Blog Archives
MY True Story
MINDBLOWN follows a woman who discovers that everything she knows about her family is wrong and seeks to find out where she came from. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
It’s loosely based on MY true story, I fictionalized characters but the content is true to form.
Soule is a riveting and well-drawn character. What were some driving ideals behind Soule’s character’s development?
I loved it, she is ME…I strive to be transparent, genuine, and relatable 🙂
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Familial patterns, dysfunction, heritage/cultural norms, ancestral connections, and honest reactions.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Ongoing series based on each character. Working on book 2 now, plans to be ready to start the new year off RIGHT Jan 2023.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Cathryn McIntyre Author Interview
Honor in Concord is an exciting mix of memoir and historical fiction revolving around your life and memories in Concord, Massachusetts. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write this book?
In the memoir portion of Honor in Concord I talk about the connection I have always felt to Concord, MA and how I began writing this book soon after moving here the first time, when I set out to record the images of Concord’s past that were always on my mind. What I neglected to mention until the introduction in the 2022 E-Book edition is that the flurry of images that I was receiving then were coming to me in response to a plea I had made to God and my guides to send me a story to write that was uplifting and life-affirming because the novel I had just finished writing was anything but that. Soon after I made my plea, I began receiving those images, like Henry David Thoreau pausing to talk to a young boy about a bird, while walking over to see his friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson; or the breakfast scene at the Emerson’s home when young Edith tells her parents she has seen the spirit of her brother, Wallie in the garden. They were brief glimpses into the lives of the authors who lived in mid-19th century Concord, and they became the short vignettes that appear throughoutthe book. In the fictional story, Nathaniel Hawthorne is back but he isn’t Hawthorne anymore, now he is Richard Hazzard. His wife, Sophia is now his wife, Julie and Thoreau is his son, Alex. It all came together easily, magically, and at the same time I was writing the fictional story I was telling my own story in the memoir. I was a writer coming to terms with my psychic ability and trying to figure out why it was that I had been drawn to this sleepy old town. I wanted to be free of it, to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it, but I didn’t understand then the importance of the path I was on.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
Well, there isn’t one specific thing that readers have said that surprised me. What surprises me is just how enthusiastic and over the top their reactions have been to it. One person told me she regularly reads all the bestsellers, but she enjoyed Honor in Concord more than any of them. Another called me her favorite author ever. I am always taken aback by that kind of praise, but I think that has more to do with the message of the book and how it makes people feel than it does with me or the way I write. Many people seem to come away from Honor in Concord feeling better about themselves and their own lives. In this world where values are constantly being challenged, in Honor in Concord I am giving a nod to that sector that I believe is the majority who do understand that there is a higher power and a purpose to our lives and who strive every day to live their lives with principle and honor.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Initially, I wanted to capture the magic of Concord’s literary past but, as the story developed, I began to realize that the book wasn’t just about sharing that special feeling that visitors to Concord experience when they walk through the old homes and hear about the lives of the writers who once lived here. The characters in Honor in Concord who represent those writers from the past would still be struggling with some of the same issues they had faced in their past lives. So the theme explored first is reincarnation, what might we experience if we had lived before, and then love, trust, freedom, devotion and honor, along with feminism that comes up in both the fictional story and the memoir. The honor in Honor in Concord is about honoring ourselves, who we are, what we value, how we choose to live our lives, the commitments we make. It is about learning to trust the inner guidance that is available to all of us and to conduct ourselves accordingly. By doing that we honor ourselves. It is an ideal that is based on the transcendental philosophy followed by most of the Concord writers. Ed, who represents Bronson Alcott in the fictional story, longs to tell everyone, “We are all, each one of us, infinite.” I believe he is right. We are spiritual, not physical beings. We have all lived before and we will live on after this life, and who we are now and how we treat ourselves and each other while we’re here matters.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The book I wrote and published after Honor in Concord is called The Thoreau Whisperer and it is currently available from all the usual internet booksellers. It is a sequel to the memoir portion of Honor in Concord, as it picks up my story 6 years later. I am still a reluctant psychic but following a visit from my mentor, who was an eminent Thoreau scholar, eleven days after his death, I realize the time has come for me to accept my gifts, hone my psychic abilities, and prepare for what was to be a remarkable collaboration that allowed Thoreau’s words to be heard once again in our time. As fantastic as it may seem, The Thoreau Whisperer is a true story.
