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She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
– Annie Dillard |
Join me in the wonderful world of words! Today's word is:
Nebbish Definition - a timid, meek, or ineffectual person
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Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: diAgio Publishing Publication Date: April 7, 2016 Format: ePub Pages: 348 Add to Goodreads About the Book
Bio-chemistry whiz Everly Jax wants one thing: to know who her parents are. Raised with other repo kids in InKubator 9, she has pinned her hopes on Reunion Day, the annual event where sixteen-year-olds can meet or reunite with their parents. When her Reunion Day goes horribly awry, she and her pregnant friend Halla escape the Kube, accompanied by their friend Wyck who has his own reasons for leaving.
In a world where rebuilding the population is critical to national survival, the Pragmatist government licenses all human reproduction, and decides who can--and must--have babies. The trio face feral dog packs, swamp threats, locust swarms, bounty hunters looking for "breeders," and more dangers as they race to Amerada's capital to find Halla's soldier boyfriend before the Prags can repo her baby and force the girls into surrogacy service. An unexpected encounter with Bulrush, an Underground Railroad for women fleeing to Outposts with their unlicensed babies, puts them in greater peril than ever. Everly must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to learn her biological identity--and deal with the unanticipated consequences of her decisions. Rating
Review
This story was really good, the only bad thing I could find about it was that it ended. Ha ha. This isn't like the other young adult dystopian stories out there and it was truly a refreshing read. The story itself hits pretty close to home. The threat of a pandemic flu, famine due to insects evolving to survive and governments regulating having children. Undocumented births are often separated from their families and either raised by another family or placed into Kubes where they are trained to be helpful to the outside world. Although the boys are often sent off to be a border guard and the girls are forced into enslaved surrogacy. The heroine, Everly Jax, is everything that a naive girl with a thirst for knowledge and freedom should be. Halla, her best friend, is also naive and only craves to be free because she is pregnant with her boyfriend's child and knows her child will be taken from her if the Prags find out. Wyck, Everly's friend and romantic interest just wishes to be free to escape becoming a border guard. However, Everly is quite the heroine. She has such depth and emotion, which I attribute to her past. She wasn't just some Kube baby. She is bright, sarcastic and strong. She absorbs her knowledge of the new world through new eyes and applies it carefully. "'Who are you and what are you doing in here?' I turn. It's a lab coated woman with wide set eyes behind thick-lensed glasses. I'm willing to bed she runs the labs. I decide on a version of the truth. 'I'm Everly Jax. I worked in the labs at Kube 9 and wanted to see what the set-up was here. I miss my work.' Her eyes are distorted behind thick lenses, giving her what I'm sure is an illusory air of vagueness. 'What were you working on?' It's a test question. I give her a lengthy explanation of how I was working to create a virus to wipe out the locusts." (page 169) I really enjoyed that the author made it pretty clear these kids are naive and they make pretty big mistakes but the need to survive was greater. Also, when they met up with Bulrush and it's people, it is pointed out that all the skills they learn took a lot of time. They trained daily for weeks. They were put to tasks that encouraged their skills to sharpen and they weren't expected to anything except protect each other. "'Okay,' I say. 'Teach me something.' 'Lesson one: be alert.' On the words, her leg comes up toward my face. I'm onto her tactics now, though, and I manage to duck away. I lunge for her, hoping to catch her off balance, but she swivels and kicks my legs out from under me with her other foot." (Page 167) It will be interesting to see where Everly goes from here. How Bulrush and its members survive. Whether Halla has her baby and finds her boyfriend. Where Wyck goes from here on. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a different take on a young adult dystopian. Where to BuyAbout the Author
via Goodreads
I'm the author of the Swift Investigations, Mall Cop and Readaholics mystery series.
