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The Guardians of Eastgate, 2nd Ed.
![The Guardians of Eastgate: Book 1 of The Seers Series by [Leclerc, Sherry]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hKRhK7N3L.jpg)
In The Guardians of Eastgate Maelona, one of the four champions of the Seer race, is tasked with protecting the realm of Sterrenvar from an ancient evil that threatens the land. Maelona struggles to protect the very people who once hunted and killed the Seer race out of fear and mistrust. Maelona and the other Seers fight to protect four keystones from being breached by evil forces. Maelona soons finds that this proves to be an incredibly difficult job. Is she up to the challenge? She teams up with her friends, a wolf shape-shifter, and a human prince, on her quest to save Eastgate from destruction against evil forces.
The Guardians of Eastgate by Sherry Leclerc was an amazing read. The first edition felt more like an outline of the story it didn’t dive into the detail or flesh out the characters. It felt more like a summary of an existing story. This second edition was far better, from extended scenes to extended dialogue which makes helps to develop a rich and complex plot that is both easy to follow and leaves you wanting more.
Leclerc takes us on a beautiful journey in a world filled with fantastical creatures, sorcery, shape-shifters, swords and so much more. It was an interesting choice to make a standard figure of fantasy, the seer, into an entire race of guardians. I cannot wait to explore more of this race in the coming series. They are fascinating, but I felt we’ve only seen the surface of a vast ocean.
I was impressed with the complexity and variety of the story line. The author expertly combines elements of romance and mystery into a suspenseful read, that includes an array of compelling characters. The romance between between Maelona and Blaez was intriguing, and lends to the emotional appeal of this novel, but the story is punctuated by some intense fight scenes. If you’re looking for fight scenes that are realistic, Sherry Leclerc has a third dan black belt in Taekwondo, and her expertise is apparent.
This 2nd edition of The Guardians of Eastgate, I felt, allows this series to really take off. It’s an appropriate start to a series that is brimming with potential on par with the Dragonlance series. I will definitely be looking out for the next book. I loved traveling with Maelona on her journey and can hardly wait to meet the next champion. You will be sure to enjoy this book if you enjoy magic, sword & sorcery, action. adventure, and romance.
Pages: 189 | ASIN: B079X5D9Q1
Fathering The Fatherless Book Trailer
In a charming, short, non-fiction tale we read about the struggles one man has had in terms of understanding and becoming a father. Fathering the Fatherless is written by Todd Johnson who tells us his experience growing up in a fatherless home. He recounts how this impacted his life and shaped the decisions he has made. It is clear that this is a topic that has affected Johnson greatly as he attempts to convey how his life was damaged by not having a father present in his life. Johnson shares statistics regarding fatherless homes and lays out the potential damage that can be done with such a significant absence. Johnson details how he found God and in that Father he was able to come to understand what it truly means to lead and care for children.
Oppression Can’t be Compared
Michael A. McLellan Author Interview
In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree takes place in the 1860s and follows the lives of three people trying to find their way in post-Civil War America. What was the inspiration for your characters; the Henry the ex-slave, Clara and lieutenant Elliot?
I have always been an omnivorous reader. From horror to historical and most genres in-between. The American western is genre that seems to have sort of faded into obscurity over the last thirty years or so. I suppose I can understand why. A lot (not all) of it had become dusty, formulaic, trope-worn, overly-romanticized, and historically inaccurate. I set out to write a story set somewhere between the gold rush and the turn-of-the-century. Something with a different kind of hero from the gunfighter or bank robber. Something that would dust off the genre, add some real humanity, and hopefully spark some renewed interest in this fascinating and sometimes troubling time period.
Henry as the main protagonist was an easy choice. I read a short once, about a man who was freed after the civil war and went on to become a well-known cowboy in Texas. The man had a remarkable way with horses. He was the inspiration for Henry. The challenges African Americans faced even after they were freed from slavery were monumental, and so many extraordinary men and women overcame this adversity and went on to live noteworthy lives.
With Clara I wanted to highlight challenges that women of the period faced. Their oppression can’t be compared equally to African American’s enslavement, but neither can it be marginalized. I also used her character to showcase the disconnect between wealthy easterners and the reality of what was going on in the rest of the country.