Currently, I am at work on a novel, a spiritual love story, that is set in the seaside town of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | LinkedIn | Website
Honor in Concord is set at all the historic locations in Concord, including The Old Manse, The Emerson’s Home, Orchard House, The Wayside and Walden Pond and there are short vignettes throughout the story that open up like windows into Concord’s literary past. One moment we see Julie watching her young daughter performing at her dance recital and the next we see her as Sophia Hawthorne walking in the yard of the Wayside as her children run about in play and her husband, Nathaniel looks on. One moment we see Sarah having a flirtatious lunch with Richard at the West Street Grill in Boston, the place where the Hawthornes once wed, and then we see Sarah walking across the same floor where she had stood as Margaret Fuller conducting her “conversations” about the conditions faced by the women of her day.
Richard and Julie Hazzard are happily married but one day Richard wakes up feeling bored. On the train into Boston, he meets Sarah and what begins as an innocent flirtation soon becomes the catalyst that prompts Richard’s self-reflection. Will he risk losing all that he has to break the monotony of his life and satisfy his desire for Sarah? Not if his friend, Ed, has anything to say about it. Ed lives a life of honor and Richard admires that, but he doesn’t believe he can live up to the code that Ed lives by. Julie is an artist who has set her art aside and devoted herself fully to Richard and their children. Now she wonders if in doing so a part of herself has been lost. She envies her friend, Emma, who in her past life as schoolteacher, Martha Hunt chose to drown herself in the river in Concord rather than live her life in the way Julie does now.
The themes of love, trust, freedom, devotion, history, ghosts and reincarnation are there in the memoir as well, as McIntyre also struggles with her desire for freedom and her inability to trust her instincts that have led her to Concord and to a destiny that hadn’t yet been fully revealed.
When Lions Roar
When Lions Roar is an emotionally-resonant novel detailing the struggle of a woman who is torn between her child and taking the abuse of her husband. It is a common issue in today’s society for women to feel as though they have lost their voice and go down a hard road to finding it, and this novel does a fantastic job of reflecting that agony.
This story opens with a mother’s worst nightmare. Her daughter Hannah has gone missing. Maggie has always had a privileged life, so the shock of losing her daughter has overtaken her. Readers are then taken into the past, learning about her abusive husband who scares her and her daughter. On the outside Maggie has everything a woman could want: a beautiful life with a husband and beautiful child. The morning Maggie is told Hannah has gone missing, her heart-wrenching journey from victim to survivor begins. Through an emotional but ultimately uplifting journey she learns that she can stand on her own two feet and be without the weight and abuse from her husband.
When Lions Roar is a novel that many readers will be able to understand on an emotional level, whether you’ve experienced abuse or not, the feelings are universal, the emotions are palpable, and the sharp writing ensures readers can empathize if not relate. I admired Maggie’s character because of her strength but also because of how she handled situations. It all led her to finding her true self and that journey was compelling and thought-provoking. In dealing with the pain of losing her daughter she dug deep and found strength to carry on, showing just how brave she was. This instance where Maggie realizes just how strong she is is such an inspiring moment for the reader and is a testament to the authors writing prowess and the power of her characters journey.
The author also includes a close friend in the story to help Maggie through losing Hannah, which I thought was a potent and meaningful addition to the story. It helps show women that by standing together you can find the strength to get through hard times.
When Lions Roar by Karen Leigh Gruber is an engaging character driven novel that shows how one woman finds her strength during dark times.
