Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Interview: Utopian Frontiers


UTOPIAN FRONTIERS FOUNDATION is a non profit organization dedicated to developing multi-media works intended to educate and provoke meaningful discourse on global environmental concerns – including the relationship between humankind and technology.


To educate and increase the public’s understanding of the environment and its importance by offering courses, seminars, conferences and meetings and by collecting and disseminating information on that topic.

When did you begin writing?

When I became aware there was something, an aspect of the unknown inside that could/would surface in a seemingly effortless, subconscious way.

It was only later in life deadlines loomed, professional deadlines that got in the way of effortless output…

With the passing of time and experience, I consider it safe to say I’m now a competent communicator, capable of responding to the moment, even more so as time allows a delay based on time needed to cogitate.

Initially, I was in high school, grade 12, back in the late 60’s. My Creative English teacher gave us an assignment to write a short poem and I came up with a stream of conscience ditty that impressed him and the class. For the first time I realized there was something coming out of me that was foreign yet part of me, though not really connected to any real, personal life experience other than as an observer for the most part.

What is this book about?

Utopian Frontiers is a story about the relationship between humankind and technology. The message is one of hope and well being for the future. For details, please visit http://www.utopianfrontiersfoundation.com/ .

What was the inspiration to write the book?

Back in the 70’s, I was working as an Employee Relations Supervisor for a mining company located up North near the Alaskan panhandle. It was a hard rock mine operation located in the Coastal Mountain Range system of mountains. The mine site was located up in the mountains, near a huge field of glaciers. A tunnel led from the mill and habitation area, going under 3 mountains and 2 glaciers just to get to the ore body.

How does 1000 inches of snow a year sound?

Newmont Asarco (an American based transnational mining conglomerate, although the mine was actually located in the province of British Columbia, Canada) had controlling interest of the property, and they had an architect draw up a conceptual design for a dome that would cover the mill and living quarters, making the community an enclosed environment, sort of a city out in the wilderness.

Yet even though the rising price of gold and copper residuals made the running of the mine profitable in the late 60’s and early 70’s, expense related to the dome made that investment a no go. We still drank water from glacial fed springs, breathed some of the cleanest air on the planet, witnessed the Northern Lights, and viewed mountains at night that seemed surreal, so clear and stark they were, as if supported by two by fours, a card board cut out of the original we were so blessed to stand in awe of.

When I moved back down South I immediately had eye problems related to air pollution but that’s another story.

I reconnected with my soon to be writing associate, Mike Parsons, and we picked up on mutual concerns, such as social/political/economic realities of the times. We discussed my experiences in a semi isolated corporate environment, lamented the condition of existing cities and related problems, and began to play “WHAT IF”.

See the book tab on the UFF website for the blurb on “WHAT IF”…

Over time, Mike and I envisioned a research culture that promoted actualization through creative, constructive endeavors. The initial concept and entertainment vehicle (a screenplay at the time) was but a myth through which we would encourage and motivate, inspire/provoke others to consider options that would contribute to a better world. The futuristic research city we envisioned was conceived as a prototype for humane urban environments yet such lofty ideas need development...

See the film tab at the UFF website for a short version of that story.

With the passing of Mike, I inherited the task of advancing the cause, and in keeping with the myth (any and all who become involved are encouraged to be themselves and make a creative contribution).

I have worked a day job ever since and only now have the opportunity of stepping up to the plate and letting the show take life.

So, with the encouragement and suggestions of friends and associates, eventually I contracted with BurmanBooks to publish a book. Sanjay Burman helped bring on a creative writer (Drew Tapley) tasked to convert the screenplay Mike and I had written into an updated version of the story in book form, with myself as Editor of the book.

The book Utopian Frontiers will hopefully, in turn, garner interest in making the film that Mike and I thought would best represent a full, dramatic, public exposition of the project, bringing us full circle.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Elizabeth (Beth) Sharp: Mother Earth as an educator with attitude.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

It was a smooth/bumpy/long ride.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

I certainly would’ve started earlier.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

It is available at a wide variety of online book retailers, including Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Utopian-Frontiers-Story-Drew-Tapley/dp/1927005124/

The digital and audio versions will be available soon.

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Getting and maintaining a corporate position for the Utopian Frontiers Foundation which allows me to afford all of these efforts as a personal investment in this project.

What is up next for you?

“SuperLate”!

It’s a creative project I have had on the back burner for a few decades.

Intended as a graphic novel, it’s about a character who is born late, and is always late for everything.

Is there anything you would like to add?

The puzzle I see as the “human condition” lies scattered in pieces, in need of assembly into a cogent vision, a big picture that makes sense and holds together. Are we too late or are we just in time to save the world for future generations to come? (agree/reject/laugh/frown/whatever/here/please).

And if we are truly a responsible species, one that should know better when it comes to common sense, why are we wasting time stalling while so many suffer needlessly?

We have the human capital yet our existing systems do not allow us to “invest” wisely, so it seems, and as a consequence, so many lives needlessly go to waste.

For information about Utopian Frontiers, the book, the organization or the music, visit http://www.utopianfrontiers.com/. To learn more about the book and to get your copy, visit http://www.amazon.com/Utopian-Frontiers-Story-Drew-Tapley/dp/1927005124/.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

First Chapter Review: Chop, Chop by L.N. Cronk


Chop, Chop, which seems to be geared toward older teens, has been free for the month of February. I downloaded it to my Kindle based upon comments I found. Everyone seemed to love it, and the reviews on Amazon are also positive.


TITLE: Chop, Chop

AUTHOR: L.N. Cronk

BLURB: Greg and Laci make it a regular practice to grow their hair long so that they can chop it off and send it to Locks of Love. It's only one of the things that reserved, young David must tolerate as their friendship grows throughout the years. As they near adulthood the three become closer not only to each other, but to God as well. David finds himself content in every way, but when tragedy strikes, David must struggle to find his way back to God.

COVER:  Perfect based upon Greg's and Laci's practice of growing their hair and then cutting it to send to Locks of Love. I like that it's black and white. Not all the covers for the sequels are, but this first book in the Chop, Chop series and the sixth book, Gone, are designed that way. It's odd, though, that the author's name isn't on the cover.

FIRST CHAPTER:  I can't share the opening because it would ruin the impact of reading it, but David is the narrator who is telling the story of the summer Greg moved to town. David and Laci have known each other since preschool, and this is the summer before they start seventh grade. David and Laci, along with some of their other friends, end up joining the youth group at church where Greg's father is the youth pastor (I'm guessing, because it doesn't flat out say that). When David tells Greg about Laci's practice of growing her hair and then cutting it and donating it, Greg decides it's a great idea. David, however, who has never been a fan of Laci looking like a boy, is certain he doesn't want to grow his hair.