After twenty years as an Air Force intelligence officer – serving as a squadron commander, with the National Reconnaissance Office, and at a fighter wing – I retired to parenting and writing full-time. Spying was easier. Connect with LauraGenre: Psychological suspense, Coming of Age Publisher: World Castle Publishing Publication Date: January 15, 2018 Pages: 240 Add to Goodreads About the Book
On the surface, it looks like Paul Callahan has it all. The family, the house, the job. But nothing is ever as perfect as it seems, and when a college friend contacts Paul out of the blue, he finds himself reliving his first year of college, when everything went so right, and then so very wrong.
Testament is a story of friendship and love and of the terrible evil people are capable of doing to one another. It is the story of a man doing his best to move forward, but struggling with an emotional anchor latched firmly in the past. But more than anything, it is a story about redemption and the unfathomable workings of the human heart. Where to Buy
Interview
L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
MD: I'm an English teacher at a small private school in North Carolina. My wife and I have two little girls and basically live the harried lives of professional people with kids. Originally, I'm from Philadelphia, but I went to college in Ohio, grad school in Maine, and then moved to North Carolina almost two decades ago, so I've been around. Most of what I write is horror and suspense, but this new book has a lot to do with my college years. L: Who or what inspired you to be an author? MD: It's just always been there. I was a voracious reader as a kid, and because my mom was a horror junkie, I got into some pretty crazy books when I was young. Eventually I realized that I did pretty well with words, so I started trying to produce my own stuff when I was in college. It just kind of went from there. L: Who or what inspired your novel? MD: I guess is was inspired by my own need to write about college, which I had never done before, and by the need to say some things about the relationships I formed while I was there. L: What would you say is the genre of your novel? MD: That's actually a really hard question to answer. With my other books, it would be easy--Supernatural thriller. With this one, I'd have to say it best fits into the categories of psychological suspense and coming-of-age. L: Why did you pick this/these genre(s)? MD: I didn't, at least no consciously, but I know myself well enough to understand I'll always write somewhere in the fields of "dark" or "speculative" fiction. L: How did you develop your plot and characters? MD: Paul, the main character, is somewhat a stand-in for me, not so much in his actions (because all of that is pure fabrication), but in terms of the way he reacts to things, etc. The other two main characters, Lucy and Roscoe, are amalgamations of people I knew crossed with elements of my own creation. L: Who or what inspired your protagonist? MD: In some ways, my old college roommate; in other ways, I have no idea. L: Who or what inspired your antagonist? MD: Crappy parents everywhere. I wanted to say something about the terrible consequences bad parents inflict upon their children. L: What was the most difficult part to write in the book? MD: The ending. Endings are always hard. Beginnings and middles are like a party--it's fun and easy, pure creation. Endings are heavy.
L: What was your favourite part of your book to write?
MD: The parts about college--it was fun to reminisce. L: Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write? MD: Part time. I also teach English. L: What are you currently reading? MD: Lots of Jo Nesbo novels. Once I get rolling, it's hard to stop until I've completed a series. L: What are some of your favourite books or authors? MD: Stephen King, Clive Barker, Tana French, John Sandford, James Lee Burke. L: What are your future projects, if any? MD: I'm working on my fourth book right now. It's a novel about a freak blizzard in Western Maine and how the people in a small town deal with it. L: What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books? MD: Goodreads and Facebook are great. www.goodreads.com/author/show/15094461.Mark_P_Dunn www.facebook.com/markpdunnauthor/ L: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? MD: Read, read, read. Once you find what you love, start writing stories. Once you do that, just have fun and see where it goes. Join me in the wonderful world of words! Today's word is inspired by a word I played in Words with Friends playing with my best friend.
Azoth- 1 : mercury regarded by alchemists as the first principle of metals 2 : the universal remedy of Paracelsus Quite an interesting word. Genre: Post-apocalyptic, Horror, Zombies Publication Date: September 29, 2017 Pages:362 Add to Goodreads About the Book
Melbourne, 2052, two years since The Fall.
