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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.
Taken
Newly widowed Sylvina embarks on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of loss in E.C. Roderick’s captivating fantasy romance, Taken. When fate intervenes and leaves her stranded in Colonial Era New England during the French and Indian War, Sylvie finds herself entangled with a group of courageous Scottish men fighting for the British.
Roderick skillfully weaves together themes of love and loss, using the time jump as a powerful metaphor for Sylvie’s emotional journey. Amidst the challenges of survival, Sylvie encounters the charming Leif, whose magnetic chemistry with her adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. The supporting characters, including Leif’s family, contribute depth and nuance to the story, while the dynamics of social relationships during that era are portrayed with intriguing authenticity. One of the book’s strengths is how effectively it transports readers back to the historical setting, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in Sylvie’s adventures. The exploration of Sylvie’s rediscovery of love after her husband’s passing is heartwarming and inspiring, making for a truly engaging read.
While Taken does share some plot points with the popular Outlander, it also diverges in unique ways, making it a distinct and compelling tale in its own right. I also feel the dialogue between some of the characters was stiff and unnatural; these minor flaws, however, don’t diminish the overall charm of the story.
Taken holds the promise of becoming an exceptional and unforgettable tale. The captivating romance, well-developed characters, and evocative historical backdrop combine to make this book an absolute delight and an enchanting read for all fantasy romance enthusiasts.
Pages: 522 | ASIN : B09GRJ4PG3
My Imagination Took Over
“Loving Beth” follows a resilient Civil War-era woman battling to save her farm and two abandoned children, while contending with life-threatening dangers, a bitter suitor’s scorn, and the complexities of love. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My husband and I lived in the Alaskan wilderness for many years. We built cabins and lived off the land. While there, Sam shared stories about his ancestors—especially those of his spunky great grandmother, Easter Mullens. I was fascinated by her life. We eventually purchased my husband’s mother’s old homeplace nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, and together we built our home by hand. Living in the wilderness for fifteen years gave me the skills and understanding of how our forefathers and mothers’ must have lived in the 1800s. Sam often talked about his aunts foraging from the land—they knew what vegetation you could eat and what you couldn’t. I became enamored with these hardy, resilient mountain people and their stories.
I started to write Easter’s story as nonfiction, but my imagination took over and a fictional story grew from the fragments of her life and circumstances.
Beth and Jacob are compelling and well-developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
As you know, characters are typically a composite of people we know and characters we imagine, with a bit of ourselves sprinkled in there. Beth originally was a combination of Sam and my ancestors—at least, how I imagined them to be. As I worked with her, she took on a life of her own. Instead of simply being impressed by her courage, I realized how vulnerable she is. I also realized that being so young, she is going to make mistakes a more mature person wouldn’t. But I think her driving characteristic is her spunk. She does what she has to do to survive in a harsh world and to protect those she loves.
Jacob is a decent man whose devotion to his departed wife leaves no room for another. He has to come to terms not just with his wife’s death, but with what is expected from him as he puts the pieces of his life back together. Most importantly, he must realize his harshest expectations are those he has cast upon himself—and that his stubbornness is destroying not only his own happiness, but the happiness of those he loves.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Faith, love, and determination. Faith has been so important in my own life and got me through so much when we lived in the Alaskan wilderness. Therefore, I wanted to illustrate the role faith played in the lives of Beth and Jacob. Love comes in so many different forms, and I wanted to explore the different types of love. There’s the love between a man and a woman; the love between parents and children—even if they are not biologically related; and, of course, the love that grows from relying on good neighbors and friends. Determination is what allows us to survive the unsurvivable. Without the determination that seeds in our guts and grows to see us through the worst times of our lives, we would not succeed. Of course, determination can also work against us. When we stubbornly adhere to principles that are no longer relevant, our determination cause much more harm than good.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Loving Josephine is already in the works. Also taking place in the late 1800s, it’s the story of Josephine, the only child of a prostitute. When her mother becomes too ill to work, the proprietor decides to replace her with young Josephine. Her mother sends a letter to Josephine’s father to come and rescue her. Unfortunately, her father died during the Civil War, and her letter goes to his family, who have no idea Josephine or her mother were a part of his life. Yet, without their help, Josephine will have no choice in the fate that awaits her.
