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The Devil Pulls the Strings
The Devil Pulls the Strings is a dark fantasy novel with the pulse of a supernatural thriller and the sweep of an adventure story. It follows Boone Daniels, a Missouri musician and Ren Faire jouster who has spent twelve years trying to prove that his parents did not simply vanish, but were taken by something monstrous and tied to cursed Paganini music. When Boone is pulled from his small-town life into New York, secret societies, occult history, Slavic myth, and a dangerous search involving three pieces of forbidden music, the book turns into a chase through music, memory, grief, and fate.
The author writes like he wants every chapter to move, and they do. Boone’s voice has an authentic roughness that makes the story feel immediate, especially because the novel leans into his synesthesia, eidetic memory, panic, and stubborn need to be believed. That choice gives the book its identity. Music isn’t just background here. It becomes texture, pressure, color, taste, and threat. I liked that a lot. It makes the fantasy feel embodied instead of decorative. At times, the novel throws a huge amount at the reader, with lore, organizations, artifacts, and side characters arriving fast, but I also think that abundance is part of its charm. It feels like opening a big old trunk and finding it packed with strange objects, scraps of legend, and one more story than you expected.
The mix of themes is bold. Slavic mythology, Paganini lore, fairy tale logic, secret archives, vampire assassins, Renaissance fairs, and a hero from a trailer park should not fit together this smoothly, and yet a surprising amount of it does because Boone is such a sincere center of gravity. He’s bruised, funny, desperate, and often overwhelmed, which gives the story heart. The romance thread with Sapphire and the idea of cursed music could have tipped into melodrama, but the book usually keeps itself grounded by returning to Boone’s grief and his need to make sense of what happened when he was six. That gave the bigger fantasy machinery some emotional weight. I was especially interested in how the novel treats talent as both a gift and a burden. Music opens doors here, but it also asks for blood.
I would recommend this most to readers who enjoy genre fiction that is earnest, busy, imaginative, and unafraid to go big. If you like dark fantasy, occult thrillers, myth-soaked adventures, or stories where music itself becomes dangerous, there is a lot here to enjoy. I think readers who want ultra-minimal prose or a very restrained plot may not click with it in the same way. But readers who are happy to follow a wounded, sharp-edged hero into a world of cursed art, hidden histories, and supernatural conflict will probably have a very good time with this one. It feels like a book written by someone who loves stories enough to pack in everything that fascinates him.
Pages: 252 | ISBN : 978-1736401309
Keep a Young Heart
A Pirate’s Life for Me! A Pirate’s Life Indeed! follows a pirate-obsessed boy who is swept into a world of ghostly dangers, strange creatures, and pirate lore. What drew you to pirates as a subject for a middle-grade adventure?
Growing up, I always loved adventure. Watching old movies like Treasure Island. I loved the idea of going on adventures in search of buried treasure! Sailing the high seas on a pirate ship, seeing the skull and crossbones on the Jolly Roger flying high atop the ship’s crow’s nest! Who wouldn’t as a young boy? I’m 58 now. I still feel the same way as I did when I was 9 years old. I always believed that if you keep a young heart in life, you will stay young in spirit. I guess I have. The romance of pirates still excites me to this day. I wrote this book for myself. I never dreamed in a million years it would ever get published. Especially after working on it for the past 30 years. This is a book for all ages, not just middle school children. It’s an epic! A “TOME”! It is purposely very descriptive with narration. 25 plus characters created! I wanted ALL readers to be drawn into the story. The smells, the sounds, the sights. I wrote this with the intention that if you closed your eyes and had someone read the story to you, it’s like you are actually there, tagging along with the main character, Thomas Patch, and his crew as they go on this incredible adventurous journey in search of Blackbeard’s lost treasure of gold! The pirate genre for kids, in many ways, has disappeared in the novel story sense. I want kids and people of all ages to turn off the TV, put the cell phone down, and walk away from their computers. I really hope they will pick up this book and get lost in the pirate world. It’s all about imagination, which I think has been missing in the pirate genre since the passing of the legendary Robert Louis Stevenson, my literary inspiration!
Pirate slang, asides, and exaggeration are everywhere. How did you decide how far to push the humor without overwhelming the story?
To be honest, I just went where my imagination took me. My mind over the last thirty years opened up as I would physically write. This EPIC book of 978 pages just happened to turn out like that? Every word, song I created, the rhyming clues I put as poems on treasure maps throughout the book for the readers to follow along with Thomas Patch in the story, re-writing Who’s On First in the books chapter called, ‘WHO’S ON DECK”, to pay homage to my comedic heroes Abbott and Costello…everything has its place in the story. What is written on the page is what came out of my head as my imagination opened at that specific time. I wanted to create a story that was fun for readers, so I pushed the creativeness, narration, and imagination full speed ahead! Because that was my vision.
