This is Book 3 in the “An American in Paris” cozy mystery series. I did this review for The Historical Novel Society.
BOOK DESCRIPTION (FROM AMAZON)
If there’s one art the French have mastered as well as fine cuisine, it’s haute couture. Tabitha and Julia are already accustomed to sampling the delights of the former. Now fashion is returning to the forefront in Paris, as the somber hues of wartime are replaced by vibrant colors and ultra-feminine silhouettes, influenced by Christian Dior’s “New Look.”
Tabitha and Julia join a friend for a private showing at an exclusive fashion atelier, Maison Lannet. The event goes well, but when Tabitha returns later that evening to search for a lost glove, she finds the lights still on—and the couturier dead, strangled by a length of lace. The shop manager suspects that a jealous rival—perhaps Dior himself—committed the crime. Tabitha dismisses that idea, but when another body is found, it’s apparent that someone is targeting employees of Maison Lannet.
Meanwhile, Tabitha’s Grand-père and Oncle Rafe are in the midst of their own design-related fracas, as they squabble over how to decorate their new restaurant. And there are strange break-ins at a nearby shoe store—but are the crimes related? It’s up to Tabitha to don her investigative hat and find answers before someone commits another fatal fashion faux pas.
BOOK REVIEW
1950. Tabitha Knight is back in the third book in the An American in Paris series. This time she is visiting an up-and-coming Parisian fashion house with her good friend Julia Child when she discovers the body of the designer, Madame Lannet. Unable to resist an urge to investigate, she soon stumbles on yet another body, and it is not long before she’s once again crossing the path of Inspecteur Etienne Merveille, who is well aware of her sleuthing tendencies. Romance is also in the air, and Tabitha finds herself attracted to Inspecteur Merveille against her better judgment. While rescuing a feral cat with a broken tail, she also meets Monsieur Héroux, the veterinarian, and they make plans for a date as well. Tabitha’s grand-père and his long-time partner also bring fun to the story, as they are fighting over how to design their new restaurant, and they take her to Dior to select a custom gown.
This is another great book in the series. Julia Child, as always, steals the show with her over-the-top personality. She injects joy, food, and humor whenever she is a part of the story. The author has obviously done her research well and captured Child’s character in a charming way. The mouthwatering descriptions of delicious French food add to the delight, and I learned a lot about making crepes through Julia’s instructions to Tabitha. The mystery is compelling with an unexpected ending, and adding the glamorous fashion industry into the mix makes this a winner. Fans of cozy mysteries will love this book and the whole series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Today is release day for Parenting Against the Current, a new book for Christian parents by Joshua Poteet and Matt Nations. A book description and buy links are below.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Parenting feels like a fight against the current—and that’s because it is. In a culture that’s drifting fast, Parenting Against the Current offers a clear, practical path to leading your family with faith and clarity.
If you’ve ever wondered how to guide your kids spiritually—or felt overwhelmed trying to do it “right”—this book gives you a hopeful, doable framework for making faith a natural part of your home.
Authors and pastors Josh Poteet and Matt Nations share real stories, simple tools, and a vision for reclaiming your role as the spiritual leader in your home. You’ll learn how to:
Resist cultural drift without living in fear
Build intentional rhythms that strengthen your family’s faith
Lead with purpose—even if you feel behind
Your kids will be led. This book helps make sure it’s by you.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Josh Poteet is the Lead Pastor of 180 Life Church in West Hartford, CT and Army veteran. He holds a Master’s in Theology from Liberty University and has been part of the Relational Discipleship Network for 10 years, leading discipleship trainings, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Josh regularly teaches on equipping parents, empowering disciples, training leaders, and helping families embrace their role as primary disciple-makers. His passion for family discipleship is shaped by his personal experiences as a father and his years of walking alongside parents as they raise up tiny disciples. He and his wife, Jennie, live in Connecticut with their two children, Lilla and Ezra.
Matt Nations is the Executive Pastor at Riverside Church in Fort Myers, FL, and a consultant with the Growmentum Group, where he helps churches align vision, strategy, and structure for greater kingdom impact. With over a decade of experience in church leadership, pastoral coaching, and organizational development, Matt is passionate about helping churches create intentional pathways for spiritual growth and mission-driven effectiveness. He has had the opportunity to lead discipleship training for many churches in the U.S. and around the world.
