Blog Archives
Finding Footprints
Finding Footprints: A Sasquatch Saga written by the team of Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller, is set in the lush Pacific Northwest, where protagonist Lily Evergreen, a hearing-impaired girl with a deep connection to her Native American roots, explores the enchanted forests accompanied by her service dog, Malachi. The narrative takes a fantastical turn as Lily uncovers a portal to another world and meets Winston, a young Bigfoot. Faced with the choice of embarking on a daring quest or returning to her familiar world, Lily grapples with the decision, her journey exploring themes of courage and cross-species friendship.
The story’s strength lies in its portrayal of Lily, who transcends her hearing impairment to engage with her environment in unique and insightful ways. Her friendship with Winston, characterized by non-verbal communication, beautifully illustrates the power of understanding beyond words. This narrative is a celebration of overcoming obstacles and forming unbreakable bonds. While the treatment of time in the story can sometimes seem fluid, with transitions between scenes that move swiftly, akin to a video game’s dynamic cutscenes, this narrative style adds a layer of briskness and excitement to the unfolding events.
The book’s concise length allows for a fast-paced journey that hints at deeper scenes and character developments, suggesting a broader world and story that could be expanded upon in future installments. This brevity ensures that readers are continually engaged, always anticipating more, and leaves them eager to explore more of the potentially epic moments and evolving friendships that lie within this rich narrative tapestry. The core of the story— the profound friendship between a girl, a Bigfoot, and a loyal dog—resonates deeply, emphasizing emotional connections without reliance on dialogue. The narrative is like a finely brewed cup of tea that has yet to reach its full flavor, yet it remains a commendable read for those interested in tales of adventure, cultural richness, and magical realism.
Finding Footprints: A Sasquatch Saga will engage young readers who are looking for an exciting and meaningful adventure that is rooted in folk tales and myths. It celebrates the beauty of diversity and the importance of friendship, especially those that are unexpected, and is sure to inspire and delight readers of all ages.
Pages: 154 | ASIN : B0CZ7WNG57
A Break From the Day-to-Day Drama
A Hole in Her Sky follows a young woman coping with the loss of her twin sister while at the same time navigating a family feud that threatens her newfound romance with a childhood crush. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I really wanted to take a break from the real world and let myself wander in a time and place that was less complicated in the day-to-day drama. This gave me a perfect place to experiment with love in its various forms, from family dynamics and friendships all the way to first love. The loss of someone who is essentially a part of you could completely erase who you are, and Maddie has a chance to either disappear completely or rewrite herself. Her strength becomes the only thing she has to hold onto in an uncertain time. She was an interesting character to interact with along the way.
There is a sense of love and innocence throughout the novel. How were you able to capture those feelings and put them into words?
I tried to imagine a time when my world felt innocent. And if that failed, I tried to see it through the eyes of a child like my own. With so many things making our kids grow up so fast, you have to remember what it was like to see the wonder in their eyes as they simply gaze up at the stars. I’d like to think that most of us would love to have more of that wonder back in our lives.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
My experiences as a child still impact my writing. When I was younger, I often escaped into whatever world I was reading about at the time. Books got me through quite a few difficult times. I always wanted to do the same for another reader. I want to provide a small getaway from the world to let them forget the things that are weighing them down, if only for a little while.
I find a problem in well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Unfortunately, at this time, there are no plans for a second book. This was always intended to be a standalone.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
A Hole in Her Sky
Dealing with the devastating loss of her twin sister and an overwhelming sense of abandonment, Maddie spends her summer in a serene rural village with her grandmother in search of tranquility, hoping to get away from the emotional storm that is brewing inside of her. Her stay takes her on an unexpected trip that will force her to face her problems head-on and learn what it means to be sad, joyous, and in love.