Do you see the book as saying something about growing up, even within all its wild fantasy?
Absolutely! Although Thomas Patch, the main character in the story is only nine, he is far advanced beyond his years. He comes from a very small, quaint little town called Schooner Bay Cove. Tucked away somewhere along the Eastern seaboard. The story takes place in the year 1718. Blackbeard’s legendary reign. All Thomas Patch wants to do is be a pirate! He dreams of it! He has no fear sneaking aboard The Dirty Cutthroat in a barrel of apples in the story! He has no fear of sailing the high seas in an old rickety rowboat! He has no fear coming face to face with a crew of dirty, rotten, cutthroat pirates! He has no fear setting out on an incredible adventurous journey with Simon, Stix, Tubby, Wellington, and Robear in search of Blackbeard’s lost treasure of gold! He follows his heart always throughout the story! Thomas Patch lives by a code….”ALWAYS REMEMBER TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT….GOOD AND TRUE”! He learned that from his father, Courageous Patch, in the book! Although this book is about seeking out thrills, dangers, and adventure, it’s the emotional decency of the main character, Thomas Patch, that hopefully shines through. His ability at nine to be so brave, to show no fear, to follow his heart, to do what’s right…good and true is quite remarkable to say the least. Even at nine, Thomas Patch proves time and time again that he can make real-life decisions and choices under pressure. His wisdom speaks volumes throughout the entire story. Thomas Patch may have left Schooner Bay Cove as a nine-year-old boy. By the time Thomas Patch makes his return home at the end of the story, he has become a man……More than a man…THOMAS PATCH IS A REAL PIRATE!
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
That’s a very good question. It’s also a very hard question to answer. I worked on this book for 30 years! I went through four typewriters and 3 computers. Why? I typed so much I couldn’t see the letters anymore on the keys! I worked on it on every weekend, vacation, and any free time. The loss of my father and mother was devastating. I put this book in my drawer and left it there. One day, I took it back out. Why? This is going to sound crazy. I thought I owed it to the 25 characters I created to bring them all to life. I never dreamed someone would like my writing. Let alone help me self-publish my book. The story is rock solid. Not because I wrote it, but because it says something! It makes sense! I believe the wording and flow of the book to be beautiful! The characters are funny and wonderful. THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT ME! It has always been about the story and what it represents. I always said that if just one person liked my writing, I was blessed. Well, if the feedback relating to my book being a number one best seller in 23 countries simultaneously in CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE MARITIME PIRATE GENRE are true? If the labeling of me as the successor to the legendary Robert Louis Stevenson and my book as the Treasure Island of the 21st Century in professional trade catalogs like Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Waterstones in the UK is in fact true, I am beyond humbled, honored, and extraordinarily blessed. In that regard, let’s see how the book does. There is room for another book! I can’t give away the title. It’s brewing? The question is whether or not readers want another book? It’s up to them, really. I wrote this book seeing it on the BIG SCREEN AS AN ANIMATED MOVIE! I would love it if Pixar, DreamWorks, or Mr. Spielberg would reach out and say, “LET’S DO THIS”! I believe it has the makings of a great animated film! To God’s ears. Time will tell. Until then, thank you for giving me the time to do this interview! It’s been my honor and real pleasure. My name is Christopher David James, and my book is called A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ME! A PIRATE’S LIFE INDEED! Happy reading, everyone!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Have ye ever wondered what it would be like to sail the high seas aboard a real pirate ship? Do ye want to know if pirates actually walk around with parrots/crows on their shoulders, drool, cuss, womp, burp, drink rum, sing songs of the sea, eat fish gruel stew, walk the plank, or walk around on peg legs? Have ye ever wanted to search for buried treasure? Have I grabbed your attention yet? Good! Very good! Then I just have one more question for ye mates: Have ye ever wondered what it would be like to be a pirate? If ye answered yes to this question and it’s thrills, danger, and heart-pounding adventure ye has been searching for, then look no further! Boy, do I have a story for ye!