Matt’s heart for discipleship and leadership development is shaped by his own ministry journey and his commitment to seeing people grow in their faith and calling. He and his wife, Jess, live in Florida with their four children.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the cover below to purchase on Amazon. Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read this book for free.
Below is my review of the fourth book in the Elizabeth Cage series, Bad Moon. It is different than Taylor’s other two series, as there is no time travel. It is described as a supernatural thriller. Like all of her other series, it’s terrific. Today is release day, so be sure and go to Amazon and check it out. Link provided at the bottom of the page.
The major revelations in the previous book, Long Shadows, continue to have repercussions on everyone but Elizabeth Cage, who doesn’t understand why Michael Jones is now afraid of her, and Melek and Iblis are more protective than ever. She has other problems, too. There is blood on her doorstep every morning, and she can’t quite recall what happened last Christmas, although it is right on the edge of her memory. She just wants a nice quiet life, but things don’t seem to be heading that way. She and Michael set up their supernatural investigation business and soon encounter a very angry and murderous ghost. And that is the least of their problems. An evil force stands by, ready to destroy them all. The wicked Dr. Sorensen is still in the picture, but in a different way, and Elizabeth will go back through all the experiences of her recent past, trying to find out who is on a mission to destroy her.
Elizabeth starts to come into her own in this fourth book in the series. Without giving away spoilers, I can say she finally gets a clear picture of her life and abilities and tries to make steps forward. There are some very scary moments in this book, but also fun and light-hearted ones. The banter between Elizabeth, Michael, and Iblis will bring a smile to your face. Elizabeth is getting more independent, and I love the way she loves her shiny, new red scooter. The evil in this book is oh, so evil, but the author also finds ways to make us laugh in the middle of it, even though we’re also covered with goosebumps of fear. There is a depth of feeling, even for the most vile characters. There is one ghost who completely creeped me out, but I also felt compassion for her, and that is the genius of Jodi Taylor’s writing. I don’t classify this as horror, but I would say it’s a mashup of paranormal, fantasy, and thriller, and I loved every minute of it.
This series is best read in order and the entire series can be found here.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jodi Taylor is the author of the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series, the story of a bunch of disaster-prone historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel!
Born in Bristol and educated in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and pick up a pen. She still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors with their most daunting task–marketing. If I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it. You can help as well by sharing this post with all your social media followers. Together, we can help Indie books succeed.
Below is a book description, author bio, and buy link for Imperiled by the late Alexander Hans Schmitt. There is also a guest post by his mother, Vonnie Schmitt, about her journey to publish his book after his death. I am currently reading Imperiled and will provide a review later.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
When the unthinkable happens, what would you do to save yourself? In debut novelist Alexander Hans Schmitt’s epic space opera, readers embark on a gripping journey with its heroine, Junior Commander Anaiya Sonra.
In the far future, an unexpected betrayal throws Commander Sonra’s life into chaos and ends her career as the emergency coordinator of a habitat-based space patrol force. Falsely accused of smuggling, Anaiya faces certain conviction, and a soul-destroying future, unless she takes immediate action. She commandeers a starship, battles her way to the nearest rift transit fold zone, and sets out on a perilous quest for the truth.
As Anaiya’s voyage progresses, she melds a dependable and resourceful crew from an unlikely bunch of castaways. Together they investigate the source of Anaiya’s undoing: the unprovoked attack and destruction of an ancient freight hauler, and they uncover the mystery of the cargo that the hauler carried on that final voyage. But as Anaiya and her team delve deeper, they discover that answers come with a devastating cost, and none of them realize the reach of the situation in which they have become enmeshed.
Packed with action, Imperiled is a must-read for fans of space opera adventure science fiction seeking an unforgettable tale of resilience and discovery.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexander Hans Schmitt was born in Houston, Texas in 1981. His father was a computer programmer, and his mother was a homemaker. Alex loved books; he loved time spent with his mother and father as they read to him. During his kindergarten year his mother read all seven of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia to him. But Alex struggled in school. After being tested by an educational psychologist, he was found to have a high IQ. The disparity between his IQ and his negligible progress in learning to read led the school to conclude that he had a learning disability. Alex was placed in a self-contained classroom with a small group of learning-disabled children. More one-on-one time with the teacher and/or her aide was promised. But after two years, Alex still could not read. It was then that his mother took matters into her own hands. Using a phonics-based approach, she taught him to read during the summer before third grade. By the end of the third grade, he read and enjoyed adult novels.. In fourth grade, he was placed in his school’s gifted program.