KEEP READING:  Yes, but mainly based upon comments about how wonderful this story is and how it garnered an Honorable Mention at the 2008 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

I loved the opening. It's shocking and it's powerful. David quickly moves us from the present, back to the summer he and his friends met Greg. Laci is very much a part of David's life by the time Greg comes along, and David admits if he's to tell the story he has to start with Laci because it starts and ends with Laci and him.

David is an excellent narrator. You get the feeling that he's a good deal older when he tells the story than when the events occurred. There are funny spots, even though he is called grumpy by his friends. And you get the sense that teenage David believes things should be a certain way: girls shouldn't have short hair and look like boys and boys don't grow their hair long either.

David is one reason I want to continue reading, but the opening plays a big role too, because you know something bad happened somewhere along the line. I can't say I was totally drawn in by this first chapter, but I'm interested enough to keep going. My only criticism is that there aren't clear chapter markings. There are breaks marked by "~ ~ ~" but if there wasn't so much white space left on the last page of what I would call the first chapter, you wouldn't know. Call me silly, I just like to be sure when a chapter ends.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 396 KB
Publisher: Rivulet Publishing (July 12, 2008)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B001CK7YV0
Currently Free

I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Guest Blogger: Jennifer Zane, Author of Gnome on the Range


Once you get the zing you can’t go back.

Jane West has everything a woman could want. A job in a small Montana town’s only adult store, two busy young boys and one dead husband. Everything except a little excitement–a little zing. But that changes one summer morning at a garage sale when her kids buy some garden gnomes.

Now someone wants those gnomes and will let nothing get in their way. Including Jane. This new excitement for Jane spells trouble for a relationship with new neighbor–and hot fireman–Ty Strickland. Can Jane and Ty handle a relationship meddling mother-in-law, crazy kids, and stay alive while trying to solve the mystery of the garden gnomes?

Mountains vs. Beach by Jennifer Zane


I recently spent a week at the beach in California. It wasn't remotely warm, the water downright frigid. But my kids spent hours digging imaginary castles and moats in the sand. I roamed the surf's edge finding sand dollars to collect. The constant rolling of the ocean was such a difference from where we live.

Colorado. The tall mountains, rugged snow capped peaks. No salt water in the entire time zone. I love mountain life. The cold, sharp edges in winter, the soft lushness of summer.

Are you a beach or mountain person?

These two completely different settings can change a story entirely. My new book, Gnome On The Range, takes place in a small town in Montana. Mountains. If I had it set in Miami instead (beach), the book would be completely different--and so would the title! Is it sunny, cloudy, foggy, rainy, hot or cold? Is it day, night, crowded, quiet, peaceful, hectic?

I made setting in the book even more specific. Summer vs. winter. In Montana, winter is long, summer unbelievably short. Every summer I lived there it snowed June 12th. And it got cold the day after Labor Day. That gave me about eight weeks of guaranteed summer play time. I squeezed every drop of summer fun into that small window.

I did the same with my book. My main character, Jane, and her two boys, buy two ceramic garden gnomes at a garage sale. Besides that, they swim, bike, camp, go to the county fair, watch a demolition derby and all the other offerings the Big Sky can provide in July.

But someone wants the garden gnomes and will stop at nothing to get them. Including trying to kill Jane. At the county fair. And other summer-y (and surprisingly dangerous) places!

Could I have chosen a beach setting? Of course. But Jane, Goldie, Ty and all of the other characters in the story are who they are because of where they live. Rugged, enduring, independent. Just like the mountains that surround their town.

I've decided my next book will take place in the dead of winter. It'll be below zero, snowy and dark, and months until any kind of spring thaw. Typical Montana weather--for December. I look forward to writing about the quirks of not only my characters, but the frigid Montana setting as well.

And continue to vacation at the beach.

Jennifer Zane writes contemporary fiction with lots of humor, some mystery and a dab of romance. Gnome On The Range is her debut novel.


Visit her online at:


Website: http://jenniferzane.com


Twitter: @JenniferZane


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003263318295

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lenten Promise Leads to Award-Winning Devotional, Why God Matters

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Karina Fabian

E-mail: karina@fabianspace.com

For Immediate Release

Lenten Promise Leads to Award-Winning Devotional, Why God Matters

Layton, UT; Pueblo, CO— In 1996, Karina Fabian, mother of toddlers, made a Lenten vow that launched her career as a writer. Years later, it led her to share that joy of writing with her father, as they collaborated on an award-winning devotional, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This year, she hopes to share the joy of Lent through her book and the Why God Matters website.

Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand--and take it. Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is published by Tribute Books and won the Christian Small Publisher Award for best book on Christian Living. It has over 40 reviews from readers of many Christian faiths who recommend it not only as a book to read, but to go through slowly, doing the exercises to strengthen their relationship with God and to be more aware of His presence in her life.

This year, Fabian and Tribute Books are opening the Why God Matters website to faith stories by others, especially Lenten faith stories. “I believe that Lent, and Lenten vows, can change lives,” Fabian said. “I’d like to share that hope with others, and the best way is through sharing our stories.”

Fabian credits her 1996 vow with giving her life its direction. She had always enjoyed writing, but it wasn’t until the Lent after leaving a career in the Air Force that she took it up professionally. “I was home with the kids, and getting a little stir crazy as Lent was approaching. I try to not only give up something for Lent, but to take up something to better serve God as well. So that year, I decided to give up reading fiction and take up writing.”

By Easter, Fabian had a job with the Wyoming diocese newspaper, and freelanced for several parenting and local magazines. She also wrote some slice-of-life stories, but seldom sent them out, and eventually moved more into writing fiction. However, in 2009, when Tribute Books was seeking someone to write a short devotional of personal stories, tips and quotes, she felt God calling.

“I was a little intimidated by the project though. I felt something of this magnitude needed someone with a theological grounding, too. Then I realized, my father is a deacon—and he is full of terrific stories.”
Deacon Steve Lumbert, who came to faith while Fabian was in college, had never written a book, but was excited to collaborate with his daughter. Working on this book brought a new level to their relationship.
“God continues to bless me through that Lenten vow,” Fabian said. “Not only will I cherish having worked with my father, but the book itself has touched so many lives. People have written to us that it’s helped them understand their faith better , brought them closer to God, or touched them when they really needed it. I hope this Lent, through the website, we can do this some more.”

Fabian is also willing to speak to book clubs and parishes through telephone or Skype.

* * *

Photos, interviews, and more information available on request or by visiting http://www.whygodmatters.com/  or http://www.fabianspace.com/.

Book Review: The Life and Death of Whitney Houston by Kim Hudson


With the death of Whitney Houston so recent, it's not surprising several e-books have popped up this month about the iconic singer. The Life and Death of Whitney Houston by Kim Hudson offers a glimpse into Houston's life and the days leading up to her death. The book includes photographs and several clickable links to sources.

Broken down into sections, this short e-book brings you through her childhood years, her modeling, her years in music and film, and her troubled personal life. It ends with a recap on recent news. Also included are public statements and quotes, and some Houston trivia.

