Blog Archives
Honorable Profession
Dan Cahill is a former secret service agent that moves to Nevada to try and repair the relationship with his daughter that was long neglected due to his career. His daughter Meghan wants to help her political science professor Walter Becker win the Nevada presidential primary. Despite wanting nothing to do with politics ever again, Cahill agrees to help his daughter in her goals in order to rebuild a relationship with her. Albeit being retired, Cahill has a lot of experience with the ins and outs of the government and would be a great help to Walter’s quest for the presidency. But, will they achieve their goals?
Honorable Profession: A Novel of American Politics by Andy Kutler is a novel about how a retired Dan Cahill tries to mend his broken relationship with his daughter. To do so, he is aiding her in her desire to help her favorite professor become the president of the United States despite the odds weighing heavily against him. After being forced into retirement for leaking stories about diplomatic misconduct in the government, Cahill had developed a deep hatred for politics and promised himself not to get involved. He, however, ends up developing a liking for the college professor, which motivates him to help him win. More than a story about politics and drama surrounding elections, this is about a father and daughter. The political backdrop is used to bring them together in a way they otherwise would not have. Her ideas and his experience combined to make them a steller team that they never knew they could be.
The award-winning author, Andy Kutler, uses his vast political knowledge, gained while working under two senators, to accurately depict government operations. He is able to use the characters, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses, to paint a vivid picture of what goes on in the electoral system. It is a clear and intriguing look into what happens in the government and how elections are handled.
Honorable Profession: A Novel of American Politics is a riveting book that is perfect for readers who love political dramas that are grounded in reality. This is also a novel about building relationships and family, and readers looking for a modern and contemporary background for this thriller will be captivated from beginning to end.
Pages: 370 | ASIN : B09F3CG9MW
A Homicide in Hooker’s Point
Victoria Leigh Bayle, mostly called Vicki, is an 8-year-old girl with a natural empathy for all living things. She is distraught upon witnessing a tragic accident involving her next-door neighbor Eric Magruder, who had killed her beloved cat earlier in the day. As one of the core eyewitnesses, Vicki finds herself responsible yet burdened with delivering the truth that could either justify or inconvenience those involved.
A Homicide in Hooker’s Point by author Gloria Taylor Weinberg depicts a moral dilemma in the eyes of a young girl who realizes that truth can easily be manipulated by adults, particularly those discrepancies that exist due to race and color. It is a compelling novel about hate and love and how the lines separating the two are often blurred.
Weinberg magnificently taps into human sentiments, making one speculate moral choices throughout the passage of this complex and emotional story. She builds compassion for her characters and elaborates on the concepts of virtue in children as being vivid and consistent. Moreover, she delivers a powerful lesson based on the prescriptiveness of truth; both fairness and family commitment validate the narrative. It captures how choices that govern moral reasoning tend to be overlooked when it comes to those that one is most obligated to protect.
Young readers will be moved by the tenderness of a young girl who sympathizes over the loss of all living things yet observes a distressful event that makes her question the reality of life and choices. Questions of right and wrong fill the pages without clear answers as readers realize the truth and what is right is clouded by perspective and life paths.
A Homicide in Hooker’s Point is a crime fiction novel that illustrates the complex realities of relationships through relatable characters. This is a psychological thriller readers can experience with the characters as they sort through facts and blurred lines of truth.
Pages: 224 | ASIN : B079K49QY2
Moss
Joe Pace’s Moss is a literary work that portrays the life of Oscar Kendall after the death of his father. For a long time, his greatest shadow was his father, Isaiah Moss.
Oscar’s feelings for his father show the reality of someone who feels so small and incapable in front of his father’s personification and achievements. Isaiah, a renowned writer, experienced several achievements and received top awards throughout his career. On the other side was his son, who wanted the same for himself. However, the fear of failure was greater than his will to succeed in what he did. Isaiah’s influence follows Oscar causing him to lose his identity and almost always question whether he was good enough.
During the course of the book, the main character goes through several experiences after inheriting his father’s cabin in New Hampshire. The author writes in first person from the perspective of Oscar. This allows readers to empathize with Oscar as he describes his feelings about his father and his influence. Then, the war veteran, May, enters the story, which causes Oscar’s love life to take a significant turn.
Being in front of his father’s things and coming to understand him when he had passed away changed Oscar’s perception of many things that, for him, were static. At certain moments, I felt sad for Oscar’s loss and the turn of things in his life. However, with the engaging narration, Oscar’s particular sense of humor, perceptive worldview along with the author’s clear writing, the story is very enjoyable and carries the reader swiftly to the end.