Alex suffered a seizure just as his fifth-grade year began. It occurred while he was sitting at his desk in school. After years of being thought retarded by his classmates and some teachers in the school, he had finally overcome the stigma of the learning-disabled label. Now he bore the stigma of epilepsy. Hard-won friendships evaporated. It was too much. His parents considered options other than public school. They decided to homeschool Alex and became welcome fixtures in the Washington Metro area home schooling community. Alex had a fresh start.
When Alex was fourteen, he expressed an interest in learning the piano. Lessons were arranged and, after a few years, he was able to play a wide variety of advanced pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, and Grieg.
In 2001, Alex enrolled in Northern Virginia Community College and in 2003 he transferred to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2007. He was awarded the prize for Outstanding Graduate in Philosophy that year among other academic honors.Alex was then accepted at Pace Law School. He earned a law degree with an emphasis in environmental law in 2010.
Time passed, and Alex decided that he was more suited to the life of a writer than that of an environmental lawyer. He studied books on the craft of writing and worked on the first draft of Imperiled. Chapter by chapter, the book took form. He shared his work with his mother. She edited his chapters, focusing on demonstrating how he could make his writing more concise. Slowly he became a better writer. Through eight years and four drafts, Alex worked steadily on Imperiled.
Alex took antiseizure medication from the time of his first seizure throughout his teenage years and had no more seizures until the spring of 2020, when he had a seizure at home. He was prescribed an antiseizure drug, but even with medication, he continued to suffer four or more seizures each year. He became depressed. His writing stalled, but rereading his favorite books remained a comfort. The last books he read were J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series. In June 2023, Alex died suddenly following a seizure. He was 42 years old.
THOUGHTS FROM ALEX’S MOM, VONNIE SCHMITT
Alex’s sudden death following a seizure was a great shock, and I was sunk in grief for the following year. Beginning about a year after Alex died, I began to work on Imperiled. I had been Alex’s beta reader, and he and I had great fun talking about his writing. He had so many great ideas about other books that he planned to write. And, during the eight years he worked on Imperiled, he also worked on a fantasy novel. He planned for Imperiled to be the first of a series of five science fiction novels, and he had included chapters in Imperiled that introduced characters that would play a big part in the story in the subsequent books. The first thing I did was to edit out those chapters. Then I edited the entire book, mainly making the writing more concise.
My daughter is a professional proofreader and she proofed Imperiled. My husband, Tony, meticulously went over the book and made further edits. Then my daughter proofed the final version. I felt that we were ready to self-publish, and I was fortunate to find Booklocker—a publishing company that provides services to those who want to self-publish. My husband and I struggled with learning about doing things online, but we managed in the end (with a great deal of help and patience from the folks at Booklocker).
All of us are so happy that Alex’s book was published as a paperback on his birthday! We are all very proud of Alex and the world that he created. I also set up a website that includes world-building material. It is alexhansschmitt.com.
PURCHASE LINK
*Click on the cover below for a link to Amazon. The book is also on Kindle Unlimited, so subscribers can read it for free.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you read the book, be sure to leave a review on Amazon. The review does not have to be long, or a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will help it succeed. As mentioned above, please share this post with others who might enjoy the book.
I’m starting a new, hopefully monthly, Blogging the Classics feature. To get started, I am going with the beloved Pride and Prejudice. It has been a long time since I read it, so I listened to it again on audio. I included a book description from Amazon, although I’m sure most or all of you won’t need it.
BOOK SUMMARY
Love is in the air when five sisters discover that a wealthy and eligible bachelor is suddenly within reach. But it is his friend, the haughty Mr. Darcy, who becomes smitten. Unfortunately for him, the object of his affection is not so easily swayed.
