It’s Release Day for 19 Doors, a short story collection featuring a wide variety of genres. A book description, purchase link, and author bio are all below. I will provide a review at a later date.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
From the author of Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel, shortlisted by the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 19 Doors ranges far and wide, diving into magical realism and science fiction, then adding a dash of steampunk and surrealism for extra flavor. The collection ricochets from the poignant to the comically absurd, each short story a work of imaginative fiction.
• A community remembers the lives they have yet to live. • An intergalactic tour bus arrives in Hollywood … Montana. • A shopping network super-fan relives every infomercial scenario he watches. • The first sentient being in the universe applies for a job as a sous chef. • A preternatural wind comes to collect a long-owed debt.
Through 19 Doors, we are immersed in the unraveling lives of characters who are just like us and nothing like us. Whether they succeed or succumb, conform or rebel, we are treated to a compilation of stories that are frequently fraught, often fun, and always fantastic.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
**The author’s bios are so funny that I found two and added them both:
The story of Rob Roy O’Keefe’s birth goes that he was born in the same Irish cottage as his grandfather and in the same year, which led to a time paradox so cataclysmic that he would never finish th–Fortunately, the truth is much different. Turns out he was not born in a cottage or in Ireland, but in a Howard Johnson’s in Bayonne, which may explain his lifelong habit of ending each day with 28 flavors of ice cream.
In his twenties, he went through a period of crisis and self-doubt upon learning he was not named after a Scottish folk hero, but rather a mixed drink featuring scotch whisky and sweet vermouth. Years of counseling eventually enabled him to resume his place in society. That, and the realization that his siblings, Mojito, Daiquiri, and Gimlet, had it much worse than he did.
Rob made his way in the world as the inventor of several nonexistent colors and is living a life of leisure thanks to the royalty checks he receives for creating the descriptive names found on garden hose nozzles. His favorite is “Mist.”
Rob Roy O’Keefe was raised in the Antarctic by a colony of emperor penguins, which explains both his love of fish and his intense anxiety when in the company of sea lions. At the age of 12 he left to go on walkabout, but upon learning that Australia was over 3,000 miles away, he took the more expedient route from Cape Melville, Antarctica to South America’s Cape Horn.
He wandered north through the Andes, accumulated an abundance of practical knowledge, such as how to convince a hungry condor that you are not carrion. He eventually stumbled upon the hut of an Incan shaman who took him on as an apprentice. After a decade of immersion into the mysteries of the unseen world, Rob departed, fully prepared for his eventual success in the fields of pizza delivery, local politics, and brand consulting.
Today, Rob resides in New England’s Merrimack Valley, where he lives in a tree house made of Good Humor popsicle sticks held together by the discarded dreams of retired sailors.
Indie Spotlight is my attempt to help Indie authors with the daunting task of marketing. It’s the biggest job they have and I am happy to help. You can help too by sharing this with all of your social media followers. Below is a book description, author bio, and book review of Wildcard by Gail Meath
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Niagara Falls, 1923. Traveling out of the city isn’t PI Jax Diamond’s cup of tea, but when he and Laura along with their courageous companion, Ace, head to Niagara Falls on their honeymoon, they’re on cloud nine. That is, until Jax carries his new bride over the threshold, and there’s a corpse in their bed that looks to have been there since the dawn of time.
A ten-year-old unsolved murder sets off a string of others with victims plunging to their deaths over the falls, and all the evidence is pointing to nightclub owner and their good pal, Orin Marino, as the killer.
Jax, Laura, Ace, and friends risk their lives trying to solve a crazy riddle and stop a killer before the next victim takes the plunge. But every step forward sends them two steps back. It’s a wild and crazy ride with twists, turns, and belly flops in this fun and fast-paced 1920s cozy thriller.
Easily reads as a standalone.