John Elliot’s inner conflict wasn’t that uncommon for soldiers both during the civil war and the years following. I have read truly heartbreaking letters sent home disillusioned soldiers from the period, particularly ones from soldier’s involved in what could arguably be called the Native American genocide.
This novel gave a good view of life in 1860s America for slaves and Native Americans. What were some themes you tried to highlight throughout this novel?
Henry and Clara’s relationship is touching but anchored with fear and a desire to find their way to the right side of things. What served as the basis for their relationship while you were writing?
Henry and Clara’s relationship is one of self-discovery for both of them. Henry begins to forgive himself, and finds that he is still capable of love. Clara discovers that her prejudices were misinformed. Her interactions with Henry, and his honesty, later affects how she later handles John’s disturbing revelations.
What is the next book that you are writing and when will it be available?
I have two novels in the works. One is a contemporary drama about a twelve-year-old whose parents both die tragically less than two years apart. He’s subsequently injected into the foster care system and eventually runs away hoping to find an estranged grandparent who lives off-the-grid in Montana. The second is about a man searching for his daughter years after a global catastrophe. Both novels should be released in 2019.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | GoodReads
![In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree by [McLellan, Michael A.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513Zi17P7sL.jpg)
In 1865 a shadow hovers over the nation: the shadow lingers still…
Born into slavery, Henry’s young life is spent working in tobacco drying sheds on Missouri plantations. Freed at the onset of the Civil War, he’s alone, starving, and on the run from Confederate militiamen.
Five years later, Clara Hanfield, the daughter of a powerful New York shipping magnate, escapes her tyrannical father and travels west in pursuit of John Elliot, the man she loves. John, a U.S. Army lieutenant, was sent to the Dakota Territory where he discovers a government conspiracy to incite an all-out war with the Indians; a war meant to finally eliminate them as an obstacle to the westward expansion.
Henry finds himself caught in the middle.
Aided by Clara, John, and his native ally, Standing Elk, Henry must battle hatred, greed, and the ghosts of his past during this turbulent and troubling time in American history.
Behind What the Human Eye Can See
Star Lee Bryant Author Interview
I was struck by the depiction of Fraser’s first moments in Heaven. His surroundings are described in vivid details. What was your inspiration for this scene and how it would look?
Initially I was extremely intimidated to describe heaven and all it offers overall. Ultimately, I received inspiration and confidence from God Himself to move forward. Inwardly, I heard words like peace, serenity, stillness, comfort and calming. Thereafter, it became near effortless to describe the scene.
The dark angels in the novel seem to the opposite of what the angels in the book represent. What were some themes you wanted to capture when writing about both of the angels?
The intentions of presenting both sets of angles was to show morals from one extreme to the next. The true definition of all that’s wholesomely good to its total opposite in the dark angels representing pure and unfathomable evil. Behind what the human eye can see are both influences and everyone makes decisions daily which side they will allow to persuade them.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently writing the sequel to Angels – The Discovery which is part 1 in a series. Book number two is entitled Angles – Fight For The Future. It will depict ultimate battles, good vs. evil and they are fighting for rule over our children.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Angels: The Discovery by [Bryant, Starr Lee]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LpU6w95uL.jpg)
Fourteen-year-old Fraser dies prematurely as a result of a fluke accident while trying to save his baby sister. Upon waking up in heaven, he discovers that his new life in paradise is far different from the one he lived during his short time on earth. As he adjusts to his new surroundings, he is constantly amazed that there is so much to learn, explore, and achieve in his new permanent home. Fraser begins making new friends and even reunites with a loved one who left earth before him. He learns that everyone in heaven must find something they are passionate about and serve in that area. While his friends quickly discover what they want to do, Fraser is left discouraged and not strongly drawn to anything he is introduced to.
When Fraser begins to experience visions of his family’s current status on earth, he finds them divided, severely broken, and completely devastated about his death. His family is also unaware that they are being tormented and are in danger by evil presences that they cannot physically see. After having a talk with God, Fraser is told that he is chosen for a special assignment and will be enlisted amongst an army of Armored Angels to fight an earthly spiritual war of good versus evil. He finally knows what he is meant to do and is more than ready. He is predestined to save his family.
This is a story that will inspire young readers and beyond to diminish the fear of dying, provide hope concerning life afterward, and understand that God has assigned angels all around us for protection from dangers seen and unseen.