A wave of infection, the Jackson Virus, has swept the world, leaving in its wake a terrifying apocalyptic wasteland populated by wild cleanskin survivor groups and the ravenous, infected night predators – the jacks. In this nightmare landscape, one of the last remaining sanctuaries is Kulin Wallcom, a community enclosed by a 10-metre wall patrolled by what’s left of the military. The wallcoms are the last remaining bastions of defence and security in a world gone over the edge. But the people of Kulin can’t stay behind their wall forever. Recovery expert, John Bradley, is part of a major operation into the wasteland looking to not only ensure the survival of Kulin by bringing back critical supplies from the abandoned Southstone Supermall, but, more crucially, to also locate and extract the only person left who may be able to reverse the tide of infection. However, the mission faces danger at every turn. It seems to be compromised from the inside, Southstone is thought to be an impossible target overrun with infected, and wasteland survivor bands, led by the psychopathic wasteland leader, the Headhunter, are bent on making sure the operation has to fight each step of the way to get back to the wallcom before nightfall. Because that’s when the jacks come out. And they will find you. Welcome to the world of The Fall. My Rating
Review
There is something about zombie novels that is such a simple, easy read for me. Even though authors spend all this time creating complex worlds where the dead come to life, I just get right into them. It's almost like a palate cleanser for me.
However Conversion is different. What a world to live in. Hot, dry, desolate and zombies. Damn. What a scary mix, honestly. A flu wiped up the planet and there were only a few left, struggling to eke out an existence and survive. Some were inside walls and some lived outside, doing whatever they could to survive or find their place on the food chain. It was a very "Mad Max: Thunder Dome" feel mixed with "I am Legend". All the different views and characters were complex but what I really enjoyed was that the jacks and jills had their own complex characteristics. The author explained the jacks and jills own insight and how they lived. They reminded me, actually, of the creatures in I am Legend. The pale, favouring dark places and stayed in packs with an alpha to lead them. They hunted at night. Each alpha had their own personality as well, and they seemed to recall their past as well. It was really fascinating. I enjoyed the wallcom situations and the strategy of the teams, and the bad guy was clearly absolutely certifiably insane. Near the end, I was actually wondering if the people who this person talked to were real or if they were part of the person's psyche fragmenting from all the horrors of the world. I definitely recommend this book for all the horror fanatics out there! Where to Buy
About the Author
S.T. Campitelli is a first-time author, The Fall his first book. He hasn’t won any awards and he isn’t a best-selling author… yet.
He is an educationalist by profession and has continuing addictions to both movies and reading with a clear bent towards the post-apocalyptic, Scandinavian crime, and historical fiction and non-fiction. He lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his family, and he is neither waiting nor prepared for the impending Apocalypse. Connect with S.T.
Publisher: Imajin Books Publication Date: December 1, 2017 Pages: 254 Add to Goodreads About the Book
A stolen piece of history, an abducted actress and international intrigue…
When the Derringer pistol that shot Abraham Lincoln is stolen and ends up in the hands of a Russian military general, covert agent Blake Deco is tasked by the FBI to head to the Balkans to recover the historical weapon. Meanwhile, the United States media is abuzz with news of the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen. After Blake’s return from overseas, he receives a tip from a Mexican friend that a drug lord, obsessed with the beautiful actress, is holding her captive in Tijuana. With the help of a reluctant army friend, Blake mounts a daring rescue. What he doesn’t expect is to have feelings for Goldie—or that a killer is hunting them. Where to Buy
Interview
L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
