Brennan and his daughter Elena are getting ready for breakfast. They are former Earth dwellers that now live on another planet and have been there for 10 years. They were lucky to be chosen to go into space, away from Earth when all of the forces of Mother Nature were unleashed and caused mass destruction and death to many on Planet Earth.
During these past 10 years, Elena has grown bored with life on another planet and her father, who was in the Government on Earth, is also a Commander on their new home planet. Neither father or daughter have been back to Earth in 10 years.
It has been arranged that no person living in space can acquire any news or reading material regarding Earth via internet or by any other means.
During breakfast, Brennan gets orders to go to Earth. He knew something horrible must be going on because he travels everywhere but never to Earth. But with his faithful friend and fellow officer, he goes because he knows it must be of terrible importance.
What he finds is a disaster.
Earth looks the same. There are red and green zones, people get rations, people have radiation sickness which they are not supposed to have because Orion Corp.(the corporation Brennan works for and the biggest money making business in the galaxy) had put a chip in every person on Earth to allow them to not to become ill by radiation sickness.
Brennan cannot believe what is going on on Earth. He has to meet with some of the Draconians (people that work for Orion Corp), and The Overseer of Earth (Jasso) to be briefed. During this time, Elana has escaped her home planet to board a vehicle heading for Earth.
And it all happens from there, and it comes at you non stop.
Why is Earth in such bad shape? What is really going on? Why has Orion Corp. let this happen? And what of The Overseer? Is The Overseer to blame for Earth's problems? What did Brennan find out in his meeting?
Soon met Charlie, who knows all of the secrets. But who is he telling them too? And does the government know?
Elena knows.
Charlie had been preparing for possible Draconian visitors just because of some things that have occurred, and the fact that he is a little paranoid. And Elena, being interested in Charlie from a distance, then following him, finding him, and at first thinking him a crazy bum, listened to all of the technology that he is working on, and how it supposedly will change Earth and she believes in him. It may not all make sense to her but he seems to know what he is doing.
So does Charlie find a way to overcome the Draconians (the rulers and enforcers of the Orion Corp, under Jasso) and the Police that are eventually sent for him? Does Elena find her father on Earth? Is Charlie's invention a weapon of mass destruction or a beginning of new and helpful technology on Earth that will help regrow, repopulate, and rebuild...or is it all a hallucination by a mentally unbalanced man?
I compare this to the movie (but loosely) "Solyent Green", way ahead of its time. I see Anton Troia of being in that same category. His ideas are not so out there that it will take thousands of years for the events described to happen, but maybe a few decades. And maybe not in exactly the same way, but close. That is how I see it.
I really enjoyed "The Last Overseer" and I cannot wait for the sequel!!
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