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More Than A Soldier

4/28/2017

3 Comments

 
More Than a Soldier, based on a true story is Angelo DiMarco’s powerful story of survival, 
resilience and courage.



Book Details:

Book Title: More Than a Soldier: One Army Ranger's Daring Escape From the Nazis
Author: D.M. Annechino
Category: Adult Fiction, 316 pages
Genre: Historical Biography, WWII
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release date: April 2017
Tour dates: April 24 to May 19, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (A few four-letter words and violence associated with war)

Book Description:

Feeling a patriotic duty to defend his country after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, seventeen year old, Angelo J. DiMarco, enlists in the U.S. Army. Severely short of frontline fighters, the Army rushes Angelo through Ranger training and sends him to Italy as part of the 1st Ranger Battalion. Their objective: stop the German invasion.

Fighting on the front lines in Italy, the German’s teach Angelo a sobering lesson on life when they capture him during the bloody battle of Cisterna. Against insurmountable odds, Angelo miraculously escapes in a way that stretches the imagination. He survives behind enemy lines for over five months, hiding from the Germans and trying to outmaneuver them. He begs for food, sleeps in barns and suffers from many ailments, including dehydration, malnutrition, malaria and exposure to the elements.

More Than a Soldier is Angelo DiMarco’s powerful story of survival, resilience and courage.


Buy the Book: 

Amazon
Add to Goodreads


Praise for More Than a Soldier:

Annechino colorfully draws the actions scenes, and richly brings the supporting cast of characters to life. A moving tale of survival in war-torn Europe.
- Kirkus Reviews

Nuanced and eloquently written, More Than a Soldier adds to the body of WWII literature an extraordinary story of survival and a deeply affecting portrait of a soldier’s coming-of-age.
- The iRead Review

Meet the Author:


Daniel M. Annechino, a former book editor, wrote his first book, How to Buy the Most Car for the Least Money, while working as a General Manager in the automobile business. But his passion had always been fiction, particularly thrillers. He spent two years researching serial killers before finally penning his gripping and memorable debut novel They Never Die Quietly. He has written and published five novels—all thrillers. But his latest work, More Than a Soldier, is a Historical Biography set in Italy during WWII.

A native of New York, Annechino now lives in San Diego with his wife, Jennifer. He loves to cook, enjoys a glass of vintage wine, and spends lots of leisure time on the warm beaches of Southern California.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR:

April 24 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
April 24 - Puddletown Reviews - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 25 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
April 26 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 27 - Books, Dreams, Life - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 28 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 28 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - book spotlight
May 1 - My Reading Journeys - book spotlight / giveaway
May 2 - Il Mio Tesoro - book spotlight / guest post
May 2 - Leels Loves Books - book spotlight
May 3 - fundinmental - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 4 - A Soccer Mom's Book Blog - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 4 - T's Stuff - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 4 - Writers and Authors - guest post
May 5 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - book spotlight / guest post
May 7 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight / giveaway
May 8 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book spotlight / giveaway
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May 9 - Kristin's Novel Cafe - book spotlight / author interview
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May 11 - Books for Books - book spotlight
May 12 - Celticlady's Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
May 12 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 15 - The Autistic Gamer - book spotlight
May 16 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 17 - Blooming with Books - book spotlight / giveaway
May 18 - Lukten av Trykksverte - book spotlight / giveaway
May 19 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / giveaway


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A Guest Post By: DM Annechino
Cruel and Unusual

 
The appreciation of any art form is highly subjective. Whether it’s novel writing, film making, music, sculpting, painting, or singing, everyone has a different opinion. To borrow a cliché, “One person’s junk is another’s treasure.” As a writer, I painfully understand that not all of my readers will be big fans. In fact, some will absolutely hate everything about my novels. There has never been a writer who escaped the harsh words of critics. Not one.
 
I truly appreciate constructive criticism. In fact, I gain more from negative feedback than I do from kudos. I can’t really grow as a writer by reading 5-Star reviews. But when a reader points out a flaw in the plot, a technical fault, or a continuity issue, I can learn from that criticism and improve my writing.
 
The one thing that puzzles me is why a critic chooses to be downright malicious. Some of the reader reviews I’ve read for my novels just tear my heart out. When an author spends thousands of hours writing a novel, designing a plot, crafting sub-plots, creating interesting characters, and going through a comprehensive editorial process, why would anyone derive pleasure from slamming the author in a brutal way?
 
If my writing sucks to a particular reader, it sucks. But there are hundreds of ways to convey the same criticism without resorting to personal attacks or mean-spirited comments. Referring to They Never Die Quietly, one reader said, “This has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. It is filled with clichés and the writing is sophomoric at best. Overall, the writing is terrible. It is what one would expect from a freshman who is taking his first creative writing class.” Hey Mr. Reviewer, don’t walk on eggshells. Tell me what you really think!
 
If there is any truth to the adage, “Misery loves company,” then I’m proud to be part of a really elite group because William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Stephen King, and even J.K. Rowling have gotten their share of crappy reviews. Guess I’ll spend less time licking my wounds and more time writing.  
 