One of the most popular characters in English literature, Elizabeth Bennet is intelligent, witty, well-spoken, and ahead of her time. If the terrible rumors about Mr. Darcy are true, he doesn’t stand a chance. Yet not all gossip is to be believed when marriage, money, and reputations are on the line. Will Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy circumvent her haste, his ego, and society’s expectations to find love?
Written more than two centuries ago, Jane Austen’s enduring story of manners, family, and love continues to delight new generations of readers.
BOOK REVIEW
How does one review a beloved classic? I will do as I usually do and share my impressions. For a book as established and well-loved as this one, I can’t provide any new perspectives, so I will just talk about the aspects that I found the most interesting.
First, Mrs. Bennet is a piece of work! How she produced Jane and Elizabeth, I have no idea. Trying to push Elizabeth off on the annoying Mr. Collins was laughable. However, at that time, people sold their daughters off for their own interests quite regularly. The girls’ father, Mr. Bennet, seems, for most of the book, completely unworried about what happens to them in the future, so that might explain Mrs. Bennet’s over-the-top actions in trying to get her daughters married. I love Mr Bennet’s sense of humor, but appreciated his acknowledgement after the Lydia incident that he needed to be more involved in his family. Perhaps this might have strengthened the relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, who do not seem to have anything in common but their daughters.
Jane Bennet is beautiful and seems to be faultless, almost too perfect in every way. However, I believe she and Elizabeth learn lessons from each other. Elizabeth learns to withhold judgment, and Jane learns to express her feelings more. Why did Jane Austen give this character her name? My guess would be that since Austen published anonymously, giving characters her own name was a way of quietly showing herself to the world. Overall, she named six of her characters “Jane” in various works. It’s an interesting thing to ponder. None of her works were published under Austen’s name until after her death. Writing for publication by a woman at that time was considered improper and unladylike, so naming the very ladylike and proper Jane Bennet after herself may have been an extremely tongue-in-cheek thing to do. I love it.
The snobbery of the upper classes at the time is on full display. Caroline Bingley is particularly awful, undermining Jane’s possible marriage to Bingley at every turn, especially by keeping them apart. This quote sums Caroline up nicely: “I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”
Then there is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who actually visits Elizabeth at her home to tell her to refuse Mr. Darcy, should he propose. When Elizabeth says no, she is taken aback by her audacity. “Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us…..You are a gentleman’s daughter; but who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”
Mr. Collins, the self-important clergyman and heir to the Bennet’s estate, is a great source of comic relief, especially his repeated refusal to accept the fact that Elizabeth has turned down his proposal. The way he grovels to Lady Catherine is pathetic, and he serves as a self-appointed messenger to the Bennets from Catherine in some of his letters. I feel that Lady Catherine is a representative of the worst of the aristocracy and Mr. Collins represents the worst of the sycophants who long to be part of their world, but never are.
Jane Austen herself was the daughter of a clergyman, on the fringes of aristocracy, but not a part of it. This gives her a unique insight into the circumstances of the Bennets. She uses Elizabeth, in my opinion, to speak out against certain aspects of it.
But then Austen gives the aristocracy a break. Jane and Elizabeth both join it, and although Darcy stops talking to Lady Catherine for a time, Elizabeth convinces him to invite her back in. Caroline, so vehemently against the union of Jane and Bingley, comes to accept it, although perhaps not enthusiastically. What is Austen’s message here: I think she found the aristocracy to be very judgmental and condescending, but seems to say that they had a chance, if they were more accepting and less proud, to find real happiness. She also acknowledged through Elizabeth that those not in the aristocracy could be unfairly biased against it.
The character development is interesting. Jane becomes more open with her feelings and possibly a little less trusting. Elizabeth learns to get the whole story before making judgments and conclusions against others. She learns a little humility as well, while still retaining her outgoing, outspoken nature.
Mr. Darcy learns to overcome his pride, and his love for Elizabeth makes him realize that he should not judge others by social status.
Mr. Bennet, as mentioned above, realizes he needs to take his younger daughters firmer in hand, and I believe he regrets his mental absence from the family. He was there, but he wasn’t there. He seems to be changing that by the end of the book.
I believe that the only thing that changes for Mrs. Bennet is that she no longer has to worry about her daughters due to the successful marriages of Elizabeth and Jane, and her husband’s resolve to take more interest in their family. Perhaps this would have changed her character in the future.