A Hole in Her Sky, by Erik Daniel Shein, Karen Fuller, and Melissa Davis, is a compelling young adult novel that explores the complexities of grief, the nuances of young love, and the extraordinary resilience that lies within when faced with unfathomable loss. The narrative is told through the eyes of Maddie Tyler, a 17-year-old, whose emotional journey readers can easily identify with. Like most of us, she struggles with negativity that comes from inside, and it unfortunately affects her reality and fate. The use of Tristen’s character as not just her partner, but also as this supportive, affirming, and caring person was a nice touch added to the narrative. The authors use a delicate touch to intricately design their interactions, capturing the awkwardness and excitement of first love and creating a vivid image of the innocence and uncertainty that go along with these feelings. However, their affair is anything from easygoing. There is an additional layer of tension and strife brought on by the rekindling of a long-standing family rivalry between the Tyler and Tristen families. The authors expertly strike a balance between the dramatic and romantic components, making sure that the plot never gets overly serious or formulaic.
A Hole in Her Sky is a heartfelt and exquisitely written young adult book that examines sorrow, love, and the inner strength that may emerge from the depths of despair. The story is gripping from start to finish, thanks to its emotional resonance and surprising turns. This book is proof of the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to discover hope and fortitude in the face of tragedy. I highly recommend this book to anyone undergoing severe traumatic and emotional experiences in their life right now, as this book can give them hope and help them see there is still light at the end of the tunnel.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B0CJ6L1Z44
Lethal Connections
Lance Knight, a homicide detective in New Orleans, has his work cut out for him when bodies begin to stack up. He teams up with Gina, an intelligent coroner who doesn’t give up so easily to solve a challenging case. Thomas Wilcox, a man who was dumped in the swamp with a distinct mark on his body, is just one of many that end up dead. Are these deaths connected? Is there a serial killer on the loose? As the investigation deepens, Lance soon becomes a target. Unsure of whom to believe, he knows one thing, he must find the killer before they find him.
The story immediately opens with drama and suspense, and I was instantly hooked. The authors provide readers with a captivating narrative that will keep them on the edge of their seats. Lance is passionate about his work, and that takes precedence over anything in his life. Gina is the coroner who is methodical, intelligent, and also passionate about her work. I enjoyed that the authors kept the storyline moving while providing short backstories on the characters introduced in the stories. This helped the story to move along while also giving the reader a sense of each character’s motivations. Authors Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller have combined their writing skills and creativity to create a thrilling story with likable characters. The details of the dead bodies may be a turn-off to some, but I found it intriguing. The twist at the end threw me for a loop and was the icing on the cake for this book.
I highly recommend this gripping read to fans of thrillers and crime fiction. It is the perfect read for suspense lovers with strong and intelligent characters. Lethal Connections is an engaging and page-turning novel that will not disappoint.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B0BSG42JH1
Kona
Melanie Parker is a 16-year-old girl who has ambitious hopes and dreams of working with and rehabilitating sea creatures, yet is tied down by her experience battling childhood cancer. Still, her love of the ocean and sea animals lands her a job at the aquarium where her mom works. Here, she meets and makes lifelong friends, including Chase, the handsome boy she takes a liking to fairly quickly, and Kona, the sweet, isolated dolphin that she forms a bond with almost immediately.
Kona is a beautiful coming-of-age story written by Erik Daniel Shien and Melissa Davis that explores love, loss, and what it means to never give up no matter what life throws your way. Shien and Davis do a wonderful job of creating a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It’s the type of story that readers of all ages can sit down and enjoy. It teaches about the importance of wildlife and shows what it means to be both selfless and someone who cares about the environment.
Between the stress and tension readers feel alongside Melanie due to the fear of her cancer potentially returning, and the beautiful prose, it’s a page turner that leaves readers hanging on every word. The relationships between Melanie and every character that readers encounter are beyond skin-deep and are a joy to follow; especially the bond that she’s formed with Kona. She finds herself connected to Kona through the overlapping struggles that they both face with their health situations and they become each other’s support.
Kona is an emotionally-resonant and uplifting story with the same emotional depth as John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, although not as tragic. Not only is it a sweet story that teaches important lessons, but the book also has a well-defined and inspiring narrative that makes this an enjoyable romance novel overall.
Pages: 294 | ASIN: B08DVG814X
LITERARY TITAN 