In the end, readers learn very little if anything new about Houston's life. The content is compiled from online sources and reads like a school book report. If I hadn't gotten it for free, I wouldn't be happy.


Title:  The Life and Death of Whitney Houston
Author:  Kim Hudson
Publisher: Hyperink (February 15, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B007A3X7PK
SRP:  $2.99

I downloaded a free copy of this book for my Kindle. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Help! I'm A Free E-Book Addict

Hello. My name is Cheryl and I'm a free Kindle download addict. I have over 230 free e-books on my Kindle Fire right now. I've been doing my best to limit the number of books I download, but there are so many that sound good.  The nice thing is I can quickly skim a chapter or two and decide if a book is for me.

How many free e-books on your device right now? Has access to free e-books changed your book buying habits?

Book Spotlight: Sage & Sweetgrass by LoRee Peery

Diagnosed with a chronic, debilitating illness, Lanae Petersen vows to pursue life to its fullest. When she discovers mysterious love letters hidden within an antique desk, she begins a quest to discover who the young lovers were. Little does she realize that in trying to bring closure to their lives, hers will be turned upside-down.


After the death of his wife, cowboy Sage Diamond wants to be left alone on his acreage in peace and anonymity. When Lanae approaches him with letters to a family member, she not only threatens to expose his family secrets, but also stirs something inside him that he neither expects, nor welcomes. Sage fights his attraction, determined not to fall for a woman whose health is so fragile. Can Sage trust God's guiding hand, or will his fear of losing another love crush his chance for a future with Lanae?

Excerpt!

I am alive...
Somewhere out there, is someone waiting to share my life?


“Somewhere out there,” Lanae Petersen sang. “That’s the snippet I wrote when I journaled this morning.” Her sing-song statement elicited a wide grin from her sister, Geneva Carson.

“I’m thankful you found that journal writing such a help while you were sick,” Geneva commented.

The little catch phrases or quotes Lanae had latched onto after she found out hepatitis C was the cause of her sickness, were the only things that got her through some days.

And reading the Bible, of course.

Lanae glanced at the art-glass design of the sun catcher hanging in the window, a gift from Rainn Harris, Geneva’s fiancé. She compared the pattern with the appliqué cross Geneva was now anchoring onto the background fabric of her current wall quilt.

“I suspect your latest project isn’t meant as a shop item but as a gift for Rainn.”

“You got it.” Geneva lifted her brows to see above the rim of her glasses. “I can’t get over how different you are from a couple months ago. Look at you now, pouring over those singles ads.”

“I’m alive. Praise God.” Lanae slapped the newspaper against her lap and waved her open arms toward the ceiling.

Geneva shook her head, an indulgent smile spreading across her face.

“But for God’s grace, I could still be caught up in that nightmare illness. I used to wonder if I would ever feel alive or die too sick to enjoy the life I have,” Lanae said. She dropped her arms and picked up the paper. Running her finger down a bolded column, she read out loud, “‘Men Seeking.’ I feel all crocheted out and full of the energy I didn’t have while I was sick. We may have opened Frivolities, but a lot of it I don’t remember. I feel like I slept through it.”

Geneva shared a look that took them back to girlhood.

Thank you, Lord, for the comfort I’ve found in words. And thank You for my sister. Lanae turned back to her newspaper reading. “This guy wants nice legs. I have those...Mmmm, here’s a cowboy.”

“Do any say if they’re Christian?” Geneva asked around the needle between her lips as she measured a length of thread.

“Not yet. Here’s an SWM, Single White Male, looking for smarts. Ohhkaaay. I might give this one an answer. He’s a ranch owner.” Mourning what could have been, Lanae rubbed a spot of newspaper dust off the soft dark leather of her recliner. A life lived out on her own ranch. “Then again, been there, done that, with my rancher.” But he died before the culmination of their life together. Lanae contemplated the word “dream,” sighed over the memory of her deceased husband, and formed a sad smile. The Lord’s timing had no explanation.

Their shop, Frivolities, was the widowed sisters’ joint business venture. When she’d seen the ad in their hometown paper listing a downtown building for sale in Platteville, she jumped at the chance to move back to where she’d been born. Geneva called Lanae in response to the same ad. Certainly seemed like God’s prompting.

“Remember, it was an ad that helped bring Frivolities into existence,” Lanae emphasized. “Look, this one says he’ll treat you like a lady. Oh boy. A Western lover—books and movies.”

“Gotta be a touch of country there.”

Lanae loved wide open spaces. She had tried to keep her husband Keith’s dream ranch alive after his death. It had slammed into her one day, the sad realization that she no longer had the resources to stick with the ranch. How she missed the expanse. “‘I’m your dream come true if you love nature and horses.’ This sounds good.” Lanae glanced at her sister. “He says he likes gospel music.”

Geneva laid the colorful fabric in her lap and gave Lanae a look as sharp as the needle she used to accent the appliquéd edges. “You aren’t really going to jump on this bandwagon by answering one of those ads, are you?”

“Thinking about it. It’s better than taking a chance on one of those dot-com sites, to my way of thinking.” Lanae continued to skim the column. “Oh joy. This guy wants a woman to believe in him...and finally, it says he believes in Jesus. Can’t buy it, though. He also lists his astrological sign.”

“There you go. Satan believes in Jesus, too.”

Lanae sighed. Jesus held her future the same as He’d been with her all her life.

“And speaking of ads...” she brushed her fingers to the side.

“Find someone interesting?”

“Across the page here is a little something that would fit in the shop. Listen to this. ‘Oak dressing table. Needs refinishing. Solid. Original glass pulls on fancy drawers. Make offer.’” She raised a brow and met her sister’s glance. “Looks like a Lincoln phone number.”

“Want to check it out in the morning? Beth will be working in the shop for Moselle. If you have a cheesecake ready tonight, you’d be free to drive down to Lincoln in the morning.”

“Think I’ll give them a call later,” Lanae said as she once again buried her nose in the paper.

Besides the gifts, antiques, and frivolities the shop sold, they had an espresso machine and Lanae’s baked goods. Customers came in and experienced…no, savored, their offerings. It was a God-thing, how the idea for the crazy items—Moselle’s handcrafts, Geneva’s quilts and specialty coffees, and Lanae’s crochet and cheesecakes—had come to them at the same time when they’d each seen the building advertised. With the long state of Nebraska between them, each sister had recognized the opportunity to use her skills for profit.

She considered the Frivolities women. At the moment, her niece Moselle—the third party in the Frivolities venture—was on her honeymoon, or she’d be working on a craft designed from old items right along with them. Mondays, when the shop was closed, weren’t always for leisure. It was their practice to meet as part of their business plan and to work on their contributions to keep Frivolities stocked with goodies.

“They must bold these ads with large print so oldies like me can read ‘em.”

“Yeah, right. You think we’re old in our fifties? Aren’t you the one who told me we’re only as old as we think we are?”