Pages: 232 | ASIN: B08LSBXH62
MINDBLOWN
MINDBLOWN, a novella written by Win$ome, is a story about a woman named Soule who discovers that everything she knows about her family is wrong. Readers follow her through her turmoil with her mother, A-lia, who is a pathological liar, and her father, who has not been present in Soule’s life. Out of curiosity, Soule takes an ancestry/DNA test so she can explain to her children where their family originated. Meant to be a wholesome endeavor, but this turned very sour. She finds out through the test that she is not related to anyone on her father’s side. Upon asking A-lia, Soule discovers that she is the product of adultery. She finds her biological father’s side of the family and subsequently becomes very close with them. This novella is about a lost family, and the relief one gets from discovering exactly where they came from.
MINDBLOWN is a short but powerful novella that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The author perfectly captures Soule’s anger and disappointment, and I empathized with her. Soule is strong and full of personality, and I admired her for continuing to push forward to find her real father.
The author’s writing comes off like reading a diary, as I was able to clearly see what Soule was thinking. The reader gets an up-close look inside her intimate thoughts and emotions, allowing the reader to understand her motives. Soule’s uncle Ned is another character I liked because he was there for his niece no matter the outcome of the DNA test.
The story moved quickly, so I found that I would stop to reflect on what I had just read. Throughout the story, there is tension and anger, and the pace of my reading quickened because I wanted to know more about Soule and how she would handle her discovery. I was shocked by Soule’s mother’s lack of empathy for her daughter.
MINDBLOWN is an emotional novella about heritage, family, and self-discovery. I highly recommend this short thrilling read to those who enjoy a good drama.
Pages: 49 | ASIN : B09X9BKRP5
Don’t Keep Hiding Your Painful Secrets
Carbon Under Pressure is your memoir of surviving three of the worst years of your life while trying to hold your family together. Why was this an important story for you to share?
Back in 2017 I made a promise that once I supported my daughter through her ordeal, I would do all I could to stop this tragic suicide epidemic we are facing globally.
My story takes you on every step of my journey as I peeled back the layers to reveal a deep, dark secret that had been tormenting my child for longer than I could have imagined. It was not until I discovered her secret that I realised the true impact being silenced has on our mental health. I knew I had to speak out and share my story with real rawness and honesty.
My story lifts the curtain on mental health, suicide, domestic violence, child and sexual abuse. All too often we hear about these topics through reports or statistics, but statistics rarely stir us into action the way a powerful real story can.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about suicide?
I feel the biggest misconception out there is: Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage more suicides.
There is so much stigma associated with suicide which impacts people’s ability to speak out about their suicidal thoughts. When in fact talking about suicide will not only reduce the stigma, but it will also encourage people to speak out about it, to share their story with others and to also seek help.
Discrediting this myth can open our eyes to the fragility of those who soldier on in silence when their world has been shattered. I hope this will encourage us all to support one another to create a more compassionate, respectful, and honourable society.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
When I was in the middle of living through this nightmare and consumed with guilt and regret, someone shared this quote with me that completely changed my perspective and how I live my life. The quote is:
“It doesn’t matter what has happened to you, it matters what you do with what has happened to you. Life is like a poker game. You don’t get to choose the cards you are dealt, but it’s entirely up to you how to play the hand.” ― Regina Brett
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Every reader will possibly relate to a different moment in my story. There are lessons about finding the strength to seek justice, about learning to let go and accept that you cannot control everything in your life, and about realising what a mother’s unlimited love really looks like.
But if you’re looking for one universal lesson, I believe what we can all take from my book Carbon Under Pressure is this: don’t keep hiding your painful secrets. They become burdens too heavy to carry and they hold you back from living fully and freely. Breaking the silence is the bravest and most empowering thing we can do. That’s when things really begin to change.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Rose thought she had it all, then she discovered her husband’s hidden life. The revelation crushed Rose, and the breakup shattered her family. Battling through heartbreak and betrayal, she thought the worst was behind her, but nothing could prepare Rose for what came next.
In this raw and confronting story, we follow three years in Rose’s life. With a rare honesty, she reveals the painful emotions of a mother watching helplessly as her daughter battles a tormenting secret. It will push her to the edge, but just as the nightmare promises to end, Rose’s family is haunted by a new and more ominous threat. Will the intense pressure tear her apart, or can she find the strength to face her demons and save the ones she loves?