KT: I was born and raised in Singapore. I began my career as a magazine journalist before switching to the dark side; I became a public relations practitioner. My work has taken me to various parts of the world, covering travel-related stories. I also spent some years in Cairo, Egypt working for a magazine. I have written three novels (thrillers) to date. L: Who or what inspired you to be an author? KT: I have always had an interest in story telling for as long as I can remember. I think you are born to be one. Let's just say I was always more excited to write a school essay than do a math homework. Who inspired me? I'd say the works of other authors and people I've met in real life who one way or another contributed to the experience - both good and bad. L: Who or what inspired your novel? KT: Gun Kiss is my third novel, and it was inspired by a blonde Hollywood actress. On the first day I went jogging I found it difficult to sleep was both my legs were aching. Unable to sleep, I watched an old movie with this particular actress. And then, suddenly, an idea came to me to write a story about the Hollywood scene but with lots of action and a splash of romance. And so Gun Kiss came to be. [To the actress, if you're reading this Q&A, which I hope you are, here's a BIG Thank you for the inspiration) L: What would you say is the genre of your novel? KT: Suspense/Thriller with a splash of Romance. Readers can expect a bit of everything in this novel. L: Why did you pick this/these genre(s)? KT: I like the unexpected with lots of twists and excitement. So I thought this would be the most suitable genre to delve in. It's also the first time I'm injecting romance into the novel as I've never done it before. But don't expect a lovey-dovey story - it's a suspense/thriller, after all... although the scenes are both exotic and glamorous and in some instances funny before resuming to exhilaration. L: How did you develop your plot and characters? KT: You know, I've heard people say they'll write a book once they get an inspiration. I've got bad news; it doesn't happen that way. You have to write no matter what...and as you write, you'll discover the plot coming to you naturally. At least that's how I operate. Some authors may plan their story, but I can't do that. Like Bruce Lee said, "Be like water," so I go with the flow. However, that said, I might bumped into someone or stumble at a place that might give me an idea for a story, and in this case, it was an old movie as I mentioned previously. Even so, that doesn't necessary spell a novel. So, I'll take note of current issues around the world and I'll pick a theme or two to include in the story. The war on drugs and the Hollywood scandals were all incorporated into Gun Kiss, topped with the ongoing nuisance every famous celeb faces with the paparazzi. I've based some characters on people I've met, taking ideas from conversation, observing them or it could be a fleeting moment even. I tend to study characters from various angles then incorporate them into a character. As a former reporter, I've met some movie stars and celebs in real life, which helped in creating that image. Then, everything else is like playing Ken and Barbie. Dress them up and create a scene... and action! L: Who or what inspired your protagonist? KT: You know, I didn't want your typical protagonist. Usually, it's a secret agent or a soldier or some university professor or scientist. I wanted a protagonist where readers can see the different stages of his life in terms of his career and attitude toward things. So I created a character who was an ex-soldier, a failed screenwriter who dabbles as a relic hunter while managing a taco restaurant at the same time. Since Gun Kiss has a Hollywood theme, I gave my protagonist a cool taco restaurant at Sunset Boulevard. In trying to keep the business going, he takes up a part-time job with the Homeland Security where he recovers stolen ostentatious and historical items for a reward. L: Who or what inspired your antagonist? KT: The war on drugs is ongoing. I don't want to mention the person's name or he might send people after me even it's just an inspiration, not based on real life character. Still, you never know. L: What was the most difficult part to write in the book? KT: If you hate doing house chores, imagine what it feels like for a writer to do fact-checking and research. It can be fun when the information is forthcoming, but when you can't extract the information that you need in a short time and end up spending more time trying to get it, you will feel the pain. In Gun Kiss, I had to fact-check some of the FBI procedures as well as US embassy protocol in the even of an unpleasant situation. It took time, I can tell you that. L: What was your favourite part of your book to write? KT: I want to write a sequel. Does that answer the question? I love every scene in the story. Since there's a movie star in the story, you can expect all those nice places. I enjoyed describing cafes, parties, locations and famous monuments. Of course, the characters were a delight to write about. For that reason, I just must bring them back!