The Ideas of Good and Evil
EJ Kellett Author Interview
The Victory Perspective reveals a new angle on the creation story complete with a dark and foreboding side. What was the initial idea behind this story and how did that transform as you were writing the novel?
I have always been interested in religion as a subject. As a non-religious person, I view the subject as an area of interest rather than a personal investment. I was thinking one day about how different people view the world based on the particular coloured glasses they wear, whether that be social, religious, socio-economic etc. I started to think about the view of people who follow a number of religions and that they follow teachings that state in a matter of fact way who is who; and the ideas of good and evil are central and accepted. But, what if everything we thought we knew was completely the opposite? That thinking led me to write the creation story everyone knows from a different perspective, where everything is the opposite to what we think. The idea transformed quite a lot as I was writing the novel, it grew to include more social issues and to tackle some of the nastier and more obscure subjects of the bible that are accepted but not generally discussed. Strangely enough, I actually initially thought this story would be humorous. It turned out to be definitely the opposite of funny. But early human life was brutal no matter which way you look at it, and I think that came through in the end.
Your characters are the personification of mythical religious figures. How do you capture the thoughts and emotions of an angel type being?
I just view them as people, almost the ‘first people.’ My thinking was that we are like them, not the other way around. The way that humans behave, act and talk is all because of the ‘makers’. The character of God makes humans to be like him in every way, including volatile emotions. This is one of the reasons I decided the characters would talk in modern verse, I wanted the characters to be more approachable and relatable.
What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight the characters development?
The violence is a big part of this book. Humans can be a brutal species and following the logic of this book, so can the ‘person’ we were created for. A lot of trials are over looked from the creation story. Eve for example, after being cast out of Eden, what happened to her? What might she have gone through? I felt it was important that the brutality of life played a big part in this story. With Lucifer, I felt that although he endures a lot of physical pain, his trials are equally emotional. Dealing with loss and reconciling it with guilt can produce emotional torment with just as much impact as physical torment.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am starting work on the next book in this series. The Victory Perspective Vol. 2 will continue the story, highlighting Lucifer’s continued fight for human-kind and God’s continued attempts to manipulate events to his advantage. Expect Vol. 2 to be out next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
A story you know, just not as you know it.
Five individuals find themselves in a wondrous paradise with the perfect climate and boundless resources. But when one develops remarkable powers, he hatches a plan to take control of his comrades and create his perfect world by any means necessary.
Beneath the veneer of life lies the darkest truth of all. Perspective is blinding.
In The Victory Perspective, author E.J. Kellett will change the way you view the world. Turning the classic creation story on its head, this thrilling and thought-provoking dystopian novel pushes the boundaries of our preconceived notions.
“I lived in that place with Alpha, there were five of us. When I gained the courage to stand up to him, he banished me to a place that is worse than anything in your world. I am there now, stuck for eternity to suffer at the hands of a self-proclaimed God.”
My Heroes And My Mentors
JohnEGreek Author Interview
Grandma’s Secret Blessings, is a deeply personal and dramatic-memoir that tells the story of Yianni’s life, family, troubles, and successes. What was the inspiration that made you want to write this memoir?
After my trip to the Old Country in 1995 I found a shift in my thinking and my lifestyle. It was the childhood promise to my grandparents that drove me to the Old Country. In doing so, I had multiple synchronistic events that made me start seeing that there was something higher at work related to my life. The family name for instance, Meta, means “to Transcend and go beyond.” Discovering this caused me to begin transcending and go beyond in my everyday life events and thinking. The most eventful inspiration came when I was in Sedona two years ago and I asked my Divine Author Within to help me present my story. I was at a TomBird.com weekend retreat, Titled, “Write your Book in a Weekend.” It was there that the inspiration came to me to write the stories of my life to a pseudo family, which was dysfunctional like my family, to depict the horrible aspects of my life living with a father who hated me and destroyed or sabotaged me in multiple ways throughout my life.
I felt like this was a very personal account of life. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I think the hardest thing for me to write about was related to my granddaughter who I have yet to be introduced to and I wanted her to know the story of life someday, in case I never get the opportunity to meet her. Telling the stories through the pseudo family helped me feel some comfort in knowing someday, she might know the real me.
There are many of grandma’s ‘secret blessings’ in the story which I think many of us could relate to. Why did you choose this title and theme for your book?