I’m not sure Lady Catherine changed that much, but she did learn that not everything is under her control.
Mr. Collins is funnily unchanged. At the end of the book, he is still hilariously self-important, social climbing, and oblivious. He serves as comic relief throughout most of the book. Even some of his crueler statements come off as comedy.
Pride and Prejudice is an informative and eye-opening look at class differences in Regency England. I believe it has remained popular because of Elizabeth’s strong character and refusal to be put down by society, as well as Darcy’s willingness to prioritize love over class.
At this time, I have decided not to put star reviews on the classics on this blog. However, if you think I should, let me know.
Please let me know your perceptions of the characters and themes of Pride and Prejudice in the comments below.
Last week I finally hit 100,000 views on this blog! I had planned to pass that mark last year, but then retirement, moving, and Hurricane Helene held that up. I started the blog in October 2020, and I only had about 3,000 views at the end of 2020. I am pleased to hit 100,000, and I thank you all for always dropping by. I’m at about 45,500 visitors, so I’m not far from 50,000 visitors.
I just finished listening to Pride and Prejudice on audio, so my “Blogging the Classics” feature starts tomorrow. Be sure and let me know what you think of that feature. I’m happy to take suggestions for my next classic, too. What is your favorite classic?
I also participated in Top Ten Tuesday and shared how my blogging habits have changed.
NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG
As mentioned above, my “Blogging the Classics” feature starts Monday with the beloved Pride and Prejudice.
I am going to post a lot of Indie reviews and promos this week. They will all be under the Indie Spotlight feature. I plan to start cleaning up my Indie backlog this coming week. Stay tuned. I appreciate all the Indie authors and I’m working on becoming one!
I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits
BOOK HAUL
I am concentrating on what I have on hand, so no new books this week.
Top Ten Tuesday is sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. The topic this week is “Ten Ways That My Blogging Habits Have Changed.”
1. My Indie Spotlight feature started out as Self-Published Saturday back in 2021, and then it became Indie Weekend. I just recently changed it to Indie Spotlight because I am retired and I don’t need to wait until the weekend anymore. All of them have the same goal: To celebrate and share Indie books.
2. My first review was a Two-Star back in October 2020! Although I do post some bad reviews sometimes, I now usually use my blog to celebrate good books. The exceptions are when a book I didn’t like is really expensive and popular, and I want to warn people before they spend the money. John Grisham’s supposed sequel to The Firm comes to mind.
3. My graphics are way better. I started using Shutterstock a few years ago, and I think I provide more eye-catching posts now.
4. I change my blog background seasonally, but I started putting clocks in all of my background pictures in maybe 2022. That is a nod to my love of time-travel fiction.
5. I only had a little over 3,000 views in 2020. Now I am just about 100 views away from 100,000. That is despite having a down year last year due to moving, retirement, and Hurricane Helene.
6. I have had over 45,000 visitors to my blog since 2020. I’ll do a celebration post when I pass 50,000 visitors.
7. I was very focused on Netgalley reviews for a long time. Now I only have 12 books on my Netgalley shelf. A lot of my reviews now come from The Historical Novel Society and from Indie authors. I’m also about to embark on a “Reviewing the Classics” journey.
8. My logo has changed a lot. Thanks to Author Gail Meath for my latest, and best, logo.
9. I feel like my reviews are better written now. Reviewing for The Historical Novel Society has helped with that.
10. The best change is the friendships. I’ve made some very dear friends who I met via this blog.
I am so thankful for this blog, and the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you, and that will never change.
How about you? How have your blogging habits changed?
It’s release day for The Miniaturist’s Assistant, which I reviewed for the May edition of Historical Novel’s Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. The review is below, and the author graciously agreed to do a Q&A, so be sure to check that out as well!
BOOK REVIEW
In Charleston, South Carolina, in 2004, Gamble Vance is an expert at restoring miniature portraits. But there is one that she can’t forget—a woman with hazel eyes. Why does she look familiar? Then Gamble sees a young woman in Stoll’s Alley in old-fashioned dress. She appears to be a ghost, or a memory, and looks very much like the woman in the portrait. The woman even speaks to her. Gamble is impatient to share this with her best friend Tolliver. Tol is of the Geechee people, who believe in ghosts, and he will not think she is crazy.