L: Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
KT: I am a full time writer. L: What are you currently reading? KT: I have a long TBR list on my Kindle. I haven't started yet, but I will... L: What are some of your favourite books or authors? KT: I have no particular favorites. I love them all. If I pick up a book and I enjoy the first chapter, I'll just continue reading it. Past and present authors, all genres - I'll read them all. L: What are your future projects, if any? KT: I'm presently working on a murder-mystery set in South Australia. L: What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books? KT: www.khaledtalibthriller.com or https://www.facebook.com/khaled.talib/ L: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? KT: Don't. Give. Up. Remember the deaf frog? Genre: Young Adult/Adult Publisher: Entrada Publishing Publication Date: October 11, 2016 Pages: 272 Add to Goodreads About the Book
Henry Wolff regularly climbs out of his upstairs bedroom window. The neighbors think it strange that a grown man enjoys a Tarzan like swing from the roof, but then again, they all think Henry is a little strange. Recently widowed, Henry is an emotionally challenged father being sued by his daughter for financial control of the estate. Henry must prove he is normal - not an easy thing to do when you are not. Henry is different, not quite normal, not quite special. Rumors explaining his behavior run from PTSD in Vietnam to losing his son to SIDS. But Henry has a special gift. In a town divided by the have and have-nots, Henry alone can inspire and touch even the most jaded lost soul. But when tragedy strikes, can he unite his own family?
Interview
L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
RG: I love horseracing. In fact, in the ‘70s I went down to “Belmont Racetrack” and took Super-8 movies of the “Belmont Stakes” whenever there was a possibility of a Triple Crown winner. That means I have Secretariat , Seattle Slew and Affirmed all winning the Belmont Stakes from a point of view no one has except me. You can’t begin to appreciate it until you see the 4-minute i-movie I put together which you can see at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH3jAVCWL70. I'm retired and have written 11 screenplays, a couple of novels - ditto for stage plays, blah, blah. L: Who or what inspired you to be an author? RG: I guess I’d have to journey back to 5th grade to explain why the ability express oneself with ‘words’ is such a big part of my life now. Our teacher had us read a book and write a synopsis or book report on it. These one-page ‘synopsis’ would then be graded as if it were a ‘contest’. That's when I discovered the flap -- a brief outline from the publisher, those beautifully written words that perfectly captured the emotions and the essence of the story. For a 5th grade boy trying desperately to rise from the sleepy world of his imagination, I did a despicable thing. I used the flap in writing the synopsis, paraphrasing as best as a fifth grader could, and submitted the paper into the contest. As fate would have it, I won the competition. I was embarrassed, humbled at receiving an award I didn't deserve. That day was the beginning of my writing career where a little flame burned in my soul to be able to express myself with some degree of grace where I would never have to rely on someone else’s words to express how ‘I’ felt. L: Who or what inspired your novel? RG: My recent book took years of the story-line and character arc to percolate in my brain, and I mean years. The germ of an idea was conceived the moment I saw Peter Sellers in the movie “Being There” maybe 25 years ago. L: What would you say is the genre of your novel? RG: YA - contemporary. L: Why did you pick this/these genre(s)? RG: Because of the main character ... Henry is as wacky as they come. Wacky usually means young - or young at heart. L: How did you develop your plot and characters? RG: The plot is from the movie "Being There" and the main character, Henry, was from Peter Sellers of the same movie. All the other characters were inspired by my passion to bring out personality traits of Henry which could only be done by having characters who brought the worst and best out of our hero. L: Who or what inspired your protagonist? RG: Peter Sellers. L: Who or what inspired your antagonist? RG: Family members. L: What was the most difficult part to write in the book? RG: The conflict with Henry and his daughter. I hate conflicts and I mostly had to say, "How would I want to act" under the same circumstances. Wanting to act a certain way is not the same thing as predicting what I would do. Unfortunately. L: What was your favourite part of your book to write? RG: Getting Dixie drunk at the bar-restaurant.