Moss is an impassioned novel about love and loss and how complex they are depending on your perspective. A work of literary fiction and self-discovery, readers will follow Oscar as he discovers the truth about his father and himself.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B09PJCL9JZ
Alien Orders
Air Force Captain Scott Ryan’s whole life changed when he spotted a mysterious craft over the night skies of the Utah desert. Alien Orders: A Science Fiction Novel is the story of a man who seeks the truth and refuses to let that truth be hidden from the human race. Fighting his way through devious government cover-ups and perilous alien subterfuge, Captain Ryan is a man on a mission–and that mission is to thwart an otherworldly threat to mankind. With the unlikely help of conspiracy theorists, dedicated military personnel, tenacious detectives, and a mysterious woman, Captain Ryan finds himself plunged into a battle for the fate of humanity.
Author Johnnie West’s Alien Orders is an old-school science fiction tale shrouded in a twisting conspiracy plot. Captain Ryan teams up with his fellow pilot, Captain Jeff Johnson, to chase down leads and investigate their strange sightings in the Utah desert. Encountering a large cast of characters, the two friends must figure out who is friend or foe as they navigate an alien plot and confront the power-hungry humans who aid them.
Alien Orders is a quick and satisfying read with prose that is simple and straightforward. The story is more reported to the reader than experienced, which works for the blunt, military-style of writing. Chapters fly by, with action and tension rising and falling like a steady tide. After the mid-way point in the novel, the pace really speeds up. Side characters and sub-antagonists rapidly come in and out of the story offering solutions to problems and moving the storyline along. I felt that more dialog would have helped flesh out the characters. However, the overall story is tightly woven and still full of surprising twists.
Alien Orders: A Science Fiction Novel is a fantastically thrilling science fiction story. The action and drama will keep readers engaged and working right along with the characters to solve the mystery. To anyone who enjoys government cover-up stories about aliens among us, this is the book for you.
Pages: 209 | ASIN : B09PHG1QG6
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls by Adrea L. Peters continues the tale of the beloved Truvie Tucker like you would never imagine. We follow Truitt as she adjusts back to her life in The City on The Sea and copes with the death of her human self. Her acquaintances in The City on The Sea struggle to help our beloved Truitt perform the tasks she was called to do. It’s a classic spirit versus human realm tale that features real-life themes of depression and grief. Adrea L. Peters weaves us a mystical tale with wise messages strewn throughout.
First and foremost, I want to commend the author for writing about depression and grief in such a creative manner. We need to see more novels on the shelves portraying real-life human emotions in an artistic light.
The plot for this engaging novel was interesting, and I would love to see what else Peters comes up with. Peters’ writing is detailed when it comes to descriptions, so I was able to clearly picture the characters in my mind along with the surroundings. The author details what the characters look like, giving readers a chance to really visualize them. I was given a clear idea about where each soul was in time. The dialogue was easy to follow, and the conversations felt authentic and intriguing as I found Truitt to be a charming character. Not only did the conversations between characters flow smoothly, but they felt natural. I was immediately taken on an adventure alongside Truitt, and I found this book hard to put down.
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls is a teen and young adult novel that tackles some complex topics that teens deal with positively. The exciting fantasy story will captivate readers with action and adventure while exploring the magical realm of The City on the Sea.
Pages: 376 | ISBN : 0645015571
Art is What a Civilization Will Be Judged By
Six Canvases follows an art dealer that falls into a mystery that takes him on a life-changing journey. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Strangely, the inspiration for the story came from a realistic dream I had though I have always been fascinated by an artist dying young and the questions it raises in his admirer’s minds as to the masterpieces they will never experience. It seemed a natural consequence to have an art dealer obsessed by an artist’s work and life.
Foss discovers a lot about himself in this book. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
When one aspires to be an artist but lacks the talent, it seems logical that they put their passion into another’s work. In the case of the Seven Canvases, Foss’s obsession with Tyler Dobbs leads him to wanting to know everything about the man’s life, even falling in love with his woman and ultimately being used by her, even identifying with the artist.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In almost all my books, the position of the artist in the world has played an important part. I also think I wanted to explore how various people react to the same artist. In this case, some finding his work great, others mediocre. I think that no matter what mysteries or revelations are in the narrative, in the end, art is what a civilization will ultimately be judged by.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The book, Hattie’s World, is completed. It is part family saga that spans the 20th Century in California, and part story of a strong woman whose actions have a profound effect on the town her ruthless father builds. I think it’s one of my strongest works.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The Golden Hearts Club
The Golden Hearts Club by Cinda Swalley tells the story of two sisters going on the adventure of a lifetime. Katie and Megan, freshly out of college, plan for months to go on a road trip across the American South and Southwest, from Ohio to Florida, then to California. Despite their careful plans, things on the road aren’t easy. Through the kindness of strangers and the sisters’ strong bond, they survive illness and harsh weather on their journey to California, where fate entangles them in a powerful family’s turmoil. In this unfamiliar land amid intoxicating luxury, Katie and Megan must sort friend from foe, love from lies, honesty from corruption in order to survive and find their happy ending.