 
3 Comments

The Promise of Pierson Orchard

4/26/2017

8 Comments

 
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About The Promise of Pierson Orchard
  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing (April 22, 2017)

  • Long before fracking ever came to Minden, Pennsylvania, the fissures in the Pierson family were developing into major fault lines.
Green Energy arrives, offering the rural community of Minden the dream of making more money from their land by leasing natural gas rights for drilling. But orchardist, Jack Pierson, fears his brother, Wade, who now works for Green Energy, has returned to town after a twenty-year absence so desperate to be the hero that he’ll blind their hometown to the potential dangers. Jack also worries his brother will try to rekindle his relationship with LeeAnn, Jack’s wife, who’s recently left him. To protect his hometown and to fulfill a promise to himself, Jack seeks out his mother and environmental lawyer, Stella Brantley, who abandoned Minden–and Jack and Wade–many, many years ago.

“Brandes checks off all the boxes for quality fiction: the characters are well-rounded, the settings, such as the apple orchards, the crisp Silver Creek, and the rocky outcrops, are vividly described, and the plot is well-organized and crisply paced. The tension between the characters satisfyingly rises to a crescendo that’s in sync with the larger environmental crisis that threatens the town.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS
.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review: 
Jack's family life began crumbling early in his childhood.  When Jack and his brother Wade were four and five years old, Jack's mother walked out on the family due to severe depression.  Later in his youth, their father died in a hunting accident.  Not long after that, Wade disappears. Jack is left to run their apple orchard by himself.  Jack marries a neighbor, LeeAnn and after eight years of infertility, their marriage falls apart.  Then, Wade returns along with his new job at Green Energy with hopes to reconcile his past and help out the town.  Wade is selling land leases for Green Energy to frack for natural gas in the abundant shale deposits of his hometown of Minden, Pennsylvania.  The quick money is a big draw for many of the families and businesses who have seen their town dwindle since the coal companies left.  However, Jack is worried about the effects of fracking on the land, his orchard and LeeAnn's organic apple trees.  He makes the decision to call in his mother, Stella, now an acclaimed environmental lawyer to get some perspective on the issue.  With Wade, Jack and Stella all back together there will be more be more explosions than just the hydraulic fracturing.

As an environmental scientist, I appreciate pertinent environmental issues featured in contemporary fiction. The Promise of Pierson Orchard expertly incorporates the slowly leaking and infiltrating toxins of the hydraulic fracturing with the disassembling relationships within Jack's family.  The characters are definitely the focus of the story.  The writing switching between the point-of-view of Jack, Wade, LeeAnn and Stella giving an intimate look into each character's back story and reasoning, making it easy to see everyone's beliefs and why they were convinced they were doing the right thing.  The shorter chapters also made for quick reading and a build of suspense as secrets were revealed.  I was most impressed with the author's ability to come up with a compromise solution for the town and the hydraulic fracturing.  While the dangers of fracking and its many consequences are highlighted, Stella's character is able to come up with a solution that includes fracking done a better way in order to help the community and family that she left behind.  With a heart-pounding and surprising ending, The Promise of Pierson Orchard provides an engaging and thoughtful read.

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review. 


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​About Kate Brandes
​An environmental scientist with 20 years of experience, Kate Brandes is also a watercolor painter and a writer of women’s fiction with an environmental bent. Her short stories have been published in The Binnacle, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Grey Sparrow Journal. Kate is a member of the Arts Community of Easton (ACE), the Lehigh Art Alliance, Artsbridge, the Pennwriters, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Kate lives in a small town along the Delaware River with her husband, David, and their two sons. When she’s not working, she’s outside on the river or chasing wild flowers.
Connect with Kate
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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8 Comments

Middle South

4/21/2017

1 Comment

 
On a hilarious journey that takes Layla from the Southeast to the Middle East and back, she finds out a little more about herself and what she is looking for in life and in love.



Book Details:

Book Title: Middle South by Maya Nessouli Abboushi
Category: Adult Fiction, 215 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Lanier Press
Release date: March 8, 2017
Tour dates: April 17 to May 5, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13


Book Description:

Layla has recently moved out of her parents’ home in the Atlanta suburbs and into an apartment in the city to assert her independence. Between her job as a feature writer for a small newspaper and her social life, Layla has little time to think about marriage and children, much to the dismay of her Lebanese parents.

On a hilarious journey that takes Layla from the Southeast to the Middle East and back, she finds out a little more about herself and what she is looking for in life and in love.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ BookLogix
Add on Goodreads


Meet the Author:


Maya Nessouli Abboushi is a Lebanese American born and raised in the United States. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.

Connect with the author: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram



Guest Post

By: Maya Abboushi

What I Learned from Writing Middle South



Writing Middle South made me realize that I am capable of more than I thought. A lot of people have come up to me and said, “I’ve always wanted to write a novel.” I was one of those people. The truth is, if you want to be a writer, start writing. Keep a diary every night, or jot down ideas as they come to you, or log your travels. Sometimes you don't need a plan. Just sit down at your computer and start writing.

I have learned that writing is indeed a process. Over the years, I must have read Middle South a hundred times and edited it as much. The more you go through it, the better the book gets. A first draft is the first of many. That’s why it’s important to just start writing because you can always go back and edit.