In 1805, Daniel Petigru paints miniature portraits for Charleston’s wealthy. He is missing Gamble, who has left him and gone back to her time. She appeared in October 1804, brought home by his sister Honor, who announced she’s been seeing this woman in Stoll’s Alley since she was 12 years old. But the connections are deeper than all of them know, and Gamble is destined to come back.
This is a story with deep meaning and a message that some souls are meant to meet, regardless of where and when they happen to be. They must meet sometimes as part of their own fates—their own lives or deaths, and sometimes it is for reasons they cannot begin to understand. There do not seem to be fast rules of time travel in this novel. The rules are fluid and subject to change. The method of time travel appears to be a place, but also possibly a person. As the lives of those affected flow into each other, so do the rules and methods of time travel. The relationships—friends, lovers, siblings, parents, and children—are all well written and profoundly felt. This is an emotional and impactful novel. Highly recommended.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, newspaper columnist, and recovering academic, she’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else. She enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow — and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she lives with her family in the North Carolina mountains.
Q&A with Katherine Scott Crawford
Bonnie: Hi Katherine, and thanks so much for answering my questions today. Let’s go beyond the bio. Tell us something about yourself that we might not know from reading your bio.
Katherine: Thanks so much for having me here, Bonnie! Hmm, let’s see: I tend to be an open book, but something many people may not know about me is that I love to draw. My parents gifted me with art classes at the Greenville Art Museum in South Carolina (where I grew up) when I was very young—and it turned out to be a class filled mostly with adults. I loved it. I constantly sketch when I travel or am researching, in the notebooks I use, of the scene I’m looking at, a piece of historical clothing, a sword, etc. I’d love to find the time for art classes again one day.
Bonnie: The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a dual timeline novel. What were the challenges in writing dual timelines?
Katherine: I didn’t find too many challenges in moving from one voice to another with The Miniaturist’s Assistant, which may seem odd, as the 2004 chapters are told from Gamble’s (a 21st century woman’s) first-person perspective, and the 1804 chapters from Daniel’s (an early 19th century man’s) third-person perspective. Their voices, thankfully, came easily to me. What was trickier was figuring out how to braid the very distinct timelines, and time periods, in a way which not only would make sense to the reader, but also would hopefully feel seamless—meant to be. I wanted every authorial choice I made in the story to reflect its main premise: that time is fluid and porous. I hope it worked!
Bonnie: One of the main characters is a Miniaturist, of course. Describe the research you did in order to create his world and show the reader his art convincingly.
Katherine: I am a sucker for research. I’m an 11th generation South Carolinian with long ties to the Lowcountry and Charleston, and my first novel was set in the Revolutionary-era Carolinas, plus I’m a huge history dork—so luckily, I already had some historical knowledge about that time period in Charleston. But I knew very little about portrait miniatures. After I discovered the incredible Miniature Portraits exhibit at The Gibbes Museum in Charleston, and decided to base one of my characters on noted Charleston artist Charles Fraser, I found an “in” into the research. I researched heavily in online archives, onsite and online at The Gibbes, and was graciously connected to an expert in miniature portraits and art conservator who shared other resources and her own experiences with me.
Bonnie: This is really Part 2 of the previous question. Much of the unveiling of Daniel’s art was done through Gamble, an art conservator, 200 years later. Before you started the novel, were you familiar at all with art restoration, and how did you approach that research?
Katherine: I’d attended grad school at the College of Charleston, which has a historic preservation program, and was lucky to spend a summer studying Italian art and literature in my 20s, so I had a bit of general knowledge about art conservation just from being around those programs. I approached that research like the ex-academic I am: I dove in headfirst, read scholarly articles, graduate theses, and interviewed people on the topic. I figure, the more I learn, the better. Not all of it shows up in the novel, but because I have that knowledge, Gamble does. I think it makes a difference.
Bonnie: I’m a huge fan of time travel fiction, especially when it’s a historical fiction mashup. What made you decide to jump into this subgenre, and have you read other time travel fiction that inspired you?
Katherine: Honestly, I did not expect Gamble to time travel. When I began the story, I’d imagined a more linear dual-timeline, with the lines crossing in more traditional ways—maybe through discovered letters, etc. But Gamble is unlike any character I’ve written, and she was determined to go back.
