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The Lost Books – Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times
The Lost Books: Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times by Mo Conlan commences with an engaging narrative focusing on the steadfast Morwenna Goodwin, a young woman resolute in preserving her independence. The tale is set in motion when her long-time acquaintance, Henry Truelove, seeks to win her affection, regardless of the personal sacrifices involved. However, his ambitions are thwarted when his family estate is overburdened with taxes implemented by the stringent tax collector Godfrey Blount. Concurrently, the narrative unveils the looting of monasteries, leaving the priest, Tom, and the nun, Hilda, devoid of a home. These seemingly disparate events converge ingeniously towards the novel’s end, revealing how the discovery of the lost, intricately jeweled holy books rectifies the hardships endured by all.
This engrossing narrative captivates readers with its unpredictable plot twists. In addition, the authentic dialogue effectively transports readers back to the Tudor era. Furthermore, Conlan deftly avoids the clichéd character tropes typically associated with this historical period, resulting in a cast of intricately woven personalities. Morwenna, in particular, stands out as a compelling protagonist, breaking from the conventions of her era with her unwavering determination to maintain her autonomy. Similarly, the unconventional Henry Truelove, willing to relinquish traditional marital expectations for his beloved, will be a source of intrigue for readers who appreciate unique characterizations.
While I enjoyed this novel, I would have liked the author to have enhanced the transition from Morwenna and Henry’s romantic storyline to the lost books’ subplot. Additionally, given Morwenna’s resolute nature, it would be plausible for her to exhibit a more questioning stance regarding the legitimacy of a document that could significantly alter her life.
The Lost Books: Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times is an engaging and humorous read, particularly for those who are captivated by narratives set in the Tudor era. I would highly recommend this novel to enthusiasts of historical fiction.
Pages: 289 | ASIN : B0C1NXWKCS
The Perceived Nature Of Time
A Question of Time follows an insightful detective Watson as he tries to piece together what happened to his partner Holmes. Where did the idea for this novel come from, and how did it develop over time?
It evolved from a fermentation of stories. I had just read an omnibus collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by various authors. This led me to reread all Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories along with a collection of his horror stories. In that frame of mind, I reread The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. All the stories shared the same period: the environs of late 1800s London. The ambiguity of what happened to the time traveler at the end of the Time Machine, sparked the idea of having him fall backwards through time and encounter Holmes.
My research into the period filled in the color, but the real challenge was developing the multi-layered perspective used to tell the story. It is essentially a story about a story about a story.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Keeping the pace without jumping ahead.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are several themes I consider important.
The perceived nature of time.
Is there really any difference between experiencing a vivid memory where taste, smell, sound, and feeling are all here and now, or physically traveling to a different point in time?
Time travel without reference points is an unrelated set of events that could just as well be in the past as in the future.
I wanted Watson to be a man of his time and it is the strong bond of friendship between Holmes and Watson that makes Holmes confront Watson’s sense of shame over his wartime PTSD. (In the Victorian period of this story, a soldier, ex or otherwise, complaining of traumatic stress from battle was considered cowardly and deranged. Not to mention the social shame of being considered ‘not in one’s right mind’ and hence, untrustworthy. Not too different than how some are perceived today.) It is this wall that Holmes efforts at breaking down.
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
I haven’t decided. There are several possibilities for a series.
But I have begun another Sherlock Holmes book. The working title is ‘The Arsenic Waltz’ and it is the backwards investigation of a possible murder due to poisoned clothing. Paris Green and Scheel’s Green dyes from that period were set with arsenic compounds that actually killed people.
Another book I am working on is ‘Medea: A Prayer for Hecate’. I hope to portray Medea as a strong, capable woman not dominated by Jason or those around her. In Greek myth any woman with those qualities was often presented as a sorceress, conniving and malicious. In the archeology and the writing from the time, I believe there is sufficient evidence to indicate she was badly maligned.
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Flipping through my notes from that day leaves me perplexed. Was any of it real? That is for you, the reader, to decide.” – J. Watson
On concluding a long day of house calls, Dr. Watson receives an urgent summons to attend his friend, Sherlock Holmes. He arrives at 221B Baker Street to find Holmes in a state of deep shock and wearing scorched clothing that reeks of excrement. Fearing his friend may have been exposed to a virulent contagion, Watson must race against time to retrace Holmes’ movements and discover the source of his debility, a race that leads him to a cesspit amid the ruins of a fire-gutted warehouse, and a mysterious unburned area amid the charred timbers.
Back in his apartment, a convalescing Holmes unravels the mystery by relating his encounter in the riverside warehouse with a time traveler, who recounts his amazing exploits in the world’s far future. After promising to contact Holmes in two years, the Time Traveler attempts to return to his own time, but his time machine malfunctions, resulting in a fire that eliminates all evidence of his existence. Dazed and in deep shock, Holmes manages to escape the flames and make his way back to his lodgings.