BOOK REVIEW
In this eighth book of the Jax Diamond series, Jax and Laura’s honeymoon in Niagara Falls takes an unexpected turn when they find out their good friend Orin Marino is in town, and then that he is accused of murder. Jax and Laura immediately start to investigate with the help of a wealthy hotel owner, their clever German Shepherd, Ace, and their friends Tim and Carla. When another body turns up, things get more confusing than ever.
Orin has long been my favorite character, so I was thrilled to see a book with him on the cover, and to get a peek at his backstory right away. The mystery is full of twists and turns, and I did not see the end coming. The story is engaging and will keep you guessing the whole time. Orin, always a great friend to Jax, Laura, Tim, and Carla, is suddenly in need of a friend himself, and they all drop everything to come to his aid. I loved the mystery, Orin’s determination to protect his friends, and, of course, Ace’s contributions as well. Cozy mystery lovers will enjoy this book. It can be read as a standalone. I also recommend the whole series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, a fun 1920s series about wise-cracking PI Jax Diamond, his courageous German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Broadway star Laura Graystone, as they, along with a crazy group of friends, solve some of the toughest crimes in New York City. She is alternating that series with her new 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood mysteries series, Stone & Steele, starring Vivian Steele, a widow seeking justice, and Preston Stone, a playboy vigilante.
In both series, the author challenges readers to identify the villains before she reveals them:)
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.
* Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read each book in the series for free.
* All books in this series can be read as standalones.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you read the book, please be sure and leave a review on Amazon. It helps Indie authors so much. A review does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a sentence or two about how the book made you feel will make an author’s day and help their books succeed.
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.
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.
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.
In the unforgiving heart of the Old West, the peaceful lives of frontier settlers are in turmoil as the vengeful figure known as Shadow Hawk strikes under cover, spreading darkness.
His brutal campaign, marked by Bible verses foretelling divine retribution, leaves fear in his wake as he seeks to settle a long-buried score.
Amid the rising terror, Josh and Amy must face yet another ruthless threat—a relentless pursuer bent on taking Josh’s life. Their trials deepen when a devastating grasshopper swarm ravages their land, leaving their livelihood at stake.
Desperate to protect her family’s future, Amy pins her hopes on a legendary treasure—the fabled Jesuit gold, a prize that could pay for her younger brother’s education back East and provide for her ailing father. Together, Josh and Amy must conquer foes both human and natural to reclaim peace and secure a brighter future
BOOK REVIEW
This is the second book in the Devil’s Mountain Dames series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with Book One for the full effect.. The setting, Devil’s Mountain, appears to be fictitious, and the book doesn’t really pin down its location, except it’s in the “Old West.” The exact year the book takes place is not specifically defined either, as far as I can tell, but it appears to have been fairly soon after the Civil War.
The main characters are easy to connect with, and the mysteries are compelling and certainly held my attention. The author easily weaves significant events into the story–the Jesuit-connected treasure search, the Shadowhawk mystery, a devastating grasshopper plague, and more. The struggles of life on the frontier are definitely well portrayed, and I did feel transported there. The cast of characters at the Broken Horseshoe Ranch is a group of folks I would enjoy visiting again. The villain is certainly worthy of the title, and surprises await. I love seeing new series’ in the Western genre, and I recommend that readers check it out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janey Clarke writes charming, witty, cosy mysteries. From septuagenarian shenanigans in Cornwall to the intrigue of Regency-era whodunits and now to her newest venture into the rugged drama of the Wild West. When not plotting her next twist or researching historical details, she can be found exploring the stunning Jurassic Coast in Dorset with her loyal spaniel by her side. With a passion for tea, old books, and well-timed humour, Janey Clarke creates stories she hopes will whisk readers away to delightful worlds where solving a mystery is always the order of the day. And always solved by a feisty heroine! Visit her at http://www.janeyclarke.com to learn more about her books.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is Authors who live in your state: I’ve revised it a bit to include any authors who have lived in my state. They don’t have to be there now, and they don’t have to be alive. I’m living in North Carolina now, and won’t move again, so I’m focusing on authors who have lived in North Carolina. Many of them live or have lived in Western NC, where I now live and where my mother was born and raised.
