Blog Archives
The Chosen One: Mary’s Story
In The Chosen One: Mary’s Story, author C.A. Simonson takes us on a captivating journey, re-telling one of the most renowned biblical tales about the birth of Jesus. This engaging narrative revolves around a young Jewish girl named Mary, who finds herself on the cusp of a significant life event – her wedding day and the transition into a new chapter of her existence. With dreams of fulfilling her purpose to God, Mary is supported by her loving parents and her best friend, Hannah, as she prepares for her momentous day.
However, Mary’s life takes an unexpected turn when an angel reveals that she will be the chosen one to give birth to the son of God. The news brings immense happiness to Mary, but it also presents a unique challenge – how can she explain this divine calling to her betrothed, Joseph? Will he be able to accept that she has been chosen for a greater purpose?
Throughout the book, Simonson skillfully weaves in modern-day language, which breathes new life into the ancient narrative, making it accessible and compelling to a contemporary audience. The author effortlessly keeps the reader’s attention at every turn, recognizing the story’s profound significance to countless individuals. Notably, Simonson’s portrayal of Mary’s family showcases them as multi-dimensional characters, allowing us to see the mother of Jesus beyond her divine role and as a relatable person with her own aspirations and emotions.
One of the book’s remarkable aspects is its universality – it appeals not only to religious readers but also to those who enjoy historical fiction. The narrative proves to be both intriguing and captivating, making it accessible to anyone regardless of their beliefs. While some readers may notice a slight variation in pacing, with the latter part of the book picking up speed, the initial sections embrace a more gradual approach, adding depth to the overall reading experience.
The Chosen One: Mary’s Story is a delightful read, transporting the reader through time and evoking a profound sense of immersion. Simonson’s writing exudes a genuine passion for the subject matter, allowing readers to connect with the characters and events on a personal level. Whether one seeks spiritual enlightenment or simply appreciates a well-crafted historical tale, this book promises an enriching and enjoyable experience.
Pages: 108 | ASIN: B0B7F77ZFX
She Discovers A New Life
Taken follows a widow from the twenty-first century who is transported back in time to 1756 and held hostage while falling in love with a British soldier. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for my story began well over two decades ago when my sister and I had newly graduated from college. She and I had always had a strong affinity for history. While she loved British history, I loved American history, and we both fantasized about being time travelers to experience those histories because we loved learning about all that had taken place within those particular eras.
As children, our parents loved traveling with us throughout the country visiting historic locations, which inspired our imaginations growing up. And, while growing up loving period dramas depicted on TV and in movies, we read many classics written by authors from the American Transcendental Period and British Romantic Period. During the same time, she and I were also introduced to historical romance novels as teenagers, which I loved and devoured.
Being fond of the romance genre, it wasn’t until a few years later after college when I became inspired to write about a young widow who was transformed from her sorrowful experience after traveling through time, where she discovers a new life and embarks on a journey of new found love. I also chose New England as the setting for my story, because I’m familiar with the area and have a deep affection for it after having gone to school in western Massachusetts.
Was the character’s backstory something you always had, or did it develop as you were writing?
Although I outlined my story, my story also began developing organically as I was writing the character and scenes. As a result, the character’s backstory emerged like many other scenes in the story which took on a life of their own.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One theme that I felt was important to explore was the idea of overcoming loss in life and discovering new hope in choosing to experience what life has to offer after all. Another theme that I felt equally important to explore was that love heals and when it’s mutually found and accepted, love cannot be broken and transcends all that was ever known as it brings forth the true sense of happiness.
Can you tell us more about where the story and characters go after book one?
This is a fun question! And, while I hope not to spoil what comes next after book one, I will start by saying that book one establishes the foundation of the characters’ relationship as they encounter each other under trying circumstances. After book one, the characters continue to grow as they learn more deeply about each other. They continue to experience trying circumstances which will threaten their security and the love that they share for each other as the French and Indian War progresses within their midst. Their new trials will determine the strength of their bond to each other as they also confront their differences as it relates to their unique life experiences. As it is a romance, despite their tribulations, the love they share for each other triumphs against all odds as the saga continues.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Matt was my husband. I was supposed to be with him for the rest of my life when the accident happened and took him away from me. I wouldn’t love anyone else. I believed.
Until, I meet Leif. He tells me to trust him and to take my chance with him.
Except, I’m his hostage. Not only am I his hostage, but time is holding me captive too, and I’m suddenly trapped in a world that is not mine. The year is 1756, and I am strangely in Massachusetts Bay Colony. War between Great Britain and France explodes across New England, and terrorizes the territory.
I don’t know how I got here, and all I want to do is find a way home. But, the more time I’m stranded here, the more I spend time with Leif, and I am compelled toward him.