I find the more I read, the better writer I become. Authors and their works inspire me. I recommend reading different genres—memoir, fiction, fantasy. They all serve to expand your palate, so to speak.

The one thing I would have done differently when writing Middle South is I wouldn’t have let my insecurities get to me. They caused me to put it away millions of times because I thought it wasn’t good enough. I would get writer’s block and use it as an excuse to close my computer and ignore it for a few months. I would have made Middle South a priority, just like everything else I consider important in my life.



BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:

April 17 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
April 17 - Kristin's Novel Cafe - book spotlight / guest post
April 17 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
April 17 - Corinne Rodrigues - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 18 - T's Stuff - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 18 - Discovering/Writing Life - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 19 - 411 on Books, Authors and Publishing News - book spotlight / guest post / gw
April 19 - The World As I See It - book spotlight / giveaway
April 19 - Books, Dreams, Life - book spotlight / guest post
April 20 - Puddletown Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 20 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
April 21 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 21 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight / giveaway
April 24 - Celticlady's Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
April 24 - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
April 25 - Elsie's Audiobook Digest - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 25 - The Autistic Gamer - book spotlight
April 26 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 26 - Lukten av Trykksverte - book spotlight / giveaway
April 27 - Zerina Blossom's Books - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 28 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 1 - Spines in a Line - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 2 - Books for Books - book spotlight
May 3 - Savvy Verse & Wit - book spotlight / giveaway
May 4 - The All Night Library - book spotlight
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May 5 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - book spotlight / giveaway


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Lilli De Jong

4/20/2017

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Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton



Publication Date: May 16, 2017

Nan A. Talese

Hardcover & eBook; 352 Pages

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Literary



 

 

READ AN EXCERPT. A young woman finds the most powerful love of her life when she gives birth at an institution for unwed mothers in 1883 Philadelphia. She is told she must give up her daughter to avoid lifelong poverty and shame. But she chooses to keep her.

Pregnant, left behind by her lover, and banished from her Quaker home and teaching position, Lilli de Jong enters a home for wronged women to deliver her child. She is stunned at how much her infant needs her and at how quickly their bond overtakes her heart. Mothers in her position face disabling prejudice, which is why most give up their newborns. But Lilli can’t accept such an outcome. Instead, she braves moral condemnation and financial ruin in a quest to keep herself and her baby alive.

Confiding their story to her diary as it unfolds, Lilli takes readers from an impoverished charity to a wealthy family's home to the streets of a burgeoning American city. Drawing on rich history, Lilli de Jong is both an intimate portrait of loves lost and found and a testament to the work of mothers. "So little is permissible for a woman," writes Lilli, “yet on her back every human climbs to adulthood.”

Available for Pre-Order at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iTunes | IndieBound | Kobo | Powell's



Praise for Lilli de Jong

"Lilli de Jong, discharged from her teaching job and banished from Quaker meetings because of her father's selfish choice, finds comfort in the affections of her father's apprentice, Johan. The night before he leaves to embark on a new life, she succumbs to his embrace with his promise that he will send for her. Soon thereafter, a pregnant Lilli finds herself shunned and alone, her only option a Philadelphia charity for wronged women. Knowing that she must relinquish her newborn, she is unprepared for the love that she feels for her daughter. Lilli quickly decides to fight to keep her, but in 1883 that means a life of hardship and deprivation. Telling Lilli's story in diary form, debut author Benton has written a captivating, page-turning, and well-researched novel about the power of a mother's love and the stark reality of the choices she must make. VERDICT A great choice for book clubs and readers of Geraldine Brooks." - Library Journal, Starred Review

“A powerful, authentic voice for a generation of women whose struggles were erased from history—a heart-smashing debut that completely satisfies.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

“Beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and psychologically astute, Lilli de Jong is the story of an unwed mother in late 19th-century Philadelphia who, facing peril at every turn, will do almost anything to keep her daughter alive. Benton turns a laser eye to her subject, exposing the sanctimony, hypocrisies, and pervasive sexism that kept women confined and unequal in the Victorian era—and that still bedevil many women today. A gripping read.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and A Piece of the World

“A stunning ode to motherhood. Lilli de Jong reminds us that there is no formula to being a good mother. Love is the essential ingredient, and only it gives everlasting life to our legacies. A debut of robust heart that will stay with me for a very long time.” —Sarah McCoy, author of The Mapmaker’s Children

“Janet Benton’s remarkable novel Lilli de Jong is historical fiction that transcends the genre and recalls a past world so thoroughly that it breathes upon the page. From the first sentence, Lilli’s sensitive, observant, determined voice casts an irresistible spell. Benton combines rich, carefully researched detail with an imaginative boldness that is a joy to behold—though reader, be warned: Lilli’s story may break your heart.” —Valerie Martin, author of The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

“[A] gorgeously written debut . . . Lilli’s fight to craft her own life and nurture her bond with her baby is both devastatingly relevant and achingly beautiful. A stunning read about the fierceness of love triumphing over a rigid society.” —Caroline Leavitt, author of Is This Tomorrow