Here’s a beautiful mountain view in Western NC:
Credit to AmazingAsheville.net for some of the information in the following list.
Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938) was born in Asheville at 92 Woodfin Street. His father carved gravestones, and his mother ran a boarding house at 48 Spruce Street, where Wolfe lived until he went to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina. After finishing at Chapel Hill in 1920, he went to Harvard to study playwriting. Wolfe’s first and arguably best novel, Look Homeward, Angel, is autobiographical. Eugene Gant is Wolfe, and scores of the many characters in the novel are thinly disguised real people in Asheville, which in the novel is called Altamont. Later Wolfe called Asheville Libya Hill. Many in Asheville took issue with the book and its author, and Wolfe did not return to Asheville until near his death at age 37. Of the town’s reaction to Wolfe’s first book, Wilma Dykeman wrote, “With the usual perverseness of humanity, the people of Asheville did not seem shocked at much of the deceit and folly and wickedness and waste that Wolfe found – they were shocked only that he exposed it.”
Horace Kephart: Horace Kephart (1862-1931) is best known for Our Southern Highlanders, his 1913 study of mountain people in Western North Carolina.. Born in Pennsylvania, he came to Western North Carolina in 1904 and lived in Hazel Creek, Bryson City,and Dillsboro. He was instrumental in establishing the national park in the Smokies and in creating the route for the Appalachian Trail.
Charles Frazier (1950 – Present) Frazier was born in Asheville. Possibly his most successful book was Cold Mountain, which won the National Book Award and was made into a movie in 2003. Thirteen Moons (2006), also set in Western North Carolina, traces the story of a white man’s involvement with the Cherokee Indians in the early 19th century.
Jan Karon (1937-), born in Lenoir, retired from advertising and began writing when living in Blowing Rock, the setting (as the mountain town of Mitford) of the successful Mitford series, which began with 1994’s At Home in Mitford. Karon now lives on a farm in Virginia.
Caroline Miller (1903-1992), a Georgia native, lived for several years in Waynesville, NC. Her 1933 novel, Lamb in His Bosom, won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Billy Graham (1918-2018), world-renowned Christian evangelist, whose home was in Montreat, published more than 30 books on religion, salvation, and relationship with God.
His wife, Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007), was author or co-author of 14 books, including volumes of poetry and personal recollections.
Nicholas Sparks (1965 – Present) lives in New Bern, NC, and has set some of his books there, including possibly his most famous novel, The Notebook.
Ann B. Ross (1936 – Present) was born in Hendersonville, NC. She is a NY Times best-selling author of the Miss Julia series, which includes more than 20 books.
Carl Sandburg (1878 – 1967) – lived in Flat Rock, NC from 1945 until his death in 1967. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for poetry (Cornhuskers and Complete Poems, 1951) and one for history (Abraham Lincoln: The War Years).
That’ s my top 10! How about you? Which authors whose works you admire or enjoy have lived in your state?
*This is a review I did for the May issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. It was selected as an Editor’s Choice.
In 11th-century Alba (Scotland), young Gruach, the future Lady Macbeth, is sent away from her family to apprentice with a Pict healer. Five-year-old Macbeth is sent from the house of his father, the Mormaer of Moray, to the royal court of his grandfather, King Malcolm II. He comes of age alongside his foster brother, Duncan. While Macbeth is educated to be a leader, Gruach is taught healing arts and Pict traditions, and then summoned back to Malcolm’s court, where she is soon given away in marriage. The journey of the Macbeths is not the famed and false one of Shakespeare, but a mixture of both their true and imagined place in Scotland’s history. This is the first book in the Alba series.
This intriguing novel creates a glimpse of the little-known childhoods of Gruach and Macbeth. Gruach is shown in a much more sympathetic and factual light than in Shakespeare’s play. There are three points of view—Macbeth, Gruach, and a fictional poet, Lapwing. The three witches of Macbeth are replaced in this novel by three spiritual belief systems—Pict, Celtic, and Christian. Gruach’s Pict spiritual experiences are fascinating, and Lapwing still speaks of the Celtic gods, although Christianity is taking over.