I’m actually not a big reader of time travel fiction. But two historical novels I really love—as a writer and a reader both—utilize the device so well: Susanna Kearsley’s The Rose Garden, and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I guess this is to say that while I’m not a natural skeptic, I have to buy into the premise as a reader: it has to make sense on both a story and emotional level, and those novels lead us willingly headlong into an adventure we feel like we take ourselves.
Bonnie: Is this a standalone or will there be a Book 2?
Katherine: The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a standalone. (But never say never.) At present, I’m working on an entirely new historical novel.
Bonnie: I believe this is your second book, but the first book with Regal House. Can you tell the aspiring writers who read this blog something valuable you learned on your journey to get published?
Katherine: Yes, this is my second novel: my first, Keowee Valley, was published in 2012 by Bell Bridge Books, a small press based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Miniaturist’s Assistant is with Regal House Publishing, an independent literary press out of North Carolina. There were over a decade of years, two children, one graduate degree, many jobs, and lots of life lived in between.
My advice would be to remember that your writing journey is your journey, and no one else’s. Own it. All that matters is what it looks and feels like to you.
Bonnie: Katherine, thank you again! I truly enjoyed The Miniaturist’s Assistant.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the image below to purchase the book on Amazon.
Award winning author Michael Gorton masterfully describes advanced scientific concepts intertwined in a deeply human narrative. The story follows Paula, a molecular biologist on the cusp of receiving a Nobel Prize, whose life is abruptly cut short by a tragic accident. Her close friend, Alex, has been developing groundbreaking technology capable of tunneling through spacetime. Driven by grief and determination, Alex embarks on a daring journey using this technology, leading then to a planet in Cassiopeia where they confront unforeseen challenges and emotions. Gorton’s narrative seamlessly blends elements of adventure, romance, and science fiction, inviting readers to explore profound questions about time, loss, and the lengths one might go to alter destiny. “Tachyon Tunnel” is a thought-provoking tale that challenges our understanding of reality and the human spirit.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
What if Time travel were possible, and Science Fiction is real? Time travel where humans have changed something has implications on the laws of physics. The ripple effect from inertia always catches up. Alex and the Tranquility team are aware of this when they discover the Daklin Empire that has ruled the Galaxy with an iron fist for over 50 million years without suffering a single defeat. As the Daklin take notice of Earth, the team must navigate the challenges of time’s inertia and the unintended consequences of altering history.
Tachyon Tunnel 2 explores how time travel might actually work within the laws of physics, and the implications of changing events in the past. The book combines science, adventure, romance, and the complexities of human decision-making in high-stakes situations. Part two of bestselling author Michael Gorton’s award-winning Tachyon Tunnel series will keep readers on the edge of their seats and is sure to become one of the best science fiction works of the year!
BOOK REVIEWS
Tachyon Tunnel 1
Alex is a genius who has invented a way to tunnel through time and space, with the help of a ship and his trusty AI, Emily. But when he learns his best friend Paula has died, he drops everything and uses this technology to rescue her. What happens next will strand them on another world and affect many people and civilizations.
This is a clever and science-forward novel with a genius method of time travel—tunneling through time. The author does a good job explaining the physics of it. In addition to the method, every author should also set rules of time travel that must be followed. In this book, the rules seem to be whatever science allows. However, there are actions that create paradoxes or have deadly consequences, so it could be that certain rules will be assigned as the series unfolds in order to avoid those situations.
There are also circumstances involving the use of DNA technology that are questionable and a bit unbelievable. Another situation occurred that I completely disagreed with, but it involves sacrificing individual rights for the possible safety of a civilization. These are the kind of choices one ends up making when manipulating time and changing events on entire worlds. The main characters, Alex and Paula, are easy to connect with, but the AI, Emily, steals the show. There is a twist at the end that I absolutely loved. I enjoyed this novel and was sometimes reminded of one of the masters of science fiction, Robert Heinlein. I look forward to Book 2.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also downloaded the ebook on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
There is a fresh start in this second book of the series, and it goes in a new direction. New characters are introduced, as well as a new enemy, the Daklin, who will wipe out any civilization that opposes their total domination. But they haven’t found Earth yet. The race to stop the Daklin from finding Earth has Alex seeking out a reclusive group who may be able to help them.