Reading my story as you know, I was the lucky one because I got to know our grandparents and a very deep level, more so than any other grandchild. Most of my cousins never met our grandparent. I adored them and they adored me. They were my heroes and my mentors, more so than my own father who has hated me since the day I was born. Even after their death, things have transpired that have shown me they are with me even now.
What do you hope readers take away from your story?
We all have wounded children within our psyche. I hope readers will recognize they aren’t alone and that when they face their internal demons, they can move forward in their lives.
I will tell you the most rewarding thing about writing this book happened one week before Christmas, when a childhood (teenage) friend who I escorted to one of our high school Dance and have not seen or talked to in many years wrote me the following message one week before Christmas. This is what writing a book is all about:
Hi—Just finished reading your book. It was soul stirring! Your narratives provided me with answers to my own heartbreak. The perfect choice to read during this emotional season.Hopefully in the new year and with time, I too, can learn to replace anger with forgiveness, Thank you. Merry Christmas.
For me, it’s not about making money with my book as much as it is for helping others recognize they too can heal their wounded child or in my cases their wounded children.
What is the next book that you are writing and when will it be available?
My next book, “Ghosts or Spirit! The Healing Stories of the Wounded Child” will not be a memoir. It will be real life situations, turned into stories eventually healed or not, with the aid of the Chiron, the Wounded Healer. Which will be written by, Chiron JohnEgreek. Look for it next fall. I’m really excited about this one, because in writing my Memoir, I found my life purpose is to be a Wounded Healer.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter |Facebook | Website
![Grandma's Secret Blessings: A Memoir with a Twist by [JohnEgreek]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XBlcx%2BJ8L.jpg)
Take a ride with JohnEgreek as he journeys to the Old Country to fulfill a childhood promise made to his grandparents when he was six years old. His grandmother, insightful and deeply spiritual guides him throughout his lifetime and after she is gone, as he himself opens to the reality of something higher than himself.
Second-generation Greek-American born, Author JohnEgreek, is brought into this world in 950 to a broken family. His father hates him from the very first day he is born and lives up to the unseen contract to hate him his entire life, without ever giving him a clue as to why. His mother showers him with her love, until her eventual death at the early age of fifty-one, which then forces him to grow on his own.
The powerful childhood promise becomes the avenue that opens his heart and awakens his soul. Grandma, who leaves the physical world when he is in his teens, enlightens him while she is alive and never stops enlightening him when she goes beyond, as she continues to shower him with her many “Secret Blessings.”
What happens along the way is a surreal journey and a deeply rooted experience? Travel with him and his pseudo family, as they discover the avenue to his soul and the recipe to Grandma’s Secret Blessings. You too can find the key that unlocks the door to the hidden ability to “transcend and go beyond.”
This book is for anyone teetering on the edge of disbelief that there is something higher than their greatest expectations as to why things happen. Everyone at some time or another will lose a loved one, but death is not the end, it is the beginning and they do find a way to speak to you from beyond. Make no mistake, this book will open your eyes as you discover the magical recipe to Grandma’s Secret Blessings and you too can use them to heal your heart and find the avenue to your soul.
The author recognizes that he is no one special, just a retired senior citizen, with a strained relationship with his adult children and a grandchild that he has never met. He has a unique and creative way to tell the emotional story about his life that will take you on a roller-coaster ride that will emit feelings of anger, guilt, fear, sorrow and pain. At times, it will be an agonizing, yet truthful story. During the unforgettable journey to the Old Country he has multiple synchronistic events where he finds the hidden secrets that provide him with the necessary elements to set himself free, heal his wounded children and unlock the door to his heart. You too can “Transcend and Go Beyond.”
Life Sliding
High school, a time for learning who you are, what your values are, and what matters in life. Gavin is the popular, most liked guy in his school. He is the trend setter and his hand-picked friends are at the top of the social pecking order. When they start planning their last summer bash before becoming seniors; he is quickly ripped out of his comfort zone when his dad decides he needs to spend his last vacation giving back to the community. Gavin is going to spend his summer working as a volunteer for camp Lift Me Up, it is a camp for kids with life threatening illnesses, a chance for them to feel normal. Here Gavin reconnects with an old friend Jacob, and they befriend Marissa, a girl with a lot of emotional baggage. Together the three of them bond and look to make their senior year one to remember not just for them, but for the whole school.