“The trials Lilli undertakes to keep her baby are heart-rending, and it's a testament to Benton's skill as a writer that the reader cannot help but bear witness. In a style reminiscent of Geraldine Brooks, she seamlessly weaves accurate historical detail as well as disturbing societal norms into the protagonist's struggles . . . An absorbing debut from a writer to watch.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A heartrending debut . . . Benton’s exacting research fuels Lilli’s passionate, authentic voice that is ‘as strong as a hand on a drum . . . that pounds its urgent messages across a distance’ . . . Lilli’s inspiring power and touching determination are timeless.” —Publishers Weekly

“A harrowing look at the strictures of nineteenth-century American society. . . . [Lilli] is a full-fledged heroine, persevering despite seemingly insurmountable odds. . . her voice is distinctive, her fierceness driven by a mother’s love.” —Booklist

“I loved this novel. Lilli de Jong is deeply moving and richly imagined, both tragic and joyous. Janet Benton has an exceptional ability to bring history to life . . . It's not only a compelling, beautifully crafted historical novel, however: it's also important . . . Lilli's life-and-death struggle is shockingly common to women even today.” —Sandra Gulland, author of the internationally bestselling Josephine B. Trilogy

“Writing with a historical eye akin to Geraldine Brooks and incisive prose matching that of Anthony Doerr, debut novelist Janet Benton magically weaves a gripping narrative of hardship, redemption, and hope while illuminating a portrait of little-known history. The result is an unforgettable and important reflection on the maternal and, ultimately, the human bond. Stunning!” —Pam Jenoff, author of The Kommandant’s Girl

“A confident debut . . . Sentence by carefully-crafted sentence, Benton ensnares the reader.” —The Millions

About the Author



Janet Benton’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Glimmer Train, and many other publications. She has co-written and edited historical documentaries for television. She holds a B.A. in religious studies from Oberlin College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and for decades she has taught writing and helped individuals and organizations craft their stories. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Lilli de Jong is her first novel.

Visit Janet Benton's website for more information and updates. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, April 17 Bookfever

Tuesday, April 18 So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 19 Luxury Reading

Thursday, April 20 100 Pages a Day The Never-Ending Book

Friday, April 21 A Book Geek Caryn, The Book Whisperer

Saturday, April 22 History From a Woman's Perspective

Monday, April 24 Creating Herstory

Tuesday, April 25 The Book Junkie Reads

Wednesday, April 26 SJ2B House of Books

Thursday, April 27 A Fold in the Spine One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Friday, April 28 Just One More Chapter

Monday, May 1 Back Porchervations

Tuesday, May 2 Books & Benches Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, May 3 The Lit Bitch Unabridged Chick

Thursday, May 4 Beth's Book Nook Blog

Friday, May 5 Brooke Blogs Trisha Jenn Reads

Sunday, May 7 A Dream within a Dream

Monday, May 8 Book Nerd

Tuesday, May 9 Broken Teepee The True Book Addict

Wednesday, May 10 What Is That Book About

Thursday, May 11 CelticLady's Reviews

Friday, May 12 A Literary Vacation

Monday, May 15 Passages to the Past

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The Mourning Ring

4/19/2017

0 Comments

 
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About the Book: 
​The Mourning Ring
by Sarah Parke
​Publication Date: October 10, 2016
CreateSpace
eBook & Paperback; 350 Pages
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fantasy


READ AN EXCERPT.

Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Bronte lives to tell stories. She longs to improve her fortunes through her writing. Charlotte’s father expects her to leave behind her childish fantasies in order to set an example for her three younger siblings.
But the Bronte children hold a secret in their veins—a smidgen of fairy blood that can bring their words to life.
When Charlotte discovers that the characters from their childish stories exist in an alternate world called Glass Town, she jumps at the opportunity to be the heroine of her own tale.
The city of Angria teeters on the brink of civil war and Charlotte and her siblings must use their magic and their wits to save its people from a tyrant with magic abilities. But entering the fictional world means forfeiting control of their own creations. If they fail, the characters they have come to know and love will be destroyed.
Charlotte is determined to save the city and characters she loves, but when the line between creator and character becomes blurred, will she choose her fantasy or her family?

​
Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Review: 
As a young woman returning from school, 16 year old Charlotte Bronte can't wait to jump back into the make believe world of Glass Town and her favorite activity to share with her siblings, storytelling.  Together, the remaining Bronte siblings- Charlotte,  Branwell, Anne and Emily have created the alternate world of Glass Town and keep meticulous written records of the events there.  However, when a strange sleepwalking occurrence happens, a memory of Charlotte's meeting with her fairy grandfather and the strange gift he gave her resurfaces. The siblings begin to learn about their fairy bloodlines from their Aunt and attempt to learn the magic that has been brewing in their bones.  Meanwhile, things are not going well in the city of Angria in the sibling's alternate world.  Thanks to Branwell's imagination, there is a new King and a civil war is on the brink.  When the former King crosses worlds to ask for Charlotte's aid in retaking the throne, she is more than ready to cross realms and step into the world of their creation.