Our lives are becoming inextricably entwined, and I’m afraid of losing everything that I once knew and loved.
I begin questioning where I truly belong as I think of the life I left behind.
I wonder if I’m going to withstand this, because all I know for certain is he is bound to my survival… and to the truth of why I’m here.
*If you enjoyed the suspense and mystery in books like Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, you will love this thrilling historical romance!
*The first book in the Taken series by E. C. Roderick featuring a rich, romantic adventure of a strange twist of fate that binds a British soldier fighting in the French and Indian War and a young American woman from the twenty-first century.
Peace, Love, and Spiritual Revolution
Trippy Hippy follows a young man in 1967, the Summer of Love, who moves to San Francisco and goes on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The so-called “Summer of Love” was an especially vibrant period in San Francisco instigated by drugs and rock music. It brought young people from all over the country to descend upon San Francisco along with ideals of peace, love, and spiritual evolution. It was a particularly exciting period to use as a setting for my novel.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
The character Arnie/Gator was based on my own transition from bookkeeper to full-on participant in the lifestyle of the times, but once that transition is made the events that Gator participates in are wholly from my imagination.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes that I think were important are embodied by the slogan “Make Love; Not War.” The use of drugs to attain enlightenment plays a huge role in the book as well as the daily life and interactions of the characters. The idea of “free love” is introduced early in the story when Nola gives Gator a welcome to the Ashram blow job with no accompanying drama. Gator’s love and loss of Eddy brings out the pain that comes with living on the edge. Music, too, plays an important part in the lives of the characters as Gator and Wabash form a band to not only make money but to express their ideals.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I’ve written the first draft of a historical novel about two boys growing up in pre-civil war West Virginia. I’m not sure when I’ll go back to it. Right now I’m working on a sort of wild boys story set in the early 1950s in Houston where I was raised. It’s called The Road to Hell, and it’s both humorous and potentially tragic as the young gang members pull off pranks that become increasingly serious in nature. I’m also considering writing a second draft of a story I wrote years ago about a drive through Mexico in an old car with a hole in the radiator called A Hundred Years of Cilantro.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Trippy Hippy peels back the facade of Adler’s Ashram to expose the daily lives of its occupants. Wabash Jones, musician and future rock star, Nola and Victor Granola, apartment managers and social magnets, Jeepster Joe, adventurer, and teen boy seducer, and Gracie Fontana, Wabash’s doll-like sweetheart. This acid-splashed tell-all by Gator lays bare the hippy lifestyle during that remarkable year known as The Summer of Love.
The Creation Of A Bloodthirsty Icon
The Prophet and the Warrior takes the biblical stories of Moses and Joshua and transforms them into works of historical fiction, creating a comprehensive narrative. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The idea for the novel came from my reading the books of Moses in the Bible (KJV). I became aware of how the typical teaching about Moses glosses over the horrible atrocities the man committed in the name of God. I realized then that the big three religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) were not so much interested in teaching the whole truth as they are in teaching a version that suits their purpose (control of the population). This is, in fact, brainwashing, a procedure used by all people who want control and power (think of the Roman empire, the various Kahns, and Adolph Hitler).
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I read and reread Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy looking for obvious departures from what we now consider moral behaviors (There are many). I researched the archeological evidence of the existence of Moses and could find none. When Moses supposedly died they buried him in an unmarked grave (Deuteronomy 24 and others) supposedly to keep his many enemies from corrupting it. I realized that this is a good cover story if one is trying to create a religious icon from stories passed down by word of mouth about a legendary national hero for which there is no solid archeological evidence.