The backstabbing politics of a royal court make a compelling read. Macbeth’s journey to becoming Mormaer of Moray will lead him to Gruach. She is married to the cruel, violent, and abusive Gillecomgan. As her brother Nechtan says to Macbeth, “My sister Daimhin—Gruach—know that she is no wife to Gillecomgan, but a hostage, and pregnant.” The novel ends, but not the story, as there will be a second book coming. The writing is beautiful, lyrical, and descriptive, and it captures the period perfectly. To say this book is well-researched is an understatement. Highly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From Amazon and Her Website)
Valerie Nieman
“Upon the Corner of the Moon” is the story of the Macbeths you’ve never known: Destined to unite Scotland, they first had to survive childhoods as pawns in a dynastic struggle.
Previous novels include “Dead Hand,” a sequel for “To the Bones,” a blend of paranormal mystery, romantic suspense, with the distinctive tang of Appalachia along with Irish lore. It has some very dark elements but overall rather spritely, I think. (“To the Bones” was shortlisted for both the Manly Wade Wellman Award and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award.) “In the Lonely Backwater” was honored with the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for the best book of fiction by a North Carolina writer. It draws on all the people I’ve been — a reporter, a farmer, a sailor, a teacher, and always, a walker and observer. It’s an official International Pulpwood Queens Book Club pick, won the Mystery/Suspense category prize from American Writing Awards, and was a finalist at Forewords INDIES.
Another recent title, “Leopard Lady: A Life in Verse,” is set in a mid-century carnival and features poems that appeared in The Missouri Review, Chautauqua, and other journals. More than 15 years of writing — and a week of study at Coney Island Museum — went into telling the story of Dinah and The Professor.
I have held grants from the NEA, and the North Carolina and West Virginia arts councils. I earned degrees from West Virginia University and Queens University of Charlotte and worked as a reporter in coal country and a writing professor at NC A&T State University.
I know it’s Wednesday, but I couldn’t post yesterday, so here’s Top Ten Tuesday a day late. Below are ten books that surprised me.
Version 1.0.0
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green: The reason this one surprised me is that this was Amy Lynn Green’s debut novel, and it was completely epistolary (comprised of letters, articles, and other written communications). It was so well done!
The Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber: This was the first book I read by Heather Webber, and I discovered she writes wonderful small-town fiction with a touch of magical realism. What shocked me was she had already written 25 books and I’d never discovered her before.
The Thin Place by C.D. Major: This one surprised me because sadly there really is a place in the world where dogs inexplicably jump to their deaths.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg: The ending surprised me, as it did a lot of people.
A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver: I was pretty tired of WWII novels, but this is about a safe-cracking criminal family that helped British Intelligence during the war, so surprisingly I found myself reading another WWII novel.
The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee: This is so well written, and again set during WWII, but in the Philippines, and I learned a lot of shocking things about what went on there during the war.
The Exchange by John Grisham: Sadly, this one surprised me because it was so bad. It was supposed to be a sequel to THE FIRM, but it felt like Mitch McDeere was added into a totally unrelated novel just to make some sales.
Horse Show by Jess Bowers: This one is shocking and surprising. This is a collection of short stories, many about how horses were abused and neglected, such as in circuses, on movie sets, and even in the military.
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor: Everyone who reads this blog knows Jodi is my favorite author. But what you may not know is that she didn’t publish her first book until she was 60. That was when she self-published the first book of The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series. She is now a best-sellling author with a major publisher. I bought this book for 99 cents when it came out because I like time travel fiction. I had no idea I was going to read a series that would become like an old friend.
The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor: I read this one just because Jodi Taylor was the author. It isn’t Time Travel, so I was skeptical. What it is is a fantasy about how a young girl’s life was saved by a magical golden horse. And it’s so good that I like it just as much as St. Mary’s. That’s what surprised me.
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