The sisters shared a look that covered a myriad of unspoken thoughts.

“You could find yourself a man. After all, I found my Rainn. That way your guy could do the reading when your eyes go.” Geneva’s teasing held a dreamy quality.

“If my eyes go, I’ll blame it on all that crocheting I did instead of sleeping when I was sick.” Lanae flipped the page to see how many more columns the ads covered. None. The singles were confined to one page.

She studied her sister. Geneva looked so pretty in love. She could almost pass for her daughter, Moselle.

“I agree. You got yourself one in a million with your Rainn, my dear Geneva. Like the Elvis quote I read the other day that says we’re meant to do something worth remembering. You’ve sure done that with that sweet man of yours.” Lanae drummed her fingers on the paper in her lap. “I believe I am ready to seek my own man, to do my own something-worth-remembering.”

“Wait a minute, here.” Geneva set her elbow against her hip bone, needle pointed in the air, and gave Lanae a get-real look. “You were married to a Vietnam vet. You held onto the ranch over twenty years after Keith died. I’d call that doing something worth remembering.”

“Guess you’re right. Not to mention creating Frivolities with you. Now that I’m feeling alive again, it might be nice to seriously search for a man of my own. To warm my winter nights, you know...someone to share it all with.”

“Have to admit, those strong arms of Rainn’s help me feel tucked in safe and warm every night.”

“That sounds interesting. You mean he moved in when I moved out of your house?” Lanae snorted.

“Not funny. Rainn and I say good night even if it’s by phone. And if he’s at the scene of a fire, I have Mia to attend to. So I’m not alone.”

“That girl. Remember how she spelled out her name and pronounced it ‘M-E-ah,’ so we’d all get it right?” They shared reminiscent smiles.

Mia’s mother, Rainn’s sister, was a single mom who died of drug-related, mysterious circumstances in Fort Worth, Texas. Rainn’s parents wanted no part of caring for a child with special needs; so Rainn became custodial caregiver of his six-year-old niece, a special child with autism.

Lanae shook her head and shot another smile at Geneva. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the vast changes in their family over the last few months.

First, her niece, Moselle, had reunited with her high school love, Eric, and married him seventy-two hours ago, the day after Thanksgiving.

Second, Geneva had blossomed every day because of the attention Rainn Harris, Eric’s firefighter buddy, paid her. He’d rescued her from a tree, where she’d climbed after a stray cat. The family still made jokes about it, how she’d fallen into his arms when he rescued her.

Third, Lanae had overcome hep C. “You and I got used to sleeping single in a double bed, Sis. Now I’m going to try with all my might to see if that’s really God’s plan for the rest of my life.”

“You may very well have a point. He spared you from a terminal illness.” The smile accompanying Geneva’s words brought the blessing home. “But don’t get too carried away with your own plan instead of waiting on the Lord.”

Lanae shot up a silent prayer of thankfulness for her healthy liver and went back to reading the ads out loud. “Here’s one. ‘Integrity and full of heart.’ Meaning, no heart disease, I’ll wager.” She emitted a throaty, scoffing sound. “Oooh, this one sounds like me. ‘Country boy at heart, but caught in town.’”

“If that doesn’t sound like you, I’ll eat my needle,” Geneva mumbled around that sharp object.

“Don’t laugh, or you just might,” Lanae said. Then she laughed loud enough for both of them.

This particular Monday morning’s working session and business meeting had fizzled. Wedding and holiday still filled the atmosphere, so Geneva and Lanae had made short business of their shop-talk duties. They now attended to the creative side of their joint venture, working on individual quilted fabric and crochet items.

Well, Lanae had attempted to work. She’d eventually set aside her crochet hook and picked up the newspaper.

The women closest to Lanae, sister and niece, faced the future with their respective firefighters. The men had their softer sides. Eric sold insurance and built birdhouses for fun. Rainn was a stained glass artist and would soon start teaching at community college.

Dare Lanae follow through with her planned man hunt?

Lord willing.

She had been content with her life. She hadn’t faced the loneliness, or missed having a man around, until she witnessed what love did for the two women she loved.

She missed the poignancy of love, how much brighter and happier life could be when shared with the right person. But she was a different person now, living in a different time and place. Maybe God had a new plan for her. But if this was it, she would be happy as long as she followed God’s will.

Lanae glanced out the sliding glass door and followed the trail of a dancing cottonwood leaf as it drifted to the ground. “But you know, sis, I really do miss it at times. The ranch. Those open miles where the sun causes a gal to crinkle and wrinkle. The meadowlarks and bugs and wind in my hair.”

“What hair?”

“Very funny.”

The memory of hair loss sobered Lanae. Her Hep C meds hadn’t caused her to lose hers like some cancer treatments did, but her hair sure had thinned. She’d decided to keep her hair short.

Joy and peace now flushed her soul.

She ran her fingertips over the leather chair that offered comfort every time the deep cushions welcomed her. Family and friends had taken up a collection for the recliner, and a grand gift it was. She’d been so overwhelmed with their outpouring of love.

But was the love of God, family, and friends enough for fulfilling relationships? Or was she meant to find a special someone to spend the rest of her days with?

Lanae’s gaze traced the blocks in the quilt Geneva had made, which now graced the wall. Arranged in varied blocks of crosses, surrounding one huge cross in front of a blazing gold light, the teal and mauve colors never failed to warm her heart. The thick quilt had warded off the chill on her legs, originally serving the purpose of lap blanket.

Should she be looking for someone? Or should she leave it to God to bring that special someone to her?

Or, should she, like the biblical Paul, be content with what she had?

Lanae played with the strap of the denim bag Moselle had designed. The tote was created from a pair of old jeans. Lanae tucked away her balls of yarn and current crochet project into the bag.

“I would imagine Moselle and Eric are having a great time about now.” Geneva spoke on a wistful sigh as though wishing she was on her own honeymoon.

The sisters exchanged understanding smiles. Lanae’s turned into laughter then higher pitched giggles as Geneva’s color rose to a deep blush.

Lanae set her tote on a nearby shelf and straightened her journal and daily devotional on the cabinet top. She folded the newspaper in her lap and took in her immediate surroundings.

Eric, her new nephew by marriage, had built the cabinet next to her recliner. Handcrafted in golden oak, the cabinet itself consisted of two shelves and a routed edged top.

The stained-glass sun catcher caught her eye again and she said a prayer of thankfulness for Rainn, her soon-to-be brother-in-law. Sections of amber and pink glass in the shape of a rose formed the backdrop for the amber cross.

Humbled anew at their gifts of love, she realized yet again how blessed she was to have so many loved ones in her life.

Yet, no special man filled the role of lover.

Lanae slapped her knee with the folded paper and smoothed out the dents. “Onward and upward.”

She opened the pages and renewed her perusal of the ads. “‘Are you the one for me? Can we be friends first?’”

“A young guy wants an older woman?” Geneva quipped.

