The title pretty much sums up my week. First, the integration of Opie into the family is going much better. The dogs are getting used to him–slowly, and he can be found lounging around the living room often, when he’s not in his room watching YouTube for cats!
This past week was my birthday and our 43rd anniversary. We got married on my birthday, so as we always joke, that means every year on my birthday, I have to get Doug a present! We went to Tupelo Honey in Asheville. I had my favorite–shrimp and grits. Doug got a fried chicken BLT. We also went antiquing, and I got some more jadeite for my collection. A picture of some of my jadeite collection is below. My new acquisitions are not in the picture. It was a wonderful day.
Youtube for cats is hilarious. Opie is mesmerized.
I will be posting reviews I did for the August edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society, starting with Wild as the Stars by Kerry Chaput, and Those We Carry by Scott Saxberg.
I will get some Indie reviews out in the coming week. I have so many, and I get more requests every day, so I am way behind.
I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.
Gail Meath, author of The Jax Diamond Series, is offering the ebook of Book 1, Songbird, for free for the next month! If you haven’t started this series, which features a 1920s detective, Jax Diamond, and his sidekick, a German Shepherd named Ace, this is a great way to begin–for free! See the links below. The first link will you to the Amazon ebook, and the second link will take you everywhere else! The ebook is free everywhere!
Remember, if you read this free book, be sure to leave a review. It means so much to authors and will help with the book’s success. Please also share this free book offer with all of your social media followers.
It was a hectic July! We had the grandkids all month, and I was busy every minute. I lost some weight just following them around. Then the last week they were here, we picked up another family member, quite unexpectedly.
Doug was mowing outside, and a teeny kitten came running up to him full-tilt, with no concern apparently for the mower or for interacting with a human. His eyes were all matted, and he was skin and bones. We recognized him as one of the kittens of a feral cat that my cousin has been feeding. We knew she had had babies and they were living in an old, unused barn. But this baby was all alone and starving, and upon checking the barn, we found Mama and the other babies had departed and ditched him.
Doug brought him in and fed him milk with a syringe, and a couple of days later, Mama and his siblings moved underneath our shed, so we tried to reunite them. Again, they all moved and left him behind, and so he became part of our family. His name is Oliver PeeWee, or Opie for short! We still need to get our two dachshunds on board, however. Hopefully, they will accept him soon. They are starting to warm up. Cautiously.
The vet said he was about four weeks old, but only weighed 9 ounces! He has quickly gained weight since then. He has his own room and a much better living situation. He’s eating solid food as well. Some eye drops are clearing up his eye condition quickly.
We are going to try to trap the mama cat and get her spayed once she’s done feeding her kittens so this doesn’t happen again. We’re hoping some shelters will take the other kittens, but who knows?
Here are photos of Opie, both when Doug first found him and after he started improving:
I’ve also been busy with my reviews editor duties for Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. The August issue just came out, and I’ve been sharing the reviews with the authors and publishers. The next issue comes out in November. There are four issues a year, and the mission is to share recently published (and forthcoming) historical fiction novels with as many people as possible.
THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG
On Tuesday, I’ll be reviewing The Long Shadowby Beth Kanell. This is the first book of her Winds of Freedom series, which has three books so far. I’ll be reviewing the whole series. On Wednesday, I’ll be reviewing My Great Aunt’s Diary as part of a Bookouture book tour. I’ll participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting. I’m also trying to get some Indie reviews out now that the hectic part of summer is over
Recently I did a review of HORSE SHOW for The Historical Novel Society. You can find my blog post containing the review, the author’s bio, and purchase links here.
Jess was kind enough to do a Q&A with me as well, and you can find it below.
Bonnie: Hi Jess and thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.
Bonnie: Horse Show is a collection of short stories that include horses in some way. What inspired you to put this collection together?
Jess: Well, the title, Horse Show, is a bit of a pun—each story in the book includes an equine and a “show” or spectacle of some kind, whether that’s a movie, a 19th century stage show, or a woman having her horse tell fortunes in her backyard. That was really my inspiration—the many ways we put this species on display throughout American history.