I have always wanted the chance to step into the worlds from certain books, and I would definitely take the opportunity to visit a world of my own creation and talk to the people there!  Aimed at young adults, but an absolute pleasure to read as an adult, The Mourning Ring is a  magical and whimsical story that serves as a wonderful introduction into the world of the highly imaginative and revered storytellers themselves, the Bronte's.  I was pleased to find out that the four siblings really did create these worlds in their youth and served as a start to the three sister's writing careers. With the addition of the fairy blood, the story was able to be brought into the fantasy world. The adventures in Glass Town were the highlight of the story, rich descriptions of the land, the dress and the characters that the Brontes loved made Glass Town just as real to me.  I was excited when each sibling had the chance to interact with the character of their making and had to come to terms with that character's features and flaws.  The trouble in Glass Town also parallels Branwell's future true-life troubles, however, in the story the siblings must work together to reinstate their former King Zamora and not become too entangled within the land of their own creation.  Overall, a unique look into the early lives of four extraordinary siblings and the creative process that fueled their imaginations. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 


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​About the Author

Sarah Parke writes fantasy and historical fiction (sometimes at the same time) for young adult readers and those young at heart.

She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast MFA program. Her work has been published internationally, most recently in the July 2015 issue of The Writer magazine.
​
For more information, please visit Sarah Parke’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

0 Comments

Mama Says, Money Don't Grow on Trees

4/18/2017

1 Comment

 
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About the Book: 
Globe Newswire reports that Dr. Iris Mack's mathematics edutainment book is "turning heads across the country in a response similar to the widely promoted 'Hooked on Phonics,' that improved children's reading skills." Her unique approach to math became one of Xlibris/Random House Publisher's top children's picture book royalty earners.

If there is one word that sums up our recent economic woes, it is interest. There’s interest on credit card balances, student loans, car loans, home mortgages, corporate borrowings and most prominently, on state and national debt. But there is surprisingly little interest in this interest. We all pay it. But not many of us really understand how it works. Dr. Iris Mack has filled the gap – and for young consumers.

Her financial literacy book “Mama Says Money Doesn't Grow on Trees!'' is focused on teaching students that math can be fun and key to understanding money and interest. In today’s world of subprime mortgage crises, bankruptcies, massive credit card debt and predatory lending, Dr. Mack's book is more relevant than ever. In “Mama Says Money Doesn't Grow on Trees!" a group of smart, animated characters explain how money and interest work, as young consumers are introduced to mathematics and financial literacy.
Professor Ø, Ms. Madonna Sorenson and Dr. Mackamatix lead students Al G Bro, Frakshun, Nada, Queen% and Material Girl Ma$ through a fun-filled math class all about how money and interest work in their everyday lives.

Learn more: MathQED TV

Praise for this book:

“I think the work you do showing how math can be beautiful and practical is great, keep it up!” says Javier Tordable, Senior Software Engineer at the Google Corporation.

“Making math fun and relevant is a real public service. Old fashioned, boring textbooks aren't the thing that will capture the imagination and engage our children in the fun and yes, joy, in math and problem solving. Iris Mack has created a group of characters and scenarios that will draw young people into the fold of knowledge.” says Karen Pritzker– Producer of The My Hero Project and Editor of The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity website.

Buy the Book:  Amazon

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About the Author: 
Iris Marie Mack, PhD, EMBA, earned a doctorate in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. She was also awarded a Sloan Fellowship Executive MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Mack worked at various energy and financial institutions, acted as a faculty member at MIT, and worked at NASA and AT&T Bell Labs – where she obtained a patent for research on optical fibers.

Dr. Mack currently lectures on Energy Trading and Risk Management for the Fitch Learning Certificate in Quantitative Finance Program on Wall Street and at Tulane University. Because of Dr. Mack's extensive knowledge of the derivatives, energy trading, and investment banking world, she has been invited to write opinion columns for the UK edition of the International Business Times.

Dr. Mack has also been named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 Working Women, and she is no novice writer. This publishing will be her third financially-focused and published book – including her energy trading book published with Wiley Finance and a financial literacy book for teens and adults. With this breadth of experience and sheer intellectual prowess, Dr. Mack is more than able to help readers reach the financial stability they deserve.

In addition, Dr. Mack founded The Global Energy Post and MathQED - a homework help site for K-12 and college students. Previously known as Phat Math, this service has even been named one of the Top 50 Social Sites for Educators and Academics, 25 Savvy Social Media Sites for Grad Students and 25 Useful Networking Sites for Grad Students. Such accolades illustrate Dr. Mack’s ability to clearly inform the masses.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook


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1 Comment

Beyond the Wild River

4/11/2017

0 Comments

 
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ABOUT THE BOOK: 
​
The day comes sooner than expected when Charles, prompted by a near-scandal between Evelyn and a servant, brings her on a business trip to New York City and the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Evelyn welcomes the chance to escape her cloistered life and see the world.
 
But a fishing expedition up the Nipigon River in Canada takes an unexpected turn when Evelyn discovers that their river guide is none other than James Douglas. Even more startling, her father betrays no shock, simply instructing Evelyn not to reveal their past connection with James to the rest of their party.
 
Evelyn never believed that James was guilty, but speculation about her father’s role in the killing has made her fearful. What is he hiding? As they travel deeper into the wilderness, and further from the constraints of polite society, the secrets and lies surrounding that night are finally stripped away, revealing the true natures of everyone in their party.
 
BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine
Atria Books Paperback | On-sale: April 18, 2017 | ISBN: 9781501126956 | 352 pages | $16.00
eBook: 9781501126970, $11.99

Review: 

Evelyn Ballantyre has grown up in a privileged but sheltered life on Ballantyre estate in the Scottish Borderlands in the 1890's.  Her father is a respected magistrate and has spent his life carefully building up his wealth and taking care of his holdings.  One choice Ballantyre has made was to take in a young man found poaching on his estate; James Douglas was given the role as a groom and became a companion to the younger Evelyn.  Years later, a hunting incident leaves an older poacher dead on Ballantyre grounds.  The poacher was James' friend from his youth.  The murder is pinned on James and he very nearly escapes.  Both Ballantyre and Evelyn know of his innocence; however Ballantyre has no evidence-yet and Evelyn is just simply confused. Five years after the murder Evelyn is whisked away with her father on a trip to North America where they travel around New York City, Chicago's World Fair and finally a camping and fishing trip up the Nipigon River.  On the Nipigon fate will take its turn to bring everyone together from the day of the murder on Ballantyre estate where the truth will finally come out, revenge will be served and past mistakes made right. 



Beyond the Wild River took a path much like a meandering river; beginning with a murder, then an extravagant trip dotted with flashbacks to Evelyn's time growing up at Ballantyre and an explosive ending with a waterfall.  It did take me a while to feel like I was taken into the story and it took me until about 30% of the way through to really get into it.  I'm not sure how much of the trip before arriving at the Nipigon was really necessary.  Once the mystery between Evelyn, Ballantyre, James and inadvertent guest Rupert Daltson begins to unravel, I had trouble putting the book down.  Much like the river rapids, the four travellers could not keep their memories about the night five years ago tucked away and their emotions soon bubbled over.  However, Ballantyre is a surprising force to be reckoned with and I was truly astonished at how he planned on resolving everything.  The characters also took me a little while to get to know; Evelyn and James were the main focus.  I really wanted to like Evelyn, however she was a little hard to identify with.  Evelyn eventually grew on me as she made her way camping and fishing in the wilderness.  James was the most thorough character and I did want to know more about his past.  I do wish that a little of James and Evelyn's future would have been revealed at the end.  Overall an interesting and intricate historical mystery that will take you from the upper class Scotting Borderlands to the wild Canadian rivers.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

PictureCredit: Susie McDonald at Brick Lane Studio
​ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Maine was born in England but grew up partly in Canada before returning to the United Kingdom, where she now lives. She is the author of The House Between Tides. Check her out at http://sarahmainebooks.com and www.twitter.com/SarahMaineBooks.

FIND SARAH MAINE ONLINE:
Website: http://sarahmainebooks.com/
Twitter: @SarahMaineBooks
Facebook: Sarah Maine - Author
 




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Energy Trading and Risk Management

4/7/2017

6 Comments

 
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About the Book: 
A comprehensive overview of trading and risk management in the energy markets

Energy Trading and Risk Management provides a comprehensive overview of global energy markets from one of the foremost authorities on energy derivatives and quantitative finance. With an approachable writing style, Iris Mack breaks down the three primary applications for energy derivatives markets – Risk Management, Speculation, and Investment Portfolio Diversification – in a way that hedge fund traders, consultants, and energy market participants can apply in their day to day trading activities.

  • Moving from the fundamentals of energy markets through simple and complex derivatives trading, hedging strategies, and industry-specific case studies, Dr. Mack walks readers through energy trading and risk management concepts at an instructive pace, supporting her explanations with real-world examples, illustrations, charts, and precise definitions of important and often-misunderstood terms.
  • From stochastic pricing models for exotic derivatives, to modern portfolio theory (MPT), energy portfolio management (EPM), to case studies dealing specifically with risk management challenges unique to wind and hydro-electric power, the bookguides readers through the complex world of energy trading and risk management to help investors, executives, and energy professionals ensure profitability and optimal risk mitigation in every market climate.
Energy Trading and Risk Management is a great resource to help grapple with the very interesting but oftentimes complex issues that arise in energy trading and risk management.

Buy the Book:   Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  

​

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About the Author: 
Iris Marie Mack, PhD, EMBA, earned a doctorate in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. She was also awarded a Sloan Fellowship Executive MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Mack worked at various energy and financial institutions, acted as a faculty member at MIT, and worked at NASA and AT&T Bell Labs – where she obtained a patent for research on optical fibers.

Dr. Mack currently lectures on Energy Trading and Risk Management for the Fitch Learning Certificate in Quantitative Finance Program on Wall Street and at Tulane University. Because of Dr. Mack's extensive knowledge of the derivatives, energy trading, and investment banking world, she has been invited to write opinion columns for the UK edition of the International Business Times.

Dr. Mack has also been named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 Working Women, and she is no novice writer. This publishing will be her third financially-focused and published book – including her energy trading book published with Wiley Finance and a financial literacy book for teens and adults. With this breadth of experience and sheer intellectual prowess, Dr. Mack is more than able to help readers reach the financial stability they deserve.