A Pirate’s Life for Me: A Pirate’s Life Indeed is about a nine-year-old boy who wants nothing more than to be a pirate! That nine-year-old boy’s name is Thomas Patch! If ye thinks ye has the moxie, then tag along with Thomas Patch on his thrilling, heart-pounding, adventurous journey in search of Blackbeard’s lost treasure of gold! In the story, Thomas Patch comes face-to-face with Scar! The dirtiest, rotten, cutthroat pirate to have ever sailed the high sea! Scar captains a crew of highly dysfunctional pirates! They are far from being dirty or rotten to say the least! Accompanying Thomas Patch on his amazing journey in search of Blackbeard’s lost treasure of gold are two funny, dysfunctional pirates from Scar’s crew known as Stix and Tubby; a talking sea turtle named Simon who just loves to surf and drink Pirate Pop Cola and speaks seven languages; Wellington, Simon’s trusted guardian; and a crotchety and cranky old crow named Robear who wears pajamas and loves to watch Steinfeld! I have come to really love all these characters over the last twenty-seven years! I hope as you read along, you will come to love them too! Enjoy the adventure and happy reading!
A Pirate’s Life For Me! A Pirate’s Life Indeed!
Christopher David James’s A Pirate’s Life For Me! A Pirate’s Life Indeed! is a big, boisterous middle-grade pirate adventure. It’s a treasure hunt, a comic fantasy, and a tall tale all at once, built around Thomas Patch, a pirate-obsessed kid from Schooner Bay Cove who gets swept into a world of tiny pirates, ghostly dangers, strange creatures, and Blackbeard lore. Right from the start, the book announces its style with absolute confidence. Horatio’s running narration, the exaggerated pirate slang, and the nonstop asides give the whole thing the feeling of a storyteller leaning across the table, grinning, and saying, come on, you’ve got to hear this.
What really defines the book is its voice. This thing doesn’t whisper. It sings, shouts, cackles, and barrels forward. Schooner Bay Cove is introduced with such loving excess that the setting becomes part of the entertainment. The food, the harbor, the fish market, the tavern, the apple festival, all of it feels oversized on purpose, and that gives the novel its personality.
Thomas Patch is the center that holds all that comic energy together. He’s earnest, excitable, and funny, but he’s also guided by a simple moral core that gives the book more heart than its noisy surface might suggest. One of the clearest examples comes early, when he remembers his father’s advice to “Always do what is good…right and true.” That idea keeps echoing through the adventure, and it helps turn Thomas from a kid dazzled by pirate spectacle into someone who can make real choices under pressure. The book’s action matters, but its emotional engine is decency.
The supporting cast is a huge part of why the novel stays lively over such a long run. Tubby, Stix, Simon, Wellington, Robear, and the rest give the story a warm, scrappy group dynamic, and the humor depends a lot on the way they bounce off one another. The book loves repetition, catchphrases, running jokes, and comic timing, and that can feel a little relentless, but it’s also the source of its charm. Even in the middle of danger, the story makes room for silliness, affection, and oddball tenderness. By the time one character tells Thomas, “I think ye are gonna be all right…kid! Ye is among friends,” the book has earned that note of belonging.
What I came away with most is that this book is an all-in adventure for readers who want imagination pushed to full volume. It’s crowded, playful, sentimental, and committed to its own pirate mythology. Christopher David James doesn’t just tell a story about pirates. He builds a whole comic emotional world around the idea of pirate adventure and lets it run wild. It’s easy to see why Thomas keeps returning to the promise, “A pirate’s life for me! A pirate’s life indeed!” That line isn’t just a catchphrase here. It’s the book’s whole cheerful, unruly mission statement.
Pages: 1207 | ASIN : B0GPF7M1KG
Wrath and Reckoning
When I picked up Wrath and Reckoning, I expected a tight political thriller, and that’s exactly what I got. The story follows Max Kenworth and his team as they chase after the elusive mercenary Bart Madison and a missing nuclear weapon. Layered into that chase are power-hungry politicians, corrupt deals, shadowy agencies, and a relentless undertone of betrayal. From Arlington Cemetery to Central America to secret meetings in hotel rooms, the book moves quickly. Every chapter pushes the stakes higher. It’s less about quiet deduction and more about the terrifying weight of what-ifs: a nuclear device in the wrong hands, politicians who gamble lives for power, and operatives caught between duty and survival.
I really enjoyed the book’s pace. Parker doesn’t give you room to breathe. Scenes cut fast, and dialogue snaps like a whip. Sometimes it felt like a military briefing, other times like eavesdropping on a whispered conspiracy. That intensity pulled me in. The writing style is direct, sharp, and often blunt. I liked that honesty. You don’t get purple prose here. You get grit, strategy, and straight talk. The moments between Max and Danya, or Gail’s uneasy alliances, offered glimpses of vulnerability that I craved more of. Those human flashes made the gunfire and secret deals hit harder.