Bonnie: One of my favorites, Two on a Horse, is set on the Steeplechase Ride at Coney Island. This was a highly dangerous and popular ride in the late 19th and early 20th Century. I became interested in this ride after reading about it in another novel. What inspired you to place the story here?
Jess: I first saw the Steeplechase in action while watching Ric Burns’ excellent American Experience documentary about Coney Island. Once I learned that there weren’t any seatbelts or brakes on the mechanical horses, and that a lot of early amusement park attractions were designed to create compromising situations between women and men, I thought about all the different kinds of women who would have ridden the Steeplechase, and all the ways that the ride could become a nexus for danger as well as empowerment.
Bonnie: Do you have a favorite story in the collection and why?
Jess: I’m fond of “Based on a True Story” because it really captures my sense of humor, in addition to pushing the boundaries of what a story featuring a horse can be, while questioning why there’s a horse in the story at all. Saying much more would spoil the surprise of reading it, though…!
Bonnie: Many of the stories highlight the abuse of horses in some way. I know I learned a lot more about this topic when reading your book. Has this always been a topic you wanted to share with the world? And have there been improvements in the treatment of horses in the present day?
Jess: As a lifelong equestrian and animal enthusiast, the anthropocentric way humans approach and exploit other beings, defining what it is to be “human” in opposition to other creatures, or claiming dominion over them and their habitats, has always bothered me deeply. Just as an anti-war book must contain war, Horse Show includes animal abuse to call attention to its inhumanity. While I do think strides have been made in terms of better understanding horses, institutionalized equine abuse continues, from Thoroughbred racing’s questionable breeding and training practices to less publicized situations such as the ongoing abuse of Tennessee Walking Horses for “big lick” competitions, where horses are cruelly mistreated to achieve a specific high-stepping walk, all in the name of “tradition.” Sadly, many humans still see horses as tools or machines or toys, rather than sentient beings who suffer and experience trauma just as we do.
Bonnie: Horse Show is your first book, although some or all of the stories were published individually. For the new writers who read this blog, how would you describe your journey to get published and what advice do you have for them?
Jess: I knew that the stories were good, and if I could place them individually in reputable, well-respected literary magazines, it would strengthen the collection’s case once I was ready to approach presses. Lots of writers I admire constructed their debut story collections this way. Publishing is kind of like rolling a snowball downhill. Each story you place, each contest you’re a runner-up for packs more snow onto the ball you’ve got rolling, and eventually you create an avalanche. Be careful about where you send your work. Aim for the most prestigious publications you can—those are the bylines that make publishers and agents e-mail you asking to see more work. And enter contests! That’s how Santa Fe Writers Project acquired Horse Show, after it made the longlist for their annual contest. Lots of great small presses find books that way.
Bonnie: I have become a fan of your work after reading Horse Show. Are you working on another book?
Jess: I am! While researching Horse Show, I developed a folder of “strange animal happenings” that had nothing to do with horses but tickled my brain. So, my next book is throwing the barn doors open to welcome in all kinds of obscure creatures from history. So far, there’s a wombat, a snake, some dogs, and Nikola Tesla’s favorite pigeon.
Bonnie: Let’s go beyond the bio. Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know just from reading your bio.
Jess: I really love swimming, so much so that I’m always the first one to kick my shoes off and jump into random bodies of water. No swimsuit? No problem. Cold? I don’t care! Pools, creeks, fountains, holding ponds…I’m like a badly behaved golden retriever whenever water is involved.
Bonnie: Thanks so much, Jess, for answering my questions today!
Remember to check out HORSE SHOW! It was an amazing read.
The powerful true story of the champion Thoroughbred racehorse who gained international fame in the tumultuous Civil War–era South, and became the most successful sire in American racing history
The early days of American horse racing were grueling. Four-mile races, run two or three times in succession, were the norm, rewarding horses who brandished the ideal combination of stamina and speed. The stallion Lexington, named after the city in Kentucky where he was born, possessed these winning qualities, which pioneering Americans prized.
Lexington shattered the world speed record for a four-mile race, showing a war-torn nation that the extraordinary was possible even in those perilous times. He would continue his winning career until deteriorating eyesight forced his retirement in 1855. But once his groundbreaking achievements as a racehorse ended, his role as a sire began. Horses from his bloodline won more money than the offspring of any other Thoroughbred—an annual success that led Lexington to be named America’s leading sire an unprecedented sixteen times.