While Holmes’ recounting of the Time Traveler’s adventures at first astonish and excite Watson, the stream of strange events―the Eloi, the Morlocks, the Palace of Green Porcelain, world-wide cataclysms, and a far-flung future devoid of human life―make him doubt the story.
With the lack of physical evidence and only Holmes’ account of what transpired, Watson―hounded by demons from his own troubled past―must determine if Holmes met an actual time traveler, or if the related events are a fabrication of Holmes’ fevered imagination.
A Question of Time pays homage to three great Victorian characters of literary fiction: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. James Watson—with a sly aside to a nefarious criminal—and the Time Traveler of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.
Never Give Up On Yourself
Soul Scepter: Time Marauders follows two friends from Idaho who are transported through time to medieval England and have to stop history from being changed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in Idaho near the area where the book begins and toured the Idaho National Laboratory when studying physics in college. I’ve always loved all things medieval and have been to all of the historical locations in England referenced in the book. The book is the product of a series of daydreams and the desire to provide young adults with inspirational fiction to help foster confidence and emotional resilience.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The tone evolved since the first draft. Some of the combat scenes started out as too mature for a younger audience and some of the teen interactions were probably too juvenile for an adult audience. I was fortunate to have many adult and teen beta readers which helped in striking a maturity balance that satisfied me and readers across an age spectrum.
The middle of the book changed from draft to draft, while the beginning and ending stayed consistent. An aspect that didn’t change was the importance of never giving up on yourself or the people you care about.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I sought to incorporate elements of characters digging deep to pull through desperate circumstances and sprinkle in nuggets of ways to find hope and resist self-harm. Some reasons this is important to me is that I’m an Air Force veteran, and a veteran commits suicide in the US every 65 minutes. Someone commits suicide in the US every 11 minutes, and a study estimated that there is a suicide attempt every 31 seconds. I wanted to be a part of the solution as much as I could. Most individuals taking their lives probably weren’t reading dry textbooks on techniques for overcoming suicidal ideations—but many people do turn to fictional entertainment when they want to escape.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
In the next book, the characters need to time travel to the future to find the solution to the havoc that the Dreizack has unleashed on the world. When they arrive in the future, they discover a Dreizack-ruled dystopian world where they struggle to survive as they search for answers.
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A militant organization attacks Will’s friends, sending him, a girl named Celeste, and their assailants time-traveling to medieval England. As a cunning modern-military commander plots a global conquest to rewrite history, Will and Celeste struggle to navigate the perils of 1345 while being hunted by the modern men.
With every heartbeat, the stakes grow higher as Will races against time to avert disaster—a challenge made more complicated by his growing feelings for Celeste and his uncanny link to the Soul Scepter.
Faythe of North Hinkapee: The Saga of a Young Woman’s Quest for Justice and Love in Colonial America
Women have faced countless challenges and obstacles throughout history, with their rights and freedoms being significantly limited. In colonial America, societal norms dictated that women were to be viewed as property and that their future was limited to marriage and children. In his book Faythe of North Hinkapee: The Saga of a Young Woman’s Quest for Justice and Love in Colonial America, James T. Hogg introduces us to a diverse cast of characters living in the town of North Hinkapee. Among the characters are Faythe and her younger sister Chloe, whose lives are forever changed after Chloe falls victim to a brutal assault by two influential town members. The book sheds light on how the incident impacts not only Chloe but also her family and those around her, providing a stark reminder of how class and gender played a significant role in colonial America.
Told from various points of view, the author has written a comprehensive and compelling narrative of the tragedy at play. Hogg’s masterful handling of multiple perspectives allows the reader to gain insight into the perspectives of Faythe, the men who hurt her sister and their family, the pastor in town, and the natives who inhabited the area originally. The different viewpoints all work together cohesively, with Hogg delivering this almost effortlessly. Although Hogg’s writing is generally engaging, one area that could improve is the dialogue, which sometimes can distract the reader from the story. At times I felt the language sounded too modern and did not fit with the colonial period. Nonetheless, despite this drawback, this story remains a captivating and thought-provoking read.
Faythe of North Hinkapee: The Saga of a Young Woman’s Quest for Justice and Love in Colonial is a gripping woman’s historical fiction novel. Hogg does a remarkable job of handling multiple POVs and tackling complex topics gracefully. Anyone interested in colonial America, gender roles, or compelling historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy this novel.
Pages: 1,409 | ASIN : B0CWDRLS6C
Literary Titan Gold Book Award May 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 Voice of God by Bill V. Lightsey
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award May 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
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award May 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
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 