Carbon Under Pressure is based on real events. Rose’s story is shocking, riveting and unforgettable, and what happened to her could happen to anyone.
The Power of True Love
Invisible Thread follows the lives of two families as they move through life and, through an unknown force, are being drawn together. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
A great deal of my autobiography is in the book. Part 1 is what I wish my life had been (minus the rape of Lindsay) and was inspired by a genuine friendship that is love but overcomes. Great obstacles. Part two is my true autobiography in the first three chapters. These events happened when I was a young child. The children’s and grandchildren’s experiences were based on some of my own children’s experiences, and some were made up.
What were themes vital for you to explore in this book?
The power of true love, no matter how impossible, can sustain the many challenges it has to overcome. This overcoming of life’s challenges was where the paranormal powers of Evan and Otelia came in.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
My sequel,” The Cure,” is in process. The same characters are in the book, but an unpleasant character is redeemed this time through his battle with terminal cancer.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
At first,each family occupies one part of the book, but near the end a connection is formed conjured up by two people who possess supernatural gifts, feeding out the invisible thread until it finds its home.
Unleashing The Power Of Love
Saving Gigy follows the process you went through to rehome your family’s beloved dog, and the challenges of making sure she went to a loving home. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The whole situation was so unexpected in my life and the way events unfolded , I strongly believed it was for a reason. I realized that reason was to share this story with a world .
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I want to invite people to consider how a little more love and compassion in even the smallest situations can change our world for the better. I want to encourage people to embrace the true meaning in life by unleashing the power of love .
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing was to find a courage to write at all . However, believing in a power of love and letting that power flow freely was like a smooth sailing .
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
The act of kindness even in the smallest situations in a day- by -day life can change this world for the better .
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Gigy was an adorable English cocker spaniel puppy. She had everything a puppy could want-a devoted owner, plenty of toys, a big backyard and a special human friend. But when circumstances required, the difficult decision was made to place Gigy with a new family, her heartbroken humans took on a tireless mission to ensure she was safe, loved, and cared for.
Saving Gigy is the inspirational true story of the lengths Gigy’s humans were willing to go to in order to make certain she was adopted by the right family, a family who understood how special she was and give her the attention, love, and care she needed. While there was no Hollywood ending to Gigy’s story, ILuta Sutra invites you to consider how a little more love and compassion in even the smallest situation can change our world for the better.
If you’ve ever had a dog, loved a dog, or any other pet for that matter, Saving Gigy will warm your heart and encourage you to embrace the true meaning in life by unleashing the power of love.
By Fire: Poems
By Fire by Rhonda Harris Slota is a book of expressive poetry. Consisting of a total of more than three dozen short poems, it includes eleven previously published poems that appeared in various magazines and other publications from 1983 to 2020, and the remainder are new poems that have never appeared in print before. The poems in this book cover a broad range of themes taken from the author’s own life, but they are relatable to many others as well. These themes include family, living in the rural Midwest, the seasons, religion, death, pain and sorrow, and dreams and fears.
I liked the imagery evoked by the author’s words in many of the poems, especially the scenes of rural life that brought back memories of stories told to me as a child by my own grandparents. Both the length of the poems and the style of the writing varied in the poems throughout the book, which I enjoyed.
Some the poems in this book have been published before, most of those appeared in print more than thirty years ago in the early 1980s and 1990s in a format that is not readily accessible today. This book provides a whole new group of poetry lovers with the opportunity to read these older poems. This collection is still important because it focuses on emotions that remain as relevant now as they were when they were originally written. I felt that they fit in well with the more than two dozen new poems included in this book. None of the poems felt dated even when written years ago or focused on events that were from many decades ago because, while many things change with the passing of time, emotions like sorrow, fear, love, and joy transcend time and remain the same from generation to generation.
Beautifully-written and emotionally-resonant, By Fire is a poetry book that will appeal to readers looking for poems that tells an impassioned story about family trauma and mental illness. It can be dark at times, but there is love and wisdom shared as well which makes this a potent and heartening collection.
Pages: 90 | ASIN: B09MYRSSPQ
LITERARY TITAN 