Blog Archives
Based On My Own Experience
About a Girl follows one young man’s journey of self-discovery while growing up in California in the 90’s as he navigates love, friendship and betrayal. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for About a Girl was based on my own experience in high school.
Will is a compelling character. What were some driving ideals behind his character’s development?
I wanted Will to represent the average teenager in the 1990’s. I also wanted the reader to see Will’s motivation with numerous flashbacks.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Trust, loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing Hannah, (working title) a hybrid prequel/sequel to About a Girl told from Hannah’s point of view. It will be available in the summer of 2023.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Coming of age in Visalia, California was simple for Will; it was always about a girl. There was one girl in particular, though, that monopolized his thoughts. Her name was Hannah, and she was the most beautiful girl that Will had ever seen.
Will played in a band with his friends, Rob and Chris. They had been jamming together for two years but were reaching a point where they differed about the direction the band should take. Will wanted to branch out musically, but Rob wanted to keep everything the same. It was a struggle. The focus changed, however, when Hannah moved down the street from Chris.
Follow Will on his journey of self-discovery, friendship, love, and betrayal to find out if life is indeed, simply, about a girl.
A Cowgirl’s Stories
Sallie Geermann has been asked to document her life. It’s not something she ever set out to do, but this is a request from the people she loves most; her family. After all, she knows that hers is a story worth telling because it involves all of them. From her childhood to her days in the Vista Grande rest home, Sallie puts on paper her life story; warts and all. Everyone who knows Sallie knows her tale will depict her days as a ranchhand and an aunt who loves unconditionally, but not one of them can possibly predict how profound her words will be.
A Cowgirl’s Stories, by T.P. Graf, is a companion book to the author’s trilogy featuring main character, Jaime Cruz. Having read Graf’s trilogy and having fallen for Jaime and the entire cast of characters, I was more than excited to see Sallie with her own book. Sallie is one of the standout characters in Graf’s works, and I could only see good things coming from a book featuring the story of her life. I was not disappointed–Graf more than delivers with this look back at Sallie’s days on the ranch.
There are books you enjoy, books you find relatable, and books you recommend to friends because you think they are well-written. Then there are books like Sallie Geermann: A Cowgirl’s Stories. T.P. Graf has crafted a tale that envelops readers in a warm blanket tightly woven from the perfect combination of beautiful memories and difficult truths. As Sallie reminisces, readers will find themselves drawn into her life on the ranch as she both cherishes her family and struggles to help them overcome their many hardships over the years.
Sallie is such a special character. She is open, honest, and possesses all the best traits readers seek in a main character. Her ramblings are random and, at the same time, completely captivating. I adore that readers do not necessarily know where Sallie will take us next. The unpredictability of her tales is endearing in the best possible way.
Graf’s companion book is a perfect addition to the Jaime Cruz trilogy and, in my opinion, can be read before or after the first three books. This is a must-read for anyone who has read Jaime’s trilogy or a great way to introduce themselves to Graf’s work. Sallie’s life story is one readers will not want to miss.
Pages: 250 | ASIN: B0B8Y48TYP
Field of Sky
Field of Sky, by Sarah Ferguson and Micelle Worthington, is the second book in the Southport Series. This book picks up with Cecelia “CeCe” Wakefield returning to her London home from Australia. Once home, she is forced into a relationship with Gerald Wentworth. When CeCe feels stifled, she runs back to Australia and her boyfriend with a stolen credit card and meets a new friend along the way.
This emotionally-resonant novel contains a well-narrated story that follows CeCe who is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants while making a series of difficult and sometimes frivolous decisions along the way. I thought the plot was sentimental and focused on the emotional turmoil of the characters, which is used to drive the story forward, rather than using dramatic plot twists. The author does a great job of illustrating CeCe’s inner conflicts and how she handles situations involving jealousy, shame, family relationships, and whether she must decide what’s best for her or follow what her family and friends think is best for her.
While CeCe comes from a privileged upbringing, she may not feel relatable to readers initially, though once you get familiar with her dilemma and crisis of identity, she becomes more human and endearing. CeCe struggles with one of the most common challenges most people encounter in life, which is finding a path that leads to happiness and satisfaction, even if it means living outside of their comfort zone. The character development is fantastic, and I especially found River most relatable and unique.
The story’s overall theme is compelling and grounded, with a clear message: a happy ending for some people may not be the same for others. CeCe must first define who she is and what she wants, so she can find her home and place in society. The character’s drive to find her purpose in life is what kept me engaged throughout the book. I recommend Field of Sky for its layered, relevant and touching story.