Author Links: Wins Of Skilak | Website | Facebook
Times were hard after Beth McCullough’s father died in the Civil War, but she and her mother are getting by on their little farm outside Rosewood, West Virginia. The kindly banker holding the loan lets them pay what they can. Then Beth’s mother dies suddenly, and the banker’s arrogant son gives her only thirty days to pay her full debt. Beth is left alone and lonely and fears losing the only home she’s ever known. It would be nice to have someone in her life like Jacob, the handsome man who found her mother. Then to her horror, Beth discovers two small children who’ve been abandoned. It’s one more thing for her to worry about, but Beth has to keep faith in God’s ability to work miracles.
Although he has to travel to Baltimore to care for his ailing mother, Jacob Wallace can’t stop thinking about Beth, but he’d promised his late wife he’d never love again after her tragic death. After receiving a letter with terrible rumors about Beth, Jacob returns to Rosewood, angry, bitter, and disillusioned, more determined than ever to keep his vow to never love again. He’s right to close his heart against Beth.
As Beth struggles to protect the children and keep her farm, she’s also defending against Jacob’s unfounded suspicions. The danger escalates with an attack and threats to her life. But God moves in mysterious ways. Is there room in Jacob’s heart for a new love? Will they learn to trust each other and have faith in God’s plan to find their way together?
Hope
Mary’s Moment follows a switchboard operator in Thousand Island Park in the year 1912 who loses her memory in a disastrous fire accident. Where did the idea for this novel come from, and how did it develop over time?
My mother, Mary, inspired this story. When she was a young woman, she spent two summers serving her aunts in the Thousand Islands Park. Every summer she’d take me there for an ice cream at the Guzzle and tell me stories of her time in the Park. So, it was always my desire to write about it. When I began researching and discovered the tragedy of the three 1912 fires that nearly destroyed the Park, I had my story, especially because my mom nearly lost her father in a barn fire when she was just fourteen.
How did you come up with the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
Goodness, isn’t there always an unscrupulous Archibald Reginald of sorts in all our lives? I know there have been such kinds of adversaries in several chapters of my life, and an evil insurance salesman fit the bill well in this fire-ridden story.
There is so much to be said about love in this book. What do you hope your readers take away from your story?
All eleven of my Thousand Islands’ stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Mary’s Moment also focuses on healing broken hearts, forgiving those who hurt you, and embracing God’s redemption.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
All of my books are set in the beautiful Thousand Islands Gilded Age. A Summer at Thousand Island House comes out July 25 with Wild Heart Books. It’s part of their Gilded Age series.
About: A Summer at Thousand Island House
Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to spend her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.
But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator Mary Flynn is christened the community heroine for her quick action that saves dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor’s burning cottage. Will she remember the truth of who she is or be deceived by a treacherous scoundrel?
Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?
Readers of Christian historical romance will enjoy this exciting tale set in 1912 Thousand Island Park, NY.
Mary’s Moment
In Mary’s Moment, author Susan G. Mathis delivers a vivid exploration of life in the picturesque Thousand Island Park. Our heroine, 28-year-old Mary Flynn, finds pride and contentment in her existence amidst her aunts whilst operating as the switchboard operator and telegraph interpreter at the Columbine Hotel. However, a sweltering and parched summer incites a series of fires that not only disrupt the tranquil beauty of the islands but also instigate turmoil in Mary’s life. It is within this chaos that she encounters the heroic firefighter, George Flannigan, and the unscrupulous insurance salesman, Archibald Reginald, both contending for her affection. The sudden ignition of the Columbine Hotel sends Mary’s future spiraling into uncertainty in more ways than one.