“In your dreams,” they chorused, caught the other’s eye, and giggled.

“Your dream came true,” Lanae sassed.

“Lucky me.”

“No such thing as luck,” they joined voices again; same slight nuance in tone, same inflection, same identical timing.

The sisters shared familial comfort and continued with their individual tasks.

Reviews!

5 stars –

"I absolutely loved this one. It kept me riveted to my kindle from the get go. The third in the Frivolities series, LoRee Peery has woven an amazing tale of love the second time around. Lanae is determined to live life to the full and has thrown herself into the shop she owns with her sister and niece, yet she yearns for the love they’ve found, the kind she used to know with her husband before his death. Answer an ad in the paper and buying a vanity unit from cowboy Sage offers her that. Or does it?

Sage is still mourning his wife, several years after her death. Living in the past to protect his family from the sordid truth, he doesn’t want Lanae’s interference in raking over the coals of the skeletons in the closet.

Woven into this is the love story of the letters. Lives torn apart by a series of actions beyond anyone’s control.

With it’s amazing characters, setting so real I could see it unfold in my head like a movie, this one has definitely gone back into my TBR pile. A heart-warming story of love, loss and hope you don’t want to miss."

PURCHASE AT PELICAN BOOK GROUP!

LoRee Peery writes Christian romance, where characters learn through spiritual struggles how to come to terms with the Lord’s will. She is a country girl who attempts to see God’s presence every day. That glimpse often comes as a gift from nature. LoRee is most relaxed in the outdoors.

Visit LoRee online at:


https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery

http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/ 

Book Review: Chasing Glenn Beck by Michael Charney

Part social media experiment, part journey through modern-day politics, Chasing Glenn Beck: A Personal Experiment in Reclaiming Our Hijacked Political Conversation by Michael Charney is engaging and funny.

Charney begins a journey through the Twittersphere to prove that Glenn Beck is nothing more than an entertainer--a liberal in a conservative suit. Setting up his Twitter account "BeckIsALib," he begins tweeting to see who will become his followers and what their responses will be. As he becomes more obsessed with his Klout, he finds himself engaging tweeters on both sides of the political spectrum, discussing his point of view and learning things along the way.

As I mentioned in my First Chapter Review of this book, I feel it's important to start off with the Introduction, because one might be a bit lost otherwise. Though the first chapter speaks mostly about Twitter--how to use it, popular terms, etc., the book moves swiftly from that to Charney's experiment. If I had the chance to speak directly with the author, I might ask why he chose to save some of the funniest quips for his footnotes. People--myself included--are notoriously bad about reading them. I soon realized, however, I might miss good stuff if I didn't continue reading them throughout the book.

Honestly, until I got to the last few chapters I wasn't sure what my review would look like. For a while, I felt the author simply dropped Glenn Beck's name in there as a selling point, because references to Beck became fewer as the book continued. I don't want to reveal why that happened, but it is explained and Charney does a nice job of tying everything together.

From page 206 on, I found myself circling page numbers and underlining portions of text. The author makes several excellent points about society and politics. Chasing Glenn Beck by Michael Charney is definitely worth reading if you want to delve into the role social media plays in politics for the average person and how one man's experiment can evolve into something even he never expected.


Title: Chasing Glenn Beck: A Personal Experiment in Reclaiming Our Hijacked Political Conversation
Author: Michael Charney
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Riddle Brook Publishing LLC (December 16, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0984792708
ISBN-13: 978-0984792702
SRP:  $14.95
Also available in a Kindle edition.


I received a free paperback copy of this book directly from the author in conjunction with his Pump Up Your Book virtual book tour. I received no monetary compensation of any kind to provide this review.
 
This is the tenth book I've read for the following challenge:
 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Interview with Selwyn Mills, Author of Confessions of A Color-Blind House Painter

Selwyn Mills served an apprenticeship in decorative painting before starting his own business in 1956, which lasted until his retirement in 1992. He worked as a craftsman painter, wrote for the National Paint Journal, served as President of the National Painting Contractor Association in Nassau County, New York, and taught faux painting. While painting professionally, Mills earned his doctorate in psychology and operated a successful private psychotherapy practice.

Dr. Mills practiced psychotherapy in Great Neck N.Y. for twenty-five year, specializing in couples therapy, family reconciliation and Men in Transition groups. His psychotherapy practice overlapped his forty year career as a decorative painting contractor. He painted in the mornings and counseled patients in the afternoon and evenings. His research into the left/right brain phenomenon, and its impact of personality development, led to a unique discovery of why opposites attract. Active in live theater, he wrote and produced a musical comedy called, “Love Torment and Lollipops”. An accomplished photographer, his black and white prints are part of the permanent collection of the Bibliotech Nationale in Paris, France. He currently works at the Sugden Theater in Naples, Florida as director of faux painting. Mills married in 1949 at the age of 19 and has four children and four grandchildren.

You can visit his website at http://www.selwynmills.com/.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am an 82-year-old retired painting contractor and psychotherapist from Great Neck N.Y. Now living in Naples, Florida, I volunteer my faux painting skills to decorating the sets of the Naples Players Community theater two days a week. I am single and have many friends and four grown children and four grandchildren. They all live in different parts of the country and so I see them less than I like. I read a lot, write a lot am still curious about life.

Where did you grow up?

In Brooklyn N.Y. Later moved to L.I., then to Naples, Florida.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Hitch-hiking during school vacation with my friend Gilbert

When did you begin writing?

When I learned to type at 17.…I could not write by hand. (see Necessary Secrets part one).

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

All the above.

What is this book about?

This collection of writings offers an account of my life as well as my ruminations on professional painting, psychotherapy, dyslexia, friendship, romantic love, faux painting, beauty and plastic surgery, poetry, the Naples court and jail system, philosophy, cats, other topics.

I spent most of my professional life between two concurrent careers. I worked as a decorative painting contractor in the mornings and had a private practice in psychotherapy in the afternoons and evenings.
When questioned about the apparent difference between these two careers, I said, “Each profession deals with the dichotomy between depression and renewal.”

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

The subtitle of the book is Revealing Necessary Secrets I always wanted to reveal my color-blindness and dyslexia but was fearful of the consequences…loss of professional credibility, respect for my intelligence.

What inspired you to write it?

The same reason.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My friends and my nephew Bruce.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

My friends.

Who is your favorite author?

Allen Wheelis.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

NO….I wish I could afford one.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

Fairly smooth.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

I would have hired a better proof reader.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

At my website http://www.selwynmills.com/ and Amazon.com.

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Running signing parties.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Don’t expect to get rich. Write from the heart.

What is up next for you?

Another book I can believe in. Don’t have it yet.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Observe life, make good choices.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Book Review: The Chocolate Diaries by Karen Scalf Linamen

A funny and inspiring book that blends personal stories and advice with a love of chocolate to help you manage the obstacles along the "rocky road of life."