Yet with the Civil War raging, Lexington’s years at a Kentucky stud farm were far from idyllic. Confederate soldiers ran amok, looting freely and kidnapping horses from the top stables. They soon focused on the prized Lexington and his valuable progeny.
Kim Wickens, a lawyer and dressage rider, became fascinated by this legendary horse when she learned that twelve of Thoroughbred racing’s thirteen Triple Crown winners descended from Lexington. Wickens spent years meticulously researching the horse and his legacy—and with Lexington, she presents an absorbing, exciting account that transports readers back to the raucous beginning of American horse racing and introduces them to the stallion at its heart.
BOOK REVIEW
I am a fan of the Triple Crown races and I was amazed that 12 of 13 Triple Crown winners can be traced back to Lexington. I definitely wanted to read his story. Lexington (originally named Darley) ran at a time when horses ran multiple four-mile heats, and while injured. It would be unheard of today. He passed his incredible stamina on to many Triple Crown winners, including Secretariat.
This book is a reminder that the modern-day racehorse is a descendant of war horses who rode fearlessly into battle. While today’s horse breeding is a pastime for the wealthy, and thoroughbreds are treated with great care, horses of the past worked hard and were constantly put in danger.
The contributions of the enslaved in pre-Civil War times are also explored. “Enslaved men and boys were the ones in the barns, riding the horses, feeding, medicating, and training.” In fact, Lexington’s first trainer was Harry Lewis, a formerly enslaved man who had been freed.
This book is meticulously researched and written with care. I especially enjoyed the story of how Lexington’s skeleton was rescued from an attic in the Smithsonian. Anyone who loves horses and racing will enjoy this book.
My rating is 4.35 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From Kim Wickens: “I first became aware of Lexington while reading a book about the racehorse Man o’ War. The authors compared his inspiring public appeal to Lexington’s. “Both horses,” wrote Page Cooper and Roger Treat, “had that indescribable quality of greatness which lifted those who saw them out of their ordinary lives and made them conscious that they had witnessed something that would stir their memories as long as they lived.” I wanted to know more about the nineteenth century horse.”
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie authors share their books with others. Marketing is a huge task for Indie authors, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do it. See below my review of Lion Scream, a wonderful book of poetry about African animals by Robbie Cheadle.
BOOK REVIEW
This book shares beautiful and sometimes sad poetry about African animals. It is also filled with facts about the treatment of some animals in the wild. The plight of the rhino, hunted for its horn, is one of the saddest parts of the book. The thought of a rhino weeping in pain after its horn has been cut off in the wild fills me with sadness. So does the fact that rhinos kept in wildlife preserves have to have their horns surgically removed for their own safety.
There are many intriguing facts about elephants in this book, and the poem Elephant Scare describes an encounter with a bull elephant and reminds us of his power. Content or Not is one of my favorite poems about elephants in this book. While it’s describing the power of an elephant, the main questions are: Does he know he is imprisoned, and does he care? I’ve often wondered this at the zoo. Do these animals long for their freedom every day or are they content with their immediate surroundings, created to mimic the real wild?
Wallowing describes an elephant wallowing in water and describes pure joy in the moment of doing something instinctive and pleasurable.
The section on Lions is most fascinating, and my favorite poem in that section is Colours of Africa, about a lion attacking a herd of zebras. It is so real I can see the Zebras panicking, watch the lion attack, and see the blood spraying off of their kill. It came home to me while reading it that while it was brutal it was also a completely natural description of African animal life.
Lion Scream is not only filled with poems and facts about endangered African animals. There are also links in the ebook to videos and articles relevant to the information provided. There are parts that will infuriate you, but this book will also make you appreciate the power and beauty of all wild animals, especially endangered animals, and it may inspire you to help protect them from extinction.
I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published thirteen children’s book and two poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
The ten Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews.
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!