In addition, Dr. Mack founded The Global Energy Post and MathQED - a homework help site for K-12 and college students. Previously known as Phat Math, this service has even been named one of the Top 50 Social Sites for Educators and Academics, 25 Savvy Social Media Sites for Grad Students and 25 Useful Networking Sites for Grad Students. Such accolades illustrate Dr. Mack’s ability to clearly inform the masses.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

​

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Mama's Knight

4/7/2017

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About the Book: 
​Once upon a time . . . It’s how all heroes begin their story, and you’re a hero, too! Your mama has cancer, and it’s a scary journey, but you can help your mama just by being you—special, wonderful, YOU. Your mama loves you just the way you are. You are your mama’s knight.

Mama’s Knight: A Cancer Story of Love is an emotional toolbox that can help kids and parents communicate about what it means for Mama to have cancer. The book is filled with tools and activities designed to make coping with illness easier on both parent and child, and can be personalized for each child.

Buy the Book:  ​ Author's Website


Review:

Mama's Knight is an amazing and interactive book created especially for mothers who are battling cancer and have young children.  It is a unique combination of a story, scrapbook and activities that is completely customizable.  Mom's are able to fill in the child's name, their treatment plan and what will make them feel better and when read with their child, the child is turned into their mother's Knight and given all the empowerment to help their mom when they are not feeling their best.  Mama's Knight is written using clear, honest and simple language about cancer, the medicines used and its effects.  I love that children are encouraged to make a cape for themselves and mom to be superheroes, there is also an activity to discuss feelings and make a silly story.  There are sections for mom to fill in for 'Gag-Proof Recipes' and a special secret just for their child.  Overall, this is a book that promotes love and acceptance and is something to be cherished;  while I wish that it did not have to exist, Mama's Knight provides a wonderful tool for those warrior mama's with cancer and their brave children, no matter what the outcome. 

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Author: ​
Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired girl in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed Bloodmark, Bloodrealms, and Bloodmoon of the Bloodmark Saga trilogy and started her journey into children’s books with Mama’s Knight in honor of her own mother who lost her battle with cancer. She’s a national award-winning graphic designer and birth doula in her day jobs. Aurora lives with her family in Minnesota.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook


Guest Post: 
​There is no perfect. There is only now. 
By Aurora Whittet
                             
 
I have been writing stories since I was about eleven or twelve years old, and they were truly terrible, but at the time my friends loved them. My first novel, Bloodmark, was published when my son was nearly a year old. By age two he knew the books were mine sitting on the shelf, that I’d written them, even though I’m certain it only came up once or twice in conversation. At age four he helped me as I wrote Mama’s Knight: A Cancer Story of Love. I showed him every illustration and if he didn’t respond to it I did it again. Trying to make them perfect…but he often chose things I didn’t expect. He didn’t see the imperfection I saw. He saw something else in them, and those are the illustrations in the book.
 
He is now age five, and as I sit down to draw things for my children’s books, he sits down with me and draws pictures too. We have created art into a love language we share. One day while we were drawing monsters for an upcoming picture book I’m working on he drew his interpretation of the same monster I had drawn. When he was done, he asked if we could switch and color each other’s pictures. My first reaction was “eeggg-er-gagahhahad no!” I had just spent who knows how long drawing that particular monster, but when I looked in his eyes I saw how proud he was of his picture and how proud he was of mine.
 
I smiled and handed it over to him, knowing I’d have to redraw it later, but what did that matter. We live in the now.
 
 

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Misfortunes of T-Funk

4/4/2017

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 About the Book: 
 
April 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9987007-0-0
 
 
Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 146

 
 
An ensemble sets off on a dark comedy of errors and uncertain conclusions, featuring original music throughout the story.
 
Theo and Judah, two childhood friends, are trying desperately to find an audience for their hard-edged, “grunge” music as they move past their twenties and feel the need to establish careers. Together, they enroll in an unusual college, called The University of Jazz and Music Technology.
 
Attracted at first by the means within the school to professionally record their own original music, the two friends embark on what could be a lifelong journey.  But the endeavor has an alternate effect, as Theo begins to question his musical efforts with Judah.

Entanglements with co-eds quickly complicate matters. Theo and Judah hit as many rough spots as any amateur band may find along the way, including a disastrous mini-tour of the northwest during spring break. Little do they know, the misfortunes have just begun…
 

Review: 

Theo and Judah are long time friends and musicians. Together, they decided to go to a new and specialized University of Jazz and Music Technology.  They are studying different tracks, but still find time to come together to make the music that they like.  With the typical college distractions thrown in- girls, drink, drugs, part time jobs and finding their way in the music industry, Theo and Judah still find time to form a band and go on a small tour.  However, nothing seems to go quite right for the group and the misfortunes seem to take their toll.

