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Desert Guardian
Desert Guardian by A.W. Baldwin is an action-packed adventure set against the vast and rugged backdrop of the American Southwest. The story intertwines past and present, starting with a flashback to a Pueblo ambush on Mexica warriors in 1224 A.D. This historic tension sets the stage for the modern-day narrative, where Ethan, a young man on a post-graduation trip, literally falls into a hidden world of illegal artifacts, danger, and unexpected friendships. After surviving a bike accident, Ethan is saved by Relic, a desert hermit, and the two forge an unlikely bond as they navigate the harsh desert and the shady underworld of artifact smugglers.
The author perfectly captures the wild beauty of the desert, making it a character in its own right. The descriptions are vivid. Baldwin writes with a clear reverence for the setting, and that love of the environment adds depth to the story’s more intense moments. The setting is well-crafted, but the dialogue and character development, at times, feel less polished. Ethan’s internal monologues occasionally lean toward melodrama, particularly when he reflects on his near-death experience, which may momentarily disrupt the immersion. Relic’s gruff yet wise personality shines through, especially in moments where he imparts desert survival tips or shares cryptic advice.
The pacing of the novel is generally quick, with moments of introspection balanced by bursts of action. The scenes involving the artifact smuggling ring are tense and engaging, especially as the reader starts to unravel how deep the conspiracy goes. Boss, the antagonist, is suitably ruthless, and his cold demeanor makes for a chilling counterbalance to the more humane characters like Relic and Ethan. The subplot involving ancient Pueblo petroglyphs and hidden trails gives the novel an air of intrigue that kept me flipping pages, wondering how all the pieces would connect.
Desert Guardian is an entertaining adventure novel for those who enjoy thrillers with a historical twist and a strong sense of place. Baldwin’s love for the desert landscape shines through, and the fast-paced plot will appeal to adventure lovers. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about survival, hidden treasures, and characters who live by their own rules in the unforgiving wilderness.
Pages: 209 | ASIN : B08MB6XL8S
Kernels of Truth
Pennsylvania Fireside Tales Volume 2 is a delightful anthology that captures Pennsylvania’s heart and soul by retelling some of the folktales that have been passed on through the generations. Where did the idea for this collection come from, and how did it develop over time?
My inspiration was both homesickness and books by an early collector of central Pennsylvania mountain stories named Henry Shoemaker. After graduating from Penn State in 1967 I ended up working in New Jersey. I missed the mountains of my central Pennsylvania Tom Sawyer boyhood, and when browsing through books in Princeton’s Firestone Library I found many books by Shoemaker. His stories and descriptions brought home right into my lap since I recognized many of the places and family names he wrote about. After I had read all the Shoemaker materials I could find, the thought occurred to me that I could collect similar tales on my own and write about them. Not only would it give me a chance to roam the mountains I loved once more, but it would also alleviate my homesickness. And it did!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this collection of tales?
When I started interviewing people to collect my tales back in 1970, we had just put a man on the moon, and I was looking for old-time Pennsylvania mountain folktales, legends, and human-interest stories whose roots went as far back as the Civil War, and even further back than that. Much to my surprise, the old tales could still be heard, and I’m finding some yet today! In fact, to get my arms around my collection I decided to categorize them into four types:
Native American-based episodes that included legends those aborigines passed on to early settlers related to landmarks and tribal traditions. Much to my delight I also found many human-interest stories handed down through families as oral histories that have never made the history books concerning how ancestors sometimes fought battles with Native Americans, sometimes were captured by them, etc.
Early hunting episodes when there were still packs of wolves and mountain lions in the Pennsylvania mountains, and stories about how people hunted them and were hunted by them – men and women alike, including one Little Red Riding Hood-type episode!
Ghost, witch, and supernatural tales. There’s a strong dose of that no matter which legendary domain you explore, and Pennsylvania is no different. What really surprised me the most when collecting these tales was how deeply rooted the superstitions are that form their basis. In fact, in 1970 I could still find old-timers in the more remote valleys who still believed in the old-time kinds of witches – those who could change themselves into black cats, ride broomsticks, cast evil spells, etc. One old-timer in particular stated, “They say there’s no such things as witches, but they’ll never convince me of that!”