The Language of Dreams
The Language of Dreams is the debut novel by Marion Ehrenberg and follows the growing relationship between a psychologist and her troubled patient. The book is split between two main characters. Firstly we have Clare, a troubled young woman who is haunted by the death of her mother at a young age. At the beginning of the book, Clare has landed herself in hot water. She has a penchant for taking things that don’t belong to her and now she finds herself in court-mandated therapy. If it doesn’t go well she’s looking at community service or worse.
On the other hand, we have Avery. She is a seasoned psychologist who, at first, seems to have everything figured out. She’s wealthy, successful, and has a loving husband. However, she too is haunted by losses from her childhood. All Avery wants from life is a child, and that is the one thing in life that it seems she can’t have.
Clare is closed off and aggressive towards Avery at the beginning of the book, but mutual respect and affection soon blossoms between the two. As Clare comes to depend on Avery more and more, Avery feels the traditional lines between therapist and patient blurring. Soon it’s not just Clare’s mental health that Avery has to focus on, but her own too.
The Language of Dreams excels at creating and building the emotional and complex relationship between psychologist and patient. The author is a therapist by trade and her experience colors this entire novel and lends it an air of authenticity. Marion Ehrenberg has crafted captivating characters that feel real. This is a character driven story that focuses on human connection and how we deal with our past.
While I enjoyed the story, I would have enjoyed it if the mystery at the heart of story was a bit more shrouded as I feel this would have given the reveal at the end of the story more impact. Is the ending the result of fate or coincidence? This is left up to the reader to decide.
The Language of Dreams is a fantastic read that provokes self-reflection in readers. This is a light mystery story that focuses on the compelling characters, their evolution and their intriguing relationship.
Underground Street Crime
Underground in Tinseltown follows a young aspiring actor as he risks it all to make his dreams come true, the reality is far different from what he expected. Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
These characters are based on a true story. However, the names were changed – and no one would admit to the original situation as being authentic. So, as it is now ‘hearsay’ and forensic recreations, we call the story ‘Basis on a True story’ dramatization.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Realities of the entertainment ‘Hollywood’ system – and underground street crime in the 1980’s.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
‘The Solar Obliteration Experiment’ – now available on Amazon Books.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
A Way Out Of A Living Nightmare
Drunks is a realistic novel following the passionate but tragic relationship of an alcoholic couple that is struggling with their demons. Why was this an important story for you to tell?
It was important for me to tell because of my own experiences and that of others I knew.. Many of the events in DRUNKS did occur. There are a few that didn’t but overall many who have read it have been able to relate to it. That was and is important to tell and does show a way out of a living nightmare.
I appreciated how raw and authentic your characters felt. What were some ideas that were important for you to capture in your characters?
Ideas that passed through my mind were to depict in some way the stealthy degradation that alcoholism inflicts on its victims. In doing so, it reveals the levels to which many descend into, causing them to act violently, cruelly, without compassion, and often criminally. Through Al and Chrissy, i wanted to reveal those traits.
What were some themes that you wanted to explore in this novel?
A major theme was that if you really want something you will get it. If you are in trouble there is always help to be found. Al realised he was in deep deep trouble but found help. He only had to ask. Chrissy surrendered and what she wanted was to drink and she found help in that sad direction mixing with wino’s, drunks, and down and outs. There’s an old adage, ‘birds of a feather flock together.’ Both Al and Chrissy bear witness to that.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
2022 Literary Titan Gold Award Winner
A realistic drama about the deep, consuming, relentless and compulsive passion between an alcoholic couple struggling with their own demons.
It’s multi-award-winning author Ken Fry like you’ve never read him before. Reminiscent of Days of Wine and Roses — a poignant story of a doomed triangle between a man, a woman, and alcohol.
My name is Alan Markham, and this all happened a while ago, but the memories don’t go away. Looking back, I can see that our lives had been carried along like a rudderless ship in a storm. The life we had is gone. It sank beneath the ocean waves and I was powerless to prevent that.
I’m controlling my problem, but I’m under no illusions. I could come apart at the seams any time… should I pick up a drink.
My memories of what it was like for my wife Chrissy and I, have become a blurred recollection. They hurt. But I need that pain to remind me of what I was and how I got to my present state.
I owe her that, at least.
Are you in control of that glass or bottle you’re holding?
That’s what Chrissy and I thought so too…
Read our story.
LITERARY TITAN 