In The Chocolate Diaries, Karen Scalf Linamen shares stories from her life and those of other women, to bring you a helpful book on surviving the trials and tribulations of daily life. From broken relationships to deaths, and from the challenges of raising children to the difficulties of picking up your life and starting all over again, Linamen sprinkles these uplifting stories with a dose of humor and lots of chocolate.

As I mentioned in my First Chapter Review of this book on Monday, the author wastes no time in setting up her theme: misery and chocolate. She opens in the kitchen and food plays a part throughout the book. While the chapters and stories might change, you can be sure of three things: 1) the question, "What's your secret to a sweeter journey on the rocky road of life?" will be asked during each chapter and be answered by a different individual; 2) there is a Food for Thought section toward the end of each chapter that allows the reader to reflect on what she has read and how it applies to her life; and 3) each chapter ends with a quick and easy recipe.

As Linamen states within the book, misery and food--namely chocolate--have a long history, so it makes sense to blend them together. This faith-based inspirational read will help you smile. It will probably even make you chuckle. Most importantly, it will help you devise a plan for surviving and thriving despite the bumps in the road.

Title:  The Chocolate Diaries: Secrets to a Sweeter Journey on the Rocky Road of Life
Author:  Karen Scalf Linamen
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 3, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1400074029
ISBN-13: 978-1400074020
SRP: $13.99

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

This is the ninth book I've read for the following challenge:


This is the third book I've read for the following challenge:


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

First Chapter Review: ICIRE by Kelvin O'Ralph


While I usually reserve YA titles for my children's and teens' book blog, since I am performing a First Chapter Review, I will post it here.


TITLE:  ICIRE: The Rebirth

AUTHOR:  Kelvin O'Ralph

BLURB:  Stephen Wilson, a 17-year-old arrives at Minneapolis in search of a better education. However, he ends up getting more than he could dream of. Lisa Morgan, a gorgeous girl who happens to offer similar subjects with young Stephen. Her beauty, like a stirring fragrance that draws every male towards her – including Stephen. These two meet in an incident that not only changes their life but releases to them a whole new world.

Follow Stephen and Lisa as they travel through a world where romance and mystery intertwine.

COVER: This book is young adult fantasy, but the cover seems to focus more on the romance aspect than fantasy. Perhaps it would make sense if I had read further into the book, but if I were a fantasy lover using only the cover to judge if I made a purchase, I would probably pass this one by. I like, however, the font that was used for the title.

FIRST CHAPTER:  Stephen Wilson arrives in Minneapolis via plane. Though he's visited before, this is the first time he'll be staying for a while. He even has a new house--his house. With the help of his cousin Stacy, he gets acclimated at school. His world quickly turns upside down when he meets Lisa Morgan.

KEEP READING:  I hate to say this about a book I've had for quite some time, but I could barely make it through the first chapter. Between the grammar and how much information is jammed into this opening, I had to control myself to keep from skipping portions of it. There is a good deal of telling in this chapter, so I couldn't get into Stephen's head very well. I wonder if slowing the pace of the first chapter might have helped a bit. There's a lot going on and you meet several people. I honestly have no idea where the book is going.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 421 KB
Publisher: Xlibris (July 16, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B003ZUY990
SRP:  $9.99

I received a free e-copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Monday, February 20, 2012

First Chapter Review: The Chocolate Diaries by Karen Scalf Linamen


This book is one of the few that doesn't come from my free Kindle e-book collection. I requested this book for review from Blogging for Books through WaterBrook Multnomah. As is sometimes the case, I requested a few too many books to review last year and now I am scrambling to catch up.


TITLE: The Chocolate Diaries: Secrets for a Sweeter Journey on the Rocky Road of Life

AUTHOR: Karen Scalf Linamen

BLURB: Karen Linamen dishes up a satisfying blend of moxie and mocha, sharing stories from dozens of women who reveal savvy strategies for embracing a sweeter life—even while traveling rocky roads. If you’re hungry for more joy, reasons to laugh again, ideas to help you heal, and reliable hope leading to a sweeter future, this journey will leave you satisfied.

Funny, transparent, and uplifting, The Chocolate Diaries is like taking a road trip with good friends who are wise about life. And while you’re at it, indulge (just a little) in the quirky recipes for concocting chocolate delights out of whatever ingredients you can round up in your kitchen. The road may still be bumpy, but you’ll be having too much fun to care.

COVER:  Although it's a bit too purple for my tastes, it definitely captures the essence of the book. The diary page directly relates to the title, as does the sweet that is pictured next to the brown drizzled title. Simple, but nice.

FIRST CHAPTER:  The narrative opens with the author finding her fifteen-year-old daughter cooking in the kitchen at 3 a.m. because she couldn't sleep. In love with Italian cooking, Kacie also wants to marry Robert, the nephew of Buddy Valastro from Cake Boss. The author quickly moves from Kacie to how watching the Food Network has a show that best represents her life. The show is called Chopped.

In between this moving narrative is a question, "What's your secret to a sweeter journey on the rocky road of life?" This is answered by another person who the author has posed this question to--in Chapter One that person is Cindi Chase Joseph from California. The narrative continues and then ends with a "Food for Thought" section that asks questions of the reader, followed by the "Because Real Women Don't Need A Cookbook" section that includes a recipe.

KEEP READING!  Confession time. I'm on Chapter 8.  What I like about this opening chapter is that the author wastes no time in getting to her theme:  food and those big and little obstacles we all face in life. As I already know from reading ahead, her daughters play a significant role in this book, so that it opens with Kacie is not a surprise. I liked that aspect anyway, because so much of a mom's life is her children, it made sense. The format of The Chocolate Diaries is also great because it provides the reader other people's perspectives on how to handle the challenges they face, while giving them time to reflect at the end of each chapter, and the reward of a quick and easy recipe.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 3, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1400074029
ISBN-13: 978-1400074020
SRP:  $13.99
 
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. A full review will follow shortly. I received no monetary compensation for my review.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Guest Blogger: Brian Meeks, Author of Henry Wood Detective Agency

A complex yet intriguing story. It’s full of danger, betrayal, and even love.

Henry Wood is an average detective, at best. His typical cases are boring, predictable, and safe, that is, until his new client walks through his door. It is Jan 1, 1955 and up until now his world has been one of black and white, right and wrong, but Luna Alexander’s case is going to change all of that and there will forever be shades of grey.

Henry will face the mob, question his own understanding of right and wrong, and need to make a decision that goes against everything he holds dear. A bit of a lone wolf, he finds that sometimes one needs help from their friends.

There are clues, like bread crumbs, being left by a mysterious benefactor who seems to have Henry’s best interest at heart, but will Henry put it all together in time?

Self-Publishing Is Not As Scary As One Might Think
by Brian Meeks

I was contacted by a friend's mother, when she heard I had been self-publishing my books. Here is my response and the main point is that there are lots of people who have done it, and most of us, are willing to help. Also, it isn't as scary as one might think.