Madison is a ruthless figure, and Parker paints him as cunning, resourceful, and frighteningly pragmatic. He’s the kind of character who makes your skin crawl because he feels believable. Meanwhile, the politicians strutted like clowns, reeking of smugness and deceit. Part of me enjoyed that exaggeration. It made the story’s critique of corruption unmistakable. The line between good and bad sometimes felt too sharp. Still, the moral weight of the book, how power twists people, how ambition corrodes, landed with me.
Wrath and Reckoning is the kind of book I’d recommend to readers who like high-stakes thrillers with a military and political edge. If you want a story that keeps the throttle down and doesn’t let go, this will scratch that itch. It’s not for someone looking for subtle literary flourishes or deep psychological portraits. But if you want a fast, tense, and conspiratorial ride, Parker delivers. I closed the book feeling unsettled, a little wired, and already wondering what Max Kenworth will be up against next.
Pages: 249 | ASIN : B0FKRYGQD9
Special Bond
Where’s My Wabby Dabby? follows a young girl looking for her father, who is away on a trip, as she asks all the animals in her yard where her Wabby Dabby is. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this book came from a time when my husband was fighting COVID. He was in the hospital, and we were only able to talk to him on the phone and on FaceTime. My husband called one night, and we saw COVID winning the battle, but our faith in the Lord kept us strong. My husband called my granddaughter his Eva wava little baby. She was very emotional and called him her wabby dabby. When I heard that, I decided to create a story about their bond, showing how she would go out and speak to animals to see where her wabby dabby went. At the time, we weren’t sure if my husband would come home, but we prayed and believed God for a miracle. He came home. It was a long road to recovery, but he was home. The same way we were unsure he would come home, I wanted to create this story for those children who maybe one of their parents were absent, and they can use their imagination to remember something special about them, which would give them peace and comfort.
What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of Eva and the animals she talked to?
Discovery–I observed their special bond, which prompted me to start drafting and editing.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
When Eva is in her bedroom and she hears her wabby dabby’s voice say, “Goodnight, my Ava wava little baby.”
What is the next book you’re working on, and when can fans expect it?
My next book is in the illustration stage, and it’s called The Night We Followed the Moon. I’m not sure when it will be finished.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Universal Theme of Love
Bella & Chantey: Mama Wants a Blue Mushroom follows a pig and her macaw sidekick as they set out on a rainforest adventure to find a rare mushroom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
We work with the Ngäbe people who live on the Comarca or reservation where I had the story take place. The children do not have children’s books per se, and I wanted to write some stories for them and include their environment.
What is it that draws you to write children’s literature?
I love to watch young children learn about new places, different countries, and people in the world. I also enjoy seeing children being entertained and laughing over stories. I place educational material in the backmatter of my books to educate the children besides giving them an entertaining story. I also try to have a universal theme of love, family, or learning experience that children can see themselves in or identify with the story.
The artwork in your book is wonderful. What was the collaboration with illustrator César Meléndez like?
César is excellent to work with. He has unique ideas for illustrations and is very realistic in his drawings. He has emotions in animal faces and does a fantastic job with water scenes. He asks for suggestions and always asks if they are ok. An excellent fit between author and illustrator- we think alike.
Can fans expect to see more adventures featuring Bella and Chantey? What are you currently working on?
I am working on a chapter book with main characters from the Ngäbe Comarca, Double Trouble on the Comarca. Benny the Boa is an adapted Ngäbe folklore story, which is almost completed, and yes, a second book with Bella and Chantey, also taking place on the Comarca.
I had some people from a nearby church ask if I could write a children’s bible story picture book, so I have done that, and it is currently at a traditional editor to see whether they will accept it. Another editor I work with said if it’s not accepted, go ahead and self-publish it because she likes the story.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Bella & Chantey: Mama Wants a Blue Mushroom
Bella & Chantey: Mama Wants a Blue Mushroom is a quirky jungle adventure with a heartwarming twist. It’s the story of Bella, a determined little pig, and her macaw sidekick, Chantey, as they embark on a mission to find a special blue mushroom for Bella’s mother’s birthday. The journey takes them through the lush, mysterious rainforest of the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, past a grumpy black panther, and into the fantastical Land of Mushrooms. Along the way, they encounter colorful creatures, tricky riddles, and challenges that test their courage.