There are no writings in Egypt or other countries of the period, no trash piles or graveyards in the wilderness areas supposedly inhabited by thousands of refugees for forty years. There would have had to have been many graves and skeletons of bodies preserved in the ground in that arid climate. There would have been trash piles with broken Egyptian pottery and the like (which do not decay). The absence of these pieces of evidence and the absence of Egyptian records of something as economically transforming as the Exodus are hard to dismiss.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
I have heard little from readers outside of a few who liked the open context of the book and one rather ignorant condemnation that claimed I was condemning the actions of Moses and God. This is exactly what the book is about, the creation of a bloodthirsty icon who is on a first-name basis with God. I am very careful not to condemn God because I believe in a creator God who loves all creation. Here I use the word “which” instead of “who” because no human has ever seen God and so it is natural to create a God in a super-human mage. A friend, who read the book with a Bible at his side (to check references) said it was like two books in one. This is because Moses starts out as a well-meaning, though slightly paranoid, young man who builds a new life with a nomadic tribe after he kills an Egyptian. Later he appears to develop delusions (schizophrenia?) and goes on to become a powerful and psychotic dictatorial leader.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Actually, I have three other published books, available at bookstores, and a fourth and fifth ready for publication. Peter Olaf – The New World At Last, and its sequel, Suddenly A Larger World – Sons Of Peter Olaf, and AcrossThe Chasm, which is a paranormal love story are in print and are being converted to audiobooks. A manuscript, The Scrolls Of Elizaphan is being made into an audiobook and will be published as a paperback, possibly in two volumes because of its size (400+ pages). A manuscript, Alltrust – The Alliance Of Trust, a world government story, is ready for publication. And I have started a new novel.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Literary Titan Book Award August 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Rito de iniciación by Diego Uribe
A Time To Grow by Lowell Duane Pabst
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Book Awards August 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
The Die Game by Stephen A. Carter
Tales of Wonder by Kenneth Hawk
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Pontius Pilate: An Unexpected Memoir
Pontius Pilate: An Unexpected Memoir by Pablo Zaragoza is a captivating journey into historical fiction, tracing the intriguing life of Pontius Pilate and his lineage, from his humble beginnings to his end. In this meticulously rendered narrative, Zaragoza expertly navigates the tides of Pilate’s existence, illuminating his Roman citizenship, his ascension within the military, and the growth of his family lineage.
The novel provides a compelling exploration of Pilate’s transformation, encapsulating his rise from a mere boy to a celebrated soldier, earning the admiration and respect of Rome through his gallant efforts in battle. The tale takes an intriguing twist as Pilate matures, revealing a test of his unwavering loyalty to Rome when appointed as Judea’s procurator.
Immersed in the critical turning point of Jesus’s fate, the book masterfully depicts the circumstances leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion. It eloquently presents the political and religious undercurrents that characterized the era, as well as Pilate’s crucial role in this narrative.
Zaragoza’s storytelling prowess is evident throughout the book. He skillfully resuscitates this biblical and historical narrative, offering a fresh perspective on the well-documented crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The novel’s prose is crisp and compelling, drawing readers into Pilate’s world and fostering a unique connection.
Zaragoza’s remarkable research skills are fully displayed in this narrative, lending a well-rounded understanding of the Roman Empire’s history and culture. The author’s narrative finesse transforms a potentially austere subject into an enthralling tale brimming with war, politics, power, religion, and the unavoidable bloodshed that marked Rome’s expansive legacy.
In this riveting tale, Zaragoza subtly yet effectively captures the evolution of Pilate’s character, his moral compass, and his nuanced views on Rome’s governance. Zaragoza’s adeptness in emotionally engaging the reader is exemplary, providing a gripping experience from the opening to the closing lines. The novel expertly balances an engrossing narrative with a profound examination of the historical context.
Pontius Pilate: An Unexpected Memoir presents an insightful and enjoyable reading experience. Zaragoza’s novel is both a rewarding delve into historical exploration and an expertly crafted tale that proves to be a standout addition to the historical fiction genre.
Pages: 404 | ASIN : B09W431MZY
Vanished on the Vaudeville Circuit
In Carolyn Summer Quinn’s poignant novel, Vanished on the Vaudeville Circuit, we are introduced to August La May, a dedicated Vaudeville performer and loving father of two enchanting girls, Florabelle and April. The story unfolds when August thinks he sees his long-lost partner and the mother of his children, Violetta, after four years of abandonment at a Nebraska theater. August grapples with whether or not it was Violetta and, if so, what will it mean to him and his daughters.
Set in the backdrop of 1920s America, the novel follows August’s relentless quest to find his missing daughter, praying for an elusive reunion. However, the journey is fraught with challenges as August, and his family face societal prejudices against performers like them, viewed with suspicion and mistrust. The reader is left pondering, along with August, how will he ever locate them.
Quinn skillfully crafts a close-knit family dynamic between August and April La May, a father-daughter duo whose unwavering support for one another sustains their hope even in the bleakest circumstances. The resolute spirit of the La Mays united against a world seemingly against them evokes a heartfelt emotional response from any reader. Vanished on the Vaudeville Circuit succeeds in gripping its audience with a compelling plot. The narrative, primarily told through August La May’s perspective, is filled with slang from the 1920s, adding to the book’s authentic feel. The book’s central themes of family bonds, heartache, and determination remain powerful and engaging, urging readers to accompany August and April La May on their poignant journey to find the elusive Florabelle, whose disappearance has left a void in their vaudeville world.
Vanished on the Vaudeville Circuit by Carolyn Summer Quinn contains emotional depth and a captivating plot making it a worthwhile read for anyone seeking a tale of perseverance and the unbreakable ties of family.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0C7MLMV26
LITERARY TITAN 