In the first book, the rules of time travel were not necessarily made clear. I would say new rules have been introduced by the author in this book, as previous mistakes are discussed and not repeated. The new characters are strong and compelling, and the evil Daklin Empire lurks as a frightening spectre to avoid. The science of time travel provided is intriguing, and the author manages to make technical discussions entertaining. The book takes a dip into the paranormal as well as science fiction, but I hope it stays science-forward as the series progresses. There is some “telling” instead of “showing” early in this book, but I found it worked and helped the reader adjust to the new direction this series is heading.
The relationship between Alex and Paula is the deepest and most meaningful in the series, and I would like to see the series delve deeper into some of the other relationships as well.
The attempts to evade and stop the Daklin kept me glued to the story, and the addition of an evil empire adds new layers to the novel. Overall, Tachyon Tunnel 2 comes in strong. Having learned lessons from the events of the past, it charges forward in a new and interesting way.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also purchased the ebook on Amazon. It is only 99 cents at present! See link below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(Excerpts from his website) Michael Gorton grew up as the “poor kid next door.” Because of great influence from his parents and four siblings, Michael reached for the stars. With virtually no money in his pocket, he went off to college and earned degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law—all while working full-time.
He is now best known as being a serial entrepreneur, but that title does not do him justice. With degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law, there is no limit to his curiosity. After working ten years as an engineer in corporate America, he founded 15 different companies, including Internet Global, Palo Duro Records, and Teladoc, now one of the world’s largest telemedicine companies. His forward-facing vision and expertise led him to being one of the pioneers of telemedicine and digital health, which is becoming a half-TRILLION-dollar industry. In 2022 he joined with Jay Sanders, “The Father of Telemedicine,” to write Digital Medical Home which details the harrowing tales of the history of telemedicine, something we all now take for granted. He is now working with several companies and medical doctors to develop pathways for integration of AI into medicine, with a goal of lowering costs of care and increasing access, all resulting in longer healthier lives.
An accomplished author, Michael has dabbled in both fiction and nonfiction, recently writing Tachyon Tunnel, a science fiction book series, and Calamistunity, The Secret to Success, a book on how to turn calamity and mistakes into opportunity. His first business book was Broken Handoff, an amalgamation of three decades as an entrepreneur developing companies. His novel, Forefathers & Founding Fathers, is based on the forgotten historical figures who ensured the triumph of democracy in the country that would become America.
Michael is now an in-demand speaker on the topics of innovation and entrepreneurial disruption and has delivered over 100 keynotes in the past two years alone. He has also won the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, was named a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, and a Future 50 Disruptor and more.
In his “spare” time, Michael is a runner, Second Degree Black Belt in Kenpo, and a mountain climber who has so far scaled the highest point of elevation in 43 states.
First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I am a Mom too, and a Granny, and I know how challenging and rewarding it can be.
We just had an earthquake here yesterday! The folks in California will not even blink, but for us, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, it was very unusual. It was 4.1 on the Richter Scale, so mild in comparison, but if you don’t usually get one in your area, it’s eyebrow-raising. It shook the whole house, but there was no damage.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, listing authors who have lived in North Carolina.
I will be reviewing the Tachyon Tunnel series by Michael Gorton on Monday. This is science-forward time travel, and as many of you know, I love time travel fiction.
On Tuesday, I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting.
On Wednesday, I will be posting a review of The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford, as well as providing a Q&A with the author. This is another time travel book this week, but it’s more historical than science fiction.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
I updated my Review Requests page yesterday, so anyone interested in a review, please read the updated guidelines.
I’m changing the name of Indie Weekend to Indie Spotlight. Indie Spotlights used to be book promotion without a review, but now Indie Spotlight will focus on anything Indie, including book reviews. Since I’m retired now, I really don’t need to wait until the weekend to post Indie reviews. Click on the covers to see the books on Amazon.
BOOK HAUL
I got this widget from Tyndale House. Imagine Pride and Prejudice retold in an Appalachian setting! I can’t wait to read it.
An ARC from Shadow Mountain: This is historical fiction inspired by the life of Julia Child, including her time in the OSS, the precursor to the CIA.
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