Author Cinda Swalley has done a great job describing some beautiful parts of the country. These vivid descriptions draw the reader into the road trip with the sisters. Detailed descriptions of towns like Galveston, including some of its history and California’s natural beauty, made me want to visit! The road trip also served as an excellent backdrop for character development and growth. Both sisters learned a lot from their journey, especially Katie. At first reluctant to leave home, she grows into a stronger, more adventurous person. It was also interesting to learn about horse care and breeding in the second part of the book. The author paid close attention to the details she included throughout the book.
Once they were in California, the primarily romantic plot had a backdrop of corporate corruption and heavy family drama, reminiscent of afternoon soap operas. The novel feels like two stories that are intertwined. The book’s first part had a much different feel than the second as the sisters’ adventures in California began. The girls’ music taste, dialogue, and expressions read like a story in the 70s, giving them a well-defined personality. However, the technology mentioned is modern, showing readers that this is a contemporary story.
The Golden Hearts Club is a beautifully written novel that spans several genres. This impassioned novel will appeal to readers looking for an absorbing family saga that is easily intertwined with travel adventure, a bit of corporate intrigue, and a dash of romance.
Pages: 350 | ASIN : B08VQDK7YV
Discovering What It Means To Be Happy
Inhabitant follows the narrator after they have been exiled from Earth on their journey through space to find a home. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
This story was inspired by a few different things, both personal and philosophical. The primary catalyst was a series of events in my life that really threw me off track. I was searching for a better understanding of them. Those major life changes that make you feel like your world has been turned upside down are brutal to the psyche, and that image of having the ground ripped out from underneath you just stuck with me.
The further I dove into this concept, the more parallels I found with modern human nature: how we’re always looking for the next big thing as opposed to finding contentment in the present moment. We see that in how we’re treating Earth, an action that will harm us in the long term, but we also see that in the relationships we build around us. So much time planning for the future, hoping we can make perfect memories, while simultaneously reflecting on the past and what we wish we’d done differently. Meanwhile the present moment slips through time and time again.
This unique experience is told using poetry. What led you to use this style of writing to tell your story?
My experience in school with poetry greatly influenced my desire and appreciation of saying more with less. In-person I’m not usually the most verbose person in the room. I think there is an elegance in being succinct. But that’s the great part about the English language, and about poetry especially. It offers so many different options and avenues to tell stories, where each person can have a unique voice. For me Fairchild and Levine were two of the poets that most influenced my desire to work in this form. When I was first introduced to Burned, I think I read it three or four times that night. It’s such an incredibly unique work, and I tried to channel that energy and feeling into mine, especially Sunset.
Over the course of writing, I played with a few different methods of telling this story. It started as a pure narrative, evolved into a hybrid of narrative and poetry, and eventually I landed where we are now. It was a difficult choice to pick a single path, but I wanted the form to best place the reader in the mindset of the traveler. Our traveler is out on their own for long periods of time, and I liked being able to play with that space on the page and the wandering thoughts that come with it.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A number of different themes emerged as INHABITANT progressed: isolation, home, finding yourself…but the primary themes I latched onto early on were those of discovering what it means to be happy in your space and the importance of connection in our lives. With so many experiences and opportunities that we all will have while we’re here, the ones that impact us the most are those spent with our close family and friends. Moments of celebration, heartbreak, excitement, laze, (and the list goes on,) are all best felt with others around. INHABITANT is an exploration of someone who had this, lost it, and now is trying desperately to find that meaning and connection again.
One thing that I explore in the book is the significance of connections that don’t last forever. These friendships and relationships we build around aren’t necessarily going to be there through our entire lives. We hope they’ll be around forever, acting as our foundation, but sometimes life throws curveballs, and we have to adjust course. It’s better for us to find a way to enjoy what they offer in that time, and use those meaningful experiences to shape our future as we go.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a few concepts that I’m building now but don’t want to say too much until I’m further along with them! The overall goal will be a bit of an expansion on the themes here, but in a more specific setting. I really want to explore the importance of family and community early in life and how they help establish a foundation for coping skills and healing later in life. This one is still a little way away, but I’m assembling the skeleton.
Currently, though, I’m back in school for Music Therapy, so that’s taking up all of my time and then some, but I’m working on a new album with my band abbr. as well as working with my friend on the score for the audiobook of INHABITANT to come later this year. This audiobook is going to be something special! I’m very excited for it. In the meantime, I look forward to continue moving forward and creating in many different ways.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
After years of mistreating their home, the Inhabitant has been unexpectedly expelled from Earth and must journey across the universe to find a new home by any means necessary. Haunted by dreams of the past and hopes for the future, they can only rely on their experiences. Taking it day by day (and with a little help from a new friend), they explore new worlds, both wondrous and frightening, on the path to solid ground.
Charles Crittenden’s Inhabitant brings a unique blend of poetry and storytelling, inviting the reader to join the search for a new home.
LITERARY TITAN 