Katheryn,

I do remember you. I would be delighted to tell you all about publishing and help you get your work up on Kindle. It is getting late now, so I will call you tomorrow. Until then, let me mention a few things I've learned.

Building up an audience is a slow process. That is okay, though, as the more readers one finds, the more they tell people. I mean, that is how you found me, because of your daughter. Living in the Social Media Age has provided an opportunity for all. It doesn't mean that everyone will be successful. It just means that everyone is given a shot. Those who work hard and write well will have a greater chance than those who talk about writing, and then when they do write, do it poorly.

T.S. Elliot once mused, "Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers."

Writing is a joy, but that joy pales in comparison to having one's writing read. I've seen it written that it takes 10 years to become an "Overnight" success as a writer. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've been writing for just over two years, completed three novels and one non-fiction book. I'm hardly a success, yet, but I am getting sales every single day. To me, that is some measure of success. One month ago, I was getting a sale or two per week. In a year, who knows.

The point is that I will keep writing, continue to self-publish, and I will make sure to build my audience every day, as best I can.

As for the publishing end, I have this to say. Most people who want to self-publish and don't are simply unable to comprehend what is involved, not that it is difficult, but that it is so foreign. If one buys a new piece of software and installs it on their computer, they will find that <ctrl> c and <ctrl> v are used for copy and paste, because it is universal. They are familiar with which buttons to choose to make it do what they want, but publishing is unlike anything tried before, there isn't a familiarity that helps one get over the fear.

That is why it is nice to have someone who will answer your questions. I didn't have anyone, but that was okay, as I am naturally predisposed to figuring stuff out on my own. I have learned what to do and I'll be glad to share it.

Until tomorrow,

Brian

***
Brian Meeks is the author of the Henry Wood Detective series and the recently released, Two Decades and Counting: The Wins, The Streak, The Hawkeyes Thru the Eyes of Roy Marble. He had a publisher for the 1st book in the Henry Wood series, but decided to self-publish the Roy Mable book, as he was interested in learning what was involved. He found it enjoyable and the success of the launch has changed his plans for the upcoming release of the second and third books in the Henry Wood series. With the exception of Two Decades, he has written all of his novels as serials on his blog, http://extremelyaverage.com and they can be found there, warts and all. Brian hires an editor before publishing and goes to great lengths to produce a quality product, but he doesn't mind people seeing how he writes during the initial draft. "It is motivating to write as a serial and I don't want to let anything get in the way of telling the story."

Thursday, February 16, 2012

First Chapter Review: Honeymoons Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton


I've been trying to post one of these all week, but the stomach bug arrived at our house Sunday night and I am teaching a workshop too.


AUTHOR:  Connie Shelton

BLURB:  Charlie Parker's romantic honeymoon in Taos, New Mexico, is interrupted when a ski instructor who works for her husband is fingered for the murder of his priestly brother, and a cache of priceless artifacts turns up in her ski chalet.

COVER:  While I have to admit, this is not my favorite cover, I like that the author has been consistent since the first book's release. Each book is designed the same way: one color background, the title bordered off with a contrasting color, the author's name in bold at the top, and an eye hole with a picture in the middle--though this cover's appears to be less oval than the others. The hearts make you think love and honeymoons, so it works.

FIRST CHAPTER:  We open with Charlie and her new husband Drake in what appears to be a spot of trouble. Drake is a pilot and Charlie is preparing for her license. In addition, Charlie is part owner of RJP Investigations with her brother, Ron. With their house being renovated, Charlie and Drake are living in the RJP offices. Because of their rush wedding, they never went on a honeymoon, so they are eager to accept a friend's offer to visit Taos and provide heli-skiing tours around the holidays.

KEEP READING: You betcha! In case I've never mentioned it before, I like action to start off my books. It's part of why I am drawn so much to mysteries--usually a dead body turns up or someone's life is in danger within the first few paragraphs.

This is the sixth book in the Charlie Parker Mystery Series, but it's the first one I've read, so that added a sense of mystery to the opening. I honestly wasn't sure what was going on. Shelton smartly didn't pull me around on a string for too long, knowing I might get ticked off. Once aware of what was happening, I was able to digest a bit of back story and then be thrilled with the cliffhanger end of this short chapter. I'm eager to find out what happens next.


Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 362 KB
Publisher: Secret Staircase Books (October 11, 2009)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B002SG7OSU
SRP: $4.99

I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Interview with Richard Tillotson, Author of Acts of God Whyile On Vacation

Richard Tillotson has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Borneo, a playwright in New York, a copywriter in Hawaii, and is a relative of an English Lord, all of which helped him write Acts of God While on Vacation, a National Semi-Finalist for the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and named “Hawaii’s best fiction book of 2011” by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He works in Honolulu and vacations in Washington DC.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in Honolulu, but I was born in Hackensack, grew up outside Chicago, lived in L.A. and Boston, went to school in Iowa and Seattle, worked in Borneo, vacation in Washington DC, and some of my family live in London. So I guess I’m from all over. I worked in advertising for a number of years and have written ads for every kind of media and for every kind of client imaginable. (I actually wrote a bar once. It was a history of Waikiki on placemats, which were immortalized under Plexiglas so drinkers could ponder them over their third mai tai.) Before ACTS OF GOD WHILE ON VACATION was published, most of my own creative writing had been plays and screenplays. I’ve had a play produced Off-Broadway in New York.

When did you begin writing?

I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was around seven and wrote a (very) short story about a turkey. I didn’t confess my ambition to anyone until I got to college where, in my senior year, I won a (longer) short story contest with a tale about fruit pickers in California. After that, the die was cast.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?
I try to keep to a routine. It used to be I’d wake up at 4:30 am and put in a couple of hours before heading to the office. Now I can do my writing after breakfast and in daylight. Feels like quite a luxury.

What is this book about?

It begins with a death threat received by a philandering general manager of a lavish Hawaii resort, jumps to an anthropologist researching headhunters in the jungles of Borneo, then to a demonic, scandal-mongering paparazzo in New York, and on to a gorgeous, party-loving English aristocrat in London. Alternately desperate and hilarious adventures draw them all to Waikiki, where their arrival coincides with an international conference on shamanism and a catastrophic, force-five hurricane.

What inspired you to write it?
We had a relatively minor hurricane, hurricane Iwa, come through Honolulu a number of years ago. When you know a hurricane’s coming, after you’ve taped all the windows, pulled together the bottled water and flashlights, and figured out how to fit everybody into the bathtub, there’s not much to do but sit around and wait. I was doing a lot of hotel advertising at the time, and as I was sitting around waiting, I got to thinking about what must be going on in Waikiki.
Who is your favorite author?