This book provided a unique reading experience.  With any book that includes music or songs, I have always wished that I knew what they were supposed to sound like.  With Misfortunes of T-Funk, you get exactly that.  Reading the electronic version, the links are right in the book that you simply click to take you to the Soundcloud page where you can listen to the band's song. Even if you are reading the paper version, you can still go to the Soundcloud page to check out the songs.  This was a really awesome addition that let me know exactly what kind of music Theo and Judah were producing. The content of the book focuses on a different aspect of a musician's life, the intelligence, creativity, motivation, knowledge of audio production and of course, all the crap that can go wrong.  This is a really good look at the backstage portion of a musician's life.  As the wife of an audio engineer, it seemed about right to me.  Some of the college stuff got a little tedious for me, but did help to round out the characters a little more.  I perhaps didn't need to know about every single escapade unless it helped to carry the story along.  Overall, a different story about the not so glamorous side of the music industry.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Author:  
Barnaby Hazen is an author, editor and musician. Driven strongly by collaboration, it seems natural his first venture into writing began with a friend. Seven Eleven Stories periodical took shape in 2014 and just one year later, Seven Eleven Forgotten and Other Stories  debuted with a full-length collection featuring nine strange tales on convenience store fiction.
 
In 2017, Misfortunes of T-Funk, the first in a series, pulls directly from Hazen’s own life in music. Having been a lifelong, dedicated listener, teacher and performer, his latest novel incorporates his self-recorded and produced musical tracks directly into the chapters of his new novel. Hazen’s music illuminates his main characters and further elaborates on the story, creating a unique and personal soundtrack for readers of the book.
 
Having spent years as an educator, Barnaby’s time as an elementary school music teacher particularly inspired him to become involved with The Bud Hawthorne Revue.  He writes and edits the publication, along with Mr. Hawthorne himself, and is eager to continue offering contributions to literary culture given his unique perspective on writing. 

Hazen lives in Taos, New Mexico with his wife Sarah and their adorably troublesome pets.
 
 
 Stay current on all of his upcoming fiction at SevenElevenStories.com.
 
 
 
 
 
Website: SevenElevenStories.com
sevenelevenshortstories Author Barnaby HazenBarnaby Hazen Barnaby Hazen
​

​Q&A with Barnaby Hazen
 
Misfortunes of T-Funk really is all about the music. What inspired the story?
My past, really. I knew this story was brewing in me for years now. The different jobs I’ve worked and stories I’ve lived through in the name of keeping music my priority has been just outrageous, so it seemed natural to craft these stories about fictional characters informed by my own “misfortunes” and frustrations in what almost seems like a former life to me now.
 
 
There has to be a little of your own real life peppered in, right?
Yes. I made up these characters and put them through some stories that are made up, and
some that I have actually experienced, though I will keep those details close to my chest. My favorite part of having a ‘work of fiction’ disclaimer is that I can borrow them from my own life with no intention of ever returning to them. I like to say that maybe I’ll even forget those parts of the stories really happened. I’m getting older… it could happen.
 
 
I love the idea of incorporating music directly into your story, especially with your background. It’s such a unique idea! How did you come up with it?
I started thinking about where Theo, my main character, was headed musically right away -
meaning back around the year 2000, though I didn’t have a name for him then - but, I didn’t have much in mind for the vehicle to get him there.
 
I felt like I needed a different plan of some sort.  I don’t really remember the moment I thought to use recordings, but it seemed an unnecessarily difficult task to describe Theo’s experience with nothing but words.  It was when I decided to use these recordings that my second character, Judah, materialized. He sings each track from my own songwriting past throughout the book.
 
 
Which genres and artists from your own life influence the music in Misfortunes of T-Funk?
I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and other classic rock. I also went through a punk phase, along with another stretch where I was listening to rap and writing hooks for some of those rappers in a studio in Northern California.  Jazz was a favorite later on in life, which explains why I eventually obtained an MA in Jazz Composition. I think all of these various influences will be pretty apparent to readers/listeners of the book, though I’m sure some are more obvious than others.
 
And what can readers/listeners expect of the embedded music in each of the Misfortune books?
I’m hoping for 12-15 tracks incorporated across the entire series - which is suspiciously the length of a CD or full-length playlist. It’s something that’s ever-developing with the story itself, so I’m looking forward to seeing just how the entire thing plays out.
 
Being a musician yourself, what fascinates you most about the craft?
The strangest thing is how it’s changed for me. When I first started listening to music at the age of 12, someone gave me a tape of “The Wall” by Pink Floyd and I honestly thought there was a puzzle in it that would lead me to other things. I listened over and over and finally started buying other records, spending any money I came across on vinyl.  The fascination developed into studying music, singing and writing my own songs. It was all music, all the time - nothing else mattered.
 
Now, I play professionally in town (though only part time) and hardly listen to music except for on the radio, because they have local DJs playing all kinds of music that seems new to me.  What’s changed now is the role of music in my life. I make some money on it, and I find my spots where I have just as much fun as ever I did, but it’s no longer front and center.  That is a little sad to me, but things happen. There are kids in my life, younger and older, and I don’t have the burning desire to challenge the way people hear music that I did when I was in college.  Now, I’ll stay creative as it suits me; listen to weird radio shows that suit me; maybe turn myself on to something new every once in awhile and leave it at that. It’s definitely a happier way to live, rather than out on the edge of the world, desperate to put my work in front of anyone. 
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    Hi there! I'm Stephanie and I obviously love reading.  As, the title suggests, I read at least one hundred pages a day.  I enjoy most book genres; however, my favorites are historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, horror and YA.  I also read a lot of non-fiction science and gardening books for my occupation.  I enjoy reviewing books and as always, any book that I receive for free is read in return for my honest review.  

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