L: Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
RG: Both. When I'm writing I usually have 10-12 hour days. When I'm not writing, I'm revising. And when I'm not writing or revising, I'm marketing. L: What are you currently reading? RG: I'm reading a lot of newspaper and magazine stuff. I'm not reading any novels at this time. L: What are some of your favourite books or authors? RG: Catch-22; classics, like "Tale of Two Cities", etc. L: What are your future projects, if any? RG: Actually, one non-fiction book I wrote (Fillossofee: Messages from a Grandfather) needs a follow-up. I’m thinking on writing volume II. Volume I came from the desire to inspire my progeny with the disciplines that inspired me (math, sciences, computer, philosophy, etc.) The title says it all. Half of my children (including grandchildren and great-grandchildren) are terribly invested in social networking. One was actually billed for 13,000 text messages one month, while another can’t respond to the query ‘who is Copernicus’. I type 120 words a minute at the keyboard. Both of these children put me to shame with just two thumbs. Go ahead and stand by the Sears or Macy entrances and look at the next 20 people who enter and who are under the age of 30 years. I’ll bet you half of them who are walking into the store are doing something on their cell phones … talking, texting … something. Social media is dictating how our progeny see the world. I believe it’s not good. L: What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books? Please provide links. RG: [email protected] L: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? RG: I guess I’ll just say don’t think you’re going to be a success because you wrote something that is good. If the motivating force behind your writing is money or fame, then I hope you’re a “Truman Capote” kind of writer. I don’t know if this is true, but I once heard he said, “I never wrote anything I didn’t get published.” I wish that was true of my writing, but it’s not. Just beware: few people make money in writing, unless you’re a journalist. I must hang on to what Derek Jeter, the famous baseball player, once said. “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Also, I’m reminded, occasionally, what Michael Jordon once said. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed 26 times. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” So take encouragement in learning from the best. That is, heed the rejection slips – take what you need and throw out the rest. Learn from them. You’ll need that process to grow as a writer. And take heed from Sheldon Cooper’s mother whose wisdom can always be measured in her statement, “… and that’s your opinion.” Genre: Romance, Supernatural, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: October 26, 2017 Pages: 234 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads About the Book
Clara has been chosen and her fate will be fulfilled.
Clara Evans’ needs a fresh start. Exhausted from the taunts of her classmates and the neglect of her careless foster parents, she is counting down the days until graduation when she can move away and leave her miserable life behind. When swoon-worthy Jay Woods transfers to Ford High School, Clara’s eyes are opened to a universe she never knew existed. As the life she once knew shatters and ancient secrets are revealed, Clara must learn to control her newfound powers while defeating a raging darkness that will change the world forever. Could “The Freak” from Ford High be the key to saving the human race? My Rating
2.75 Stars
My Review
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This concept of a story has been done more times than I can count. This had so much potential if it had been refined more.
Clara, as a main character, is pretty cliche. The orphaned child with negligent foster parents, kids who hate her at school, she has one friend and then the attraction of the cute boy who seems to know her best friend. Before the boy, mind you, the story dragged painfully. With the boy, the story sped up way too fast and I was lost a couple of times. I thought it might have been a malfunction in my eReader but it wasn't. Suddenly! Clara is humanities only hope against dark forces. She has to learn to wield her powers and be able to defend herself with all levels of combat in a matter of weeks. Uh, no. This is not the Matrix. Fighting and knowing how to defend yourself takes time. The rest of the people in the story had been training since they were children. But Clara was able to take them down. Unless her powers involved fast learning of fighting and strength. She also faced a lot of trials during learning to fight and learning her powers, which made the story veer off into too many scenarios, I found. And then the cliff hanger. The weird cliff hanger that ended the story. Honestly, if the author had taken her time and refined her story, edited some ideas out and kept with the original story line, this would have been awesome. But maybe I'm just picky about these stories and hope they can expand on the concept more. Where to Buy
About the Author
Lauren Chow was born in Oxnard, California and raised in Marlton, New Jersey. Lauren has always enjoyed reading and was inspired to write her own stories with encouragement from her friends. She secretly started writing her junior year at Cherokee High School and decided to go public with her writing in 2017. Lauren is eighteen years old and enjoys art and social science. Lauren continues to write as she attends California Lutheran University to become an art therapist.
Connect with Lauren
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"The cosmos is within us. We are all made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself." - Carl Sagan Archives
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