I’m very eclectic. I still enjoy browsing bookstores and library shelves, pulling down a book that looks interesting, and I’ll wind up reading it for the very reason that I haven’t read anything like it before. I enjoy contemporary comic novels (I wrote one, after all), but I also greatly enjoy authors like Jane Austen, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, and – moving over to our continent, Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, and – moving back to the UK of the present day – David Lodge, Michael Frayn, David Mitchell, and – moving back over here – Alan Furst, Tom Wolfe… You get the idea. Those are the writers who float through my top of mind at the moment. I also enjoy reading THE NEW YORKER every week, and I’ve got a complete collection of all the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe novels.
Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I had a very good agent, a former editor of the New York Times Review of Books. He suggested I send the book to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition. When it achieved semi-finalist status out of several thousand entries and got a highly positive review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, we assumed acceptance by major publisher would be a slam-dunk. But that was in 2009 when the publishing industry was falling off a cliff along with the rest of the economy, and publishers were disinclined to take risks with debut novelists. Eventually I decided to self-publish through Createspace, which is an Amazon company. I’ve been delighted with how well it’s gone and count myself very fortunate. The publishing world has changed dramatically just since 2009, and I expect by the time I finish this next novel, it will have changed dramatically again. Whatever publishing looks like, the really important things remain the same. First off, you have to write a good book.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

It is in most bookstores in Hawaii. On the continent, it’s easiest to get it through Amazon where it is available in both print and Kindle editions. The book can also be ordered by any local bookstore through their usual wholesalers like Ingrams.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

I don’t blog, tweet, or have a website, so I used to think that cyber-wise, I’d be doomed. To my surprise, however, the other day I typed the full title of my novel, ACTS OF GOD WHILE ON VACATION, into Google and at least two or three pages of links came up. A number of these links are to reviews of the book that have appeared in Hawaii. Since I live here, the reviews also have some information about me. I’m happy for anyone to read any of these reviews, because so far, they’ve all been very positive. They’re also quoted on the book’s Amazon page.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

We’re working on one that is based on an interview I had with Hawaii Public Radio. When it gets done, we’ll put it up on the book’s Amazon page and the Amazon Author’s page.

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Sending it to reviewers.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

I believe the best advice I ever got was in the book THE ART OF FICTION by David Lodge. I recommend it to everyone.
What is up next for you?
I’m a third of the way through a second novel, but it is temporarily on the shelf while I rewrite a screenplay that has interested some people in Los Angeles. I’m also in the process of submitting a new play and a musical to a couple of theaters.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

FREE Today and Tomorrow (2/15 & 2/16) Patience County War by Soren Paul Petrek



Kill or be killed. Patience County's Sheriff, Sam Trunce is in the cross hairs of a Mexican drug cartel. He is not alone. Patience County's secret army of combat vets, Masai warriors and history's most deadly female assassin stand at his side. The Cartel's murder squad and Patience's army hurtle towards war, winner takes all.



"Patience County War is a hoot. From the minute I picked it up I couldn't stop reading. It's set in the Southern back-woods with a group of characters you'll want to spend more time with.
It's a great read for a rainy (or snowy) afternoon."

--Steve Sommers, author of Evil Super-Villains Need Love, Too ... and other important wisdom

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 896 KB
Publisher: Soren Petrek; First edition (December 10, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B006NCV3XC

Book Review: A Place to Die by Dorothy James

A uniquely set literary mystery awaits you in A Place to Die by Dorothy James.

Eleanor and Franz Fabian travel from New York to the Vienna Woods to spend time with Franz's mother at the retirement home. While visiting on Boxing Day, they hear of the tragic death of Herr Hans Graf, a popular resident of Haus im Wald. They soon find themselves thrust into the middle of a homicide investigation.

Inspector Georg Büchner discovers surprising connections between Herr Graf and many of the residents and staff of Haus im Wald, and reunites with a former comrade who has surprisingly turned to a religious order. Are his past and the murder related?

When I was first asked to review A Place to Die, I was immediately drawn to its unique setting. James immerses the reader in details that make you feel like you are traveling right along with Büchner as he works to solve the crime.

This is not your typical mystery novel. It's literary in nature, so the story develops more slowly, each chapter is opened with an introduction, and the pace is much more leisurely than one would expect from a murder mystery. One is rewarded, however, with getting to know the characters well. There are several, many of them quirky, which made the story even more interesting.

A Place to Die is titled as "An Inspector Georg Büchner Mystery," but since Büchner shares so much of the spotlight with the Fabians it didn't feel that way. Eleanor plays amateur sleuth throughout the book. It seems like James combined elements of a detective novel with that of a cozy mystery. The story unfolds through the points of view of Büchner and the Fabians, which allowed for more information to be shared than if the author had relied on Büchner's sole point of view, but it's like Eleanor takes over. Now, she's crucial to the plot:  not only is she the daughter-in-law of one of the residents--which is why she is at Haus im Wald in the first place--but she reconnects with one of her friends who is also a resident. I felt her role as amateur sleuth, however, was distracting to the reader, and shifted the focus away from Büchner.

For the most part I was satisfied with how the story concluded, but there were a couple of things left unresolved. Perhaps the reader is supposed to draw her own conclusions based upon what was or wasn't revealed, but in my opinion there shouldn't be any questions after you turn the last page.

If you're into literary stories and enjoy mysteries, you might want to give this one a try. It has received several 5-star reviews on Amazon.

Title:  A Place to Die-An Inspector Georg Büchner Mystery
Author: Dorothy James
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Hardcover
Price: $34.99
ISBN: 9781450082709
Pages: 436
Release: April 21, 2010
Paperback
Price: $23.99
ISBN: 9781450082693
Pages: 436
Release: April 21, 2010

Amazon paperback buy link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1450082696/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes&Noble.com paperback buy link

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&offerid=239662.9781450082693&type=2&subid=0

Kindle buy link - $3.03

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WEA1BY/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link - $7.99

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/place-to-die-dorothy-james/1100371929?ean=9781450082716&itm=2&usri=a%252bplace%252bto%252bdie

iBookstore buy link - $9.99

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-place-to-die/id424849936?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Dorothy James was born in Wales and grew up in the South Wales Valleys. Writer, editor, and translator, she has published short stories as well as books and articles on German and Austrian literature. She has taught at universities in the U.S., England, and Germany, makes her home now in Brooklyn and often spends time in Vienna and Berlin.


She wrote A Place to Die in her attic apartment on the edge of the Vienna Woods. She has travelled far from Wales, but has not lost the Welsh love of playing with language; she writes poems for pleasure as does Chief Inspector Büchner, the whimsical Viennese detective who unravels the first mystery in this new series of novels.

Dorothy James' web site:


http://www.viennamysteries.com/

Dorothy James' blog:

http://www.myplaceformystery.com/

A Place to Die Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vienna-Mysteries/114871195254205?sk=wall

Dorothy James' Twitter:

http://twitter.com/valleyvoice

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

A Place to Die blog tour site:

http://aplacetodieblogtour.blogspot.com/


I received a free e-copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation for my review.

This is the eighth book I've read for the following challenge:


This is the fifth book I've read for the following challenge:



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