This captivating installment in Susan G. Mathis’s expansive “Thousand Islands” series deviates slightly from its predecessors, shifting the focus from the scenic depiction of the Lawrence River’s islands to a more intimate examination of character development. Both Mary and George are expertly sculpted characters with rich backstories that edify their present motivations. Archibald Reginald, though an unprincipled antagonist, never descends into caricature, maintaining a delicate balance of loathsome intrigue. In a commendable feat, Mathis extends this depth to minor characters as well, giving them a significance that resonates throughout the narrative.
This narrative is a romance devoid of unnecessary embellishments, instead relying on a gripping sense of anticipation to maintain momentum. The omnipresent danger of fire adds an undercurrent of tension that ensures readers remain hooked, ever aware that an explosive event is imminent.
Mary’s Moment offers a profound exploration of the theme of forgiveness. Mary must learn to forgive others to achieve personal growth and open her heart, while George grapples with self-forgiveness for past mistakes before he can progress in life. Their journey of faith is a testament to the power of forgiveness and the transformative potential it holds.
Having savored the entire “Thousand Islands” series thus far, Mary’s Moment stands out as a personal favorite. The shift in focus towards character development without sacrificing the allure of the Thousand Islands was refreshing. The suspense woven into the narrative elevates the book, approaching a new genre altogether. Each character shines in their respective roles, contributing to a charming and enthralling tale that I would wholeheartedly recommend to avid readers time and again. Susan G. Mathis has created a compelling read in Mary’s Moment.
Pages: 360 | ASIN : B0BWH84X9N
I Boldly Began To Write My Story
“A Moment of Life” follows a Victorian-era couple who embark on an intimate journey uncovering shared beliefs and lasting intimacy through their profound conversations in the midst of everyday life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My readers probably already read it in my Author’s review that there was one particular moment in 1989. when I was 24 years old and when the U2 record “The unforgettable fire” got into my hand. First glance at the timeless black and white picture of Moydrum castle (central Ireland) on the record’s cover, instantly overwhelmed me with some intense nostalgic “déjà vu” mood and I felt the need to express that mood in the form of a personal written word. That is when I got the idea for this story because, for a moment, I saw two people sitting on the walls of a castle and enjoying a beautiful day. Well, I boldly began to write my story using pencil and paper (there were no personal computers and Internet in 1989) but I was too young and very inexperienced at that time to write this story properly. Fortunately, the inspiration for this story never left me, so I managed to finally use this inspiration three years ago to finish it.
Why is the main setup “…an unwilling pair is persuaded to see how they were made for each other”? To be honest, I don’t know. It just came to me that way. When I started to write this story, I didn’t have a clue how the story was going to develop and how it was going to end. In the very beginning I had only Albert, Helen and Magie. All the other characters just jumped into the story later and immediately took their role like hockey players during flying substitutes. It was probably a very similar process to art painting. When some painter draws the first lines on canvas, I’m not sure that he knows exactly how his work will really look at the end of painting.