What I loved most about this children’s book was its charm. Bella’s personality shines through, especially with her dramatic “oh dear” moments. Like when she nervously tackles a suspension bridge blindfolded or builds a raft to cross a river because she can’t swim, each scene feels relatable and funny in that “overcoming your fears” kind of way. Chantey’s witty remarks, like reminding Bella to stop eating every mushroom in sight, add just the right amount of humor. It’s these little interactions that make their friendship feel so real and delightful.
The illustrations by César Meléndez absolutely stole the show for me. The rainforest scenes, with vibrant plants and exotic animals like giant anteaters and purple snakes, are nothing short of magical. The pages where they finally find the indigo milk cap mushroom, with its vivid blue “bleeding” juice, are amazing. The art pulls you into this lush world and adds so much depth to the story. Honestly, I found myself flipping back just to soak it all in again.
One thing that caught me by surprise was how the story introduced cultural elements, like the reference to Urracá, a Ngäbe warrior. It’s such a thoughtful way to teach kids about history while keeping the tone light and adventurous. Plus, there’s a handy mushroom facts section at the end, which is both fun and educational. Did you know some mushrooms glow in the dark? It’s clear that the author wanted this book to be more than just a story. It’s a window into the beauty of Panama’s rainforest and the importance of respecting nature. What makes this book even more special is that it’s a bilingual story, with text in both English and Spanish, making it a fantastic way for kids to learn or enjoy two languages while diving into Bella and Chantey’s adventure.
I think this picture book is a gem. It’s perfect for kids who love adventure and animals, and it’s a great pick for parents who want a story that sparks curiosity about the environment and other cultures. I’d recommend it for bedtime reading or as a fun gift for young explorers.
ASIN : B0BSRCVF16
Emotional Trauma & Healing
Of Ashes and Dust follows a Vietnam Veteran, now a professor, who is haunted by his past only to discover as the world is headed to Armageddon that the conspiracy theories he questioned are, in fact, truth and nothing is as it seemed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your novel?
There’s an obvious long-term cover-up by the US Government regarding the existence of ETs & UFOs, dating back to 1947. This, in part, served as an impetus for my “inspiration” to weave this narrative thread into the story arc. Also, I work with US military retirees, combat vets, many suffering from PTSD, as well as having served in the Army myself. This also added impetus to incorporate these elements into the plot.
The relationships that the characters form and, ultimately, the betrayals hook readers into watching everything unfold. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
It came naturally. I’ve lived the majority of my life overseas having worked with the US military during almost all this time. Dealing with stress-related combat vets almost daily has led me to come face-to-face with their problems, often getting personally involved with their emotional trauma & healing.
What was the chosen theme of the novel, or did it develop organically as you were writing?
It pretty much “develop[ed] organically.” The story, except for one or two events toward the end, naturally unfolded for me. Wish all story arcs would do that!
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Working on publishing a chapbook (small poetry book), then a children’s book, and then the sequel to Of Ashes and Dust (OAAD). The OAAD sequel will most likely be more psychologically-driven & deeply delving into the troubled mindset of the protagonist & first-person narrator, Prof. Will Watson, rather than mostly event-driven as in the original.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Their tale traces back to two covert operations from the Vietnam War era–a revelation about UFOs from the U.S. Air Force and the clandestine Project Sixty-Seven.
At the heart of the story is Professor Will Watson–a war-ravaged Vietnam veteran, a fervent activist of the New Hampshire Liberty Militia, and a man haunted by specters of his past. As the world edges toward Armageddon, he seeks solace in the arms of his Japanese graduate student assistant, Kimiko Tanimoto. Amidst escalating pursuit by the State Police and FBI, Watson is confronted with the harsh realities of his traumatic past and the imminent downfall of a world crumbling around him.
However, the truth about his “friendship” with Mark Mercotti, a fellow militia member with a hidden sexuality, proves to be more sinister. During their service in VIetnam, Mercotti had Watson enlisted in the enigmatic Project Sixty-Seven and arranged for a covert implant to be placed in Watson’s head. This unsettling revelation forces Watson to question his sanity, but he soon learns that Mercotti’s web of deceit runs deeper.
As Watson navigates the aftermath of his military service, he stumbles upon a reality beyond his wildest dreams: the implant was a government ploy to monitor him. Meanwhile, Mercotti is far from the friend he claims to be. His conspiracies are more than mere theories; they’re cold, hard facts.
“Of Ashes and Dust” is a relentlessly intense tale of alternate history set against the backdrop of global Armageddon. It’s a thrilling exploration of conspiracy, survival, and unforgiving intrigue, culminating in a finale as explosive as it is unexpected.