Gavin is your typical self-absorbed teenager, he’s on the football team, one of the popular kids, and comes from a family of money. Everyone knew that kid in high school, if you were not part of that crowd chances are you despised him, if you were in the crowd you looked up to him, or at least followed so not to lose your standing. When Jacob stopped following the cool crowd Gavin abandoned him. He never looked into why his best friend suddenly changed over the course of a summer. Gavin soon learned with his service at Lift Me Up what brought about the change in Jacob. Following the back and forth between Gavin and Jacob is exciting, you are never quite sure what their feelings for each other really are. Seeing Gavin grow is emotional, he learns that there is a lot more to the world than his little bubble, and he learns to really care for other people. This awakening is uplifting, it gives you hope that society is not doomed.
One of the most predominate themes in this novel is that love has no boundaries or appearances. High school romances are often flirty and based on who is who and what social class you fall into. While this novel starts out following those trends and is easily relatable to readers, it soon twists and becomes so much more. The story of Caleb, the boy with leukemia, that latches onto a resentful Gavin is a catalyst for the change in Gavin. His memory is a constant reminder of how fragile life is and that you can’t live your life trying to live up to everyone else’s standards. I was really touched by Caleb and how his short time impacted so many lives. It is a reminder that it doesn’t matter how long we are here on earth, but what we do with the time we are given. Caleb melted the heart of Gavin and reminded him there is more to life than his little social circle. Gavin and Jacob’s relationship is touching and so fluid you just can’t help but want to see how life goes for them both. Everyone should have a friendship like that in life, someone that loves you unconditionally and is there for you no questions ask. Life Sliding by S.L. Mauldin is a touching novel, thought provoking and full of compassion and hope.
Pages: 169 | ASIN: B01BBCY5RO
Liberating Inner Eve: A Reflective Journey for Women
![Liberating Inner Eve: A Reflective Journey for Women by [Zawisz, Bozena]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516NIl5J9TL.jpg)
Liberating Inner Eve: A Reflective Journey for Women, is the brainchild of author Bozena Zawisz, counselor and Christian. Zawisz tackles the many perspectives Christians have had on the story of Eve over the years. She balances her examination of Eve by dissecting Eve’s famed weaknesses while shining a light on her strengths. Zawisz peppers the reading with opportunities for readers to journal, work out thoughts, and respond to introspective questions based on the reading. The author’s work as a counselor is evident throughout the book as she consistently provides helpful hints for women regarding regular reflections and ways to be mindful and find an inner peace.
Zawisz has a soothing way with words. Her writing, geared toward women who are questioning their own situations and facing obstacles within their lives, is a much-needed calm amidst the storm of everyday life. I felt a warmth and genuine concern from Zawisz as I read her descriptions of her own parenting and the way in which women tend to take blame upon themselves. The author’s empathy is clear and appreciated.
Christian readers will welcome Zawisz’s thoughts on women like Saint Faustina. The author’s admiration for Faustina is obvious as she shares the story of her perseverance and strength. In the face of opposition, and with a limited educational background, Faustina leans on her faith to succeed. She is just one of the women offered by Zawisz as a positive example.
I especially appreciated the numerous Bible verses and quotes presented by the author. My grandmother was a devout Christian, and Zawisz’s faith reminds me of her daily devotions. There is a definite peace that comes from reading the author’s favorite verses and the ways in which they have impacted her life. Among the many quotes she includes, readers will find inspiration and support during the most difficult of times.
I was rather taken with the beautiful poetry included in each chapter. Zawisz’s poetry is as eloquent as her narrative is comforting. She closes out each of her chapters with a unique bit of verse based on the topic at hand.
One of the most striking aspects of Liberating Inner Eve is the examination of the story of Adam and Eve. I found this to be most interesting. As a child, I was raised to believe the two were real people who started humanity down a path of sin away from righteousness. I had never been introduced to the many interpretations of the creation story. The notion that Adam and Eve might not have been real but a mere representation of humankind’s evolution was new to me. However, Zawisz emphasizes that the depiction of Eve as being, in many ways, inferior to Adam is woven into almost version of the story.
Zawisz’s work is for any woman seeking a book designed exclusively to uplift, empower, and encourage self-reflection. I would recommend this book to any Christian reader or any woman looking to explore Eve’s story and better understand her own struggles.
Pages: 173 | ASIN: B074HB5Q8Z
LITERARY TITAN 