Your characters are compelling and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
All characters in this story came from my mind and experience, but the two main characters, Albert and Hellen, both come from my heart. There is a lot of myself in Albert’s personality and a lot of “perfect woman” in Helen’s personality. Helen is sensitive, wit, intelligent and most of all brave. Actually, her character is my personal tribute to all women, because I think that women are generally much more interesting as a person then men. Especially when you deal with some intelligent woman, such as Helen e.g. If you compare some intelligent man and intelligent woman, I can bet that the woman would be much more inspiring and amusing then man. Why? Well, that’s just my opinion (experience), but this may be also because women always use their whole brain, simultaneously using left and right hemisphere at same time, while men usually use just half of their brain, in some kind of switch regime, using one hemisphere for serious work and the other one only for fun and pleasure. Finally, women also use their hearts much better than men and also understand and accept their feelings much more properly.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are seemingly a lot of themes in this short story, such as what is love, what is passion, what are our personal fears and inhibitions, who are deep and who are shallow souls and also a fact that what is good and what is bad is quite relative as well. But the main theme is “A moment of life” itself. Our life is not just circumstances and events that happen to us. Our life is actually the feelings and impressions that we experience inside ourselves when we live through these events and circumstances . One can attend the most interesting events or can enjoy the company of the most interesting people, but if he doesn’t experience those events and people as it should then it’s just a waste of time for him. On the other hand, someone can literally experience a real “Moment of life” while just watching “how grass is growing”. That’s why this story is dedicated to all people that have rich inner life and who can intensely experience inside of themselves even some apparently harmless and banal situations and conversations and turn them into an exciting experience, that is, a moment of life. Watching Helen and Albert from the side, it seems that they are just relaxing on the balcony and chating laisury, but at the same time, they both are experiencing inside themselves the most exciting moments of their lives, the moments that they certainly will never forget. I personally think that these real “Moments of life” are the one of the most accurate measurement units for the richness and poorness of our lives.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
In the meantime I’ve already finished another book called “Fox on the run”, but it’s not yet translated to the English language from the Serbian. This is something completely different from “A Moment of Life” and the story is placed in a modern urban Serbian area (Belgrade), but also mixed with some very traditional Serbian mileu. The main character is a TV star guy with the surname “Lisica” which actually means Fox in Serbian. Therefore the title is “Fox on the run”, but it doesn’t have anything with some fox animals. Additionally, for the title for this book I was also inspired by the song with the same title played by UK glam rock band Sweet, which was one of my favorite bands at the beginning of my “Teenage Rampage” (Sweet) age. I should also mention that I take part (with “Fox on the run”) in one competition for unpublished new stories organized by one of the Serbian book publishers. Result of the competition will be in November this year and that is the likely timeline when I’m going to publish this new book on Amazon. Until then, I hope I will find new readers worldwide, especially after the wonderful Literary Titan review of my first book.
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Even though it is set in Victorian England, in a time when Britain was becoming great, this story is equally suitable for this day and age because it provides answers to certain questions that are always legitimate, such as – What is love? What is passion? What are our wishes? What are our urges,? What are our fears?
Loving Beth
Upon landing in the serene town of Rosewood, nestled within the bosom of West Virginia, Jacob’s tranquil existence is abruptly upended by an urgent call to Baltimore, to be at the side of his sickly mother. Jacob is called away, and he can’t stop thinking about Beth, but he promised his late wife that he’d never love another.
Beth, the female protagonist, is sparingly described physically, yet her luminous spirit resonates throughout the narrative. Her innate warmth and approachability towards all those she meets, even in the wake of unsettling egg theft, make her character immediately likeable. It is through this thread of events that her intricate involvement with a couple unsavory characters wishing her harm and finding two abandoned children, begins to unravel.
The author’s narrative progresses with an almost effortless flow, maturing into a sophisticated and engrossing tale as the plot thickens. With skillful brushstrokes, the author paints a vibrant tableau of the breathtaking landscape, drawing readers into the very soul of the scenery while simultaneously endearing them to an ensemble of captivating characters, whose charisma and essence linger in the readers’ memories long after the final page. “Loving Beth” stands out for its subtlety in spiritual elements, which is woven into the narrative primarily through moments of prayer, enriching the storyline without dominating it. The villains of the piece, while not excessively sinister, add a necessary dash of conflict, without resorting to graphic violence or distasteful acts. This delicate balance perhaps underscores its alignment with the Christian genre.
“Loving Beth” serves as an entrancing entry into the mesmerizing world of the ‘Daughters of Appalachia Series’, deftly sculpted by Bonnie Rose Ward. Its harmonious blend of romance and adventure, against the backdrop of awe-inspiring natural beauty, makes it a truly compelling read.
Pages: 314 | ISBN: 0999698737
Literary Titan Gold Book Award July 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
They Were All Loyal by Melissa Burrowes
Under His Divine Gaze: A Spiritual Memoir by Monique Pilon-Fraschetti
Buried Aces by Staci Andrea
LITERARY TITAN 