Self-Published Saturday is my effort to highlight self-published and Indie books and help the authors with the daunting task of marketing. Below is a review of Framed, Book 2 in the Jax Diamond Mystery series by Gail Meath. I must disclose before you read the review that I edited this book.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Things get pretty sticky for PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, when their best friend, a cop, is framed for murder. And not just anyone’s murder. The victim is the fiancée of the most notorious gangster in the city, Orin Marino, Jax’s worst enemy.
Laura Graystone, the budding Broadway Star and Jax’s new squeeze, proves to be an ingenious partner as they sift through clues trying to find the real murderer. But when Jax is pinched for another crime, Laura and Ace are forced to go undercover.
Hang on to your seat as Jax, Laura and Ace take you on another crazy, whodunit ride during the Roaring Twenties. Where no one is who they seem, and those who do, aren’t. Anything goes during an era of fun and frolic, song and dance, speakeasies, gangsters, bootlegging, and bribes.
BOOK REVIEW
Jax, Laura, and Ace are back, and the adventure starts immediately when Jax’s best friend Tim, a cop, is framed for murder. Can Jax clear Tim’s name or will he go down too? Laura is on hand to help, and Ace is more involved than ever as they face off with Jax’s enemy Orin Marino and try to find the real killer.
These three characters are becoming so dear to me. Jax is smart, rough around the edges, and extremely loyal to his friends. Laura is a capable and multi-talented woman who refuses to sit in the background for her own safety. Ace is the smartest dog on the planet. All three of them together make the perfect team. The character development of secondary characters also shone in this one, as we got to learn more about the fiery Carla and her falsely accused cop husband Tim. The descriptions of the clubs and lounges of the 1920s transport us there instantly, and we learn how speakeasies worked in the time of prohibition. Ace was even more involved in this novel, and I adored it. He takes the book to greater heights and makes us all fall in love with him. The music of the era is highlighted, as Laura sings some of the great songs of the period.
Packed with mystery, history, and canine heroism, this book will keep you entertained and guessing until the end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Meath
Award-winning author Gail Meath writes historical romance novels that will whisk you away to another time and place in history where you will meet fascinating characters, both fictional and real, who will capture your heart and soul. Meath loves writing about little or unknown people, places and events in history, rather than relying on the typical stories and settings.
The subgenres of her books vary from action-packed westerns, plot twisting murder mysteries and biographies of powerful women who defied the strict rules of society fighting for the freedom of their countries. Her romances may exclude steamy sexual scenes, yet the intensity between heroine and hero will satisfy your deepest fantasies.
Outside of writing, she spends loads of time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!
Funny Farm is the best memoir I’ve read this year. Laurie Zaleski lived in a beautiful house and had a pretty bedroom and lots of toys until her parents split up. Her mother Annie moved them to a shack in the woods and struggled just to put food on the table. But then Annie brought home a dog–and then another. Eventually, chickens and horses joined the family. Pretty soon people were bringing them stray animals. And that was the early beginnings of the Funny Farm Animal Rescue. Zaleski tells a layered and fascinating story of how her mother had the courage to leave an abusive, but well-to-do and popular husband, and start life over with her children and many, many animals. The stories of the animals are interspersed throughout. Some chapters deal with Laurie’s family trials and her father’s vindictive revenge, while others tell beautiful stories of animals who became part of her family. But it is also a story of Zaleski’s life and how she succeeded in business, and then how she made The Funny Farm an official animal rescue.
This is everything you would want in a memoir–completely honest, fascinating, and heroic in more ways than one. It is easy to see in Zaleski’s life how she learned from the courage of her mother and was not afraid to take risks in business and in life. The love for the animals shines through on every page, and each animal rescue story touches the heart. The honesty is always there, whether Laurie is talking about her cruel father or her mother’s bad taste in men. There is humor, grief, love, and shock in these pages. I recommend everyone read the story of the Funny Farm. I guarantee an inspiring experience, and maybe a few tears. I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LAURIE ZALESKI is the founder of the Funny Farm, a charitable organization located in Mizpah, New Jersey. Since 2000, the farm has welcomed all kinds of rescue animals. Laurie is also the founder, president and CEO of Art-Z Graphics. She has been named a New Jersey Heartland Hero, is listed in the 2019 Who’s Who of Professional Women, and has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for her work to save animals and educate the public about animal abuse.
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