Then my fourth category is kind of a catch-all. Stories of lost treasure, hidden gold, exaggerated animals, gypsies, moonshiners, and whatever else seems part of the genre.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Unlike Henry Shoemaker, who I later learned was prone to much exaggeration and romanticization of his tales, and even inventing some on his own, I wanted to preserve the tales as they were told to me, but I also wanted to explore the history behind them. I, therefore, envisioned myself as an investigative reporter to put the tales in historical context, even though most sounded like the proverbial “tall tale.” By doing this I could decide whether the tales have any kernels of truth buried in them at all. Did they have any basis in fact at all, and what were their origins? It has truly blown me away sometimes by what I found using this approach.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be published?
My Sunbury Press publisher has asked me to write a fourth volume for my three-volume Pennsylvania Mountain Landmarks series that they have already published. No publication date has been set yet.
Author Links: Goodreads | Sunbury Press Authors | Pennsylvania Fireside Tales | Website | Amazon
In offering a second volume of Pennsylvania mountain legends and folktales to the reading public, the author does so with a note of appreciation to all who found the first volume of legends of interest – public and press alike. The old stories and folktales which appeared in my Pennsylvania Fireside Tales Volume 1 and which seemed to strike a “chord” within me, also apparently appealed to others as well. Most people like these survivors from a bygone day – a time that was simpler in many ways than this present hectic age. In turn, these “survivors” not only help to perpetuate that feeling of kinship some of us feel toward these rugged Pennsylvania hills, but they also connect us to a rich fabric of history and to the people who lived it. With that link or connection, they cause us to feel closer to the past; our life’s span seems extended, and we seem less mortal. It is with this background, then, that this second volume of Pennsylvania fireside tales is presented for the public’s reading enjoyment. As explained in the first volume of this series, the title “fireside tales” comes from the fact that these stories and legends are variants of, or are exactly like, episodes that were related by early settlers sitting around their fireplaces on cold winter evenings when story-telling was the only form of entertainment by which to relax. Return now to those days of old when the pace was slower and life was harder. Keep in mind, however, that people then seemed content with their lot, finding pleasure in simple things like a wolf’s howl, a panther’s cry, a firefly’s glow, or a flaming sunset sinking slowly behind the everlasting hills.
In this volume:
- The Black Ghost of Scotia
- Juniata Gap
- Through the Veil
- Snakes, Snakes, Snakes
- The Lower Fort
- Spellbound
- Last of the Big Shots
- Haunts of the Highway
- More Snakes
- Little Red Riding Hood?
- Burned at the Stake
- Ridden
- Dead for Three Days?
- Mollie Maguire Memories
- Sitting with the Dead
- The Throwback
- Bloody Run
- Beyond Belief
- Jack’s Narrows
- Nights in the Colby Narrows
- Western Pennsylvania Wolf Days
The Estelusti Trail
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of mid-nineteenth century Florida, where the very ground seems to tremble with tension, The Estelusti Trail by Roy V. Gaston plunges readers into the life of a young warrior navigating a landscape fraught with danger. As the English and Spanish colonists voraciously stake their claims—on lands, resources, and even people—the region becomes a powder keg. The stakes intensified with the pressing demands of the Indian Removal Act, kindling a fiery resistance among the Seminoles.
Gaston’s narrative is seen through the discerning eyes of Pete Horse, a teenage Black Seminole warrior. He’s not just a warrior of battles but of cultures as he grapples with the convergence of age-old traditions and foreign invasions. This historical fiction deftly blends real events with a rich tapestry of imagined experiences, portraying the profound cultural and political tugs-of-war of the period.
As societies with deeply entrenched beliefs and customs clash, trying to retain control over territories they each deem as their own, readers are offered an intimate look into the complexities of these cultural intersections. The plot’s dynamic pace ensures that The Estelusti Trail is not just an enlightening historical journey but also an enthralling page-turner.
Gaston’s narrative prowess not only holds the reader captive from start to finish but also ignites a curiosity about the intricate, multifaceted history of the Seminole Wars. This is historical fiction at its finest, providing both enlightenment and entertainment.
Pages: 307 | ASIN : B0CDD53ZLW
The Last Polar Bear
The Last Polar Bear by Dana Rodney is a story about the impending doom of the polar bear and climate change. It might be a venture into the mind of the unknown, but it raises important questions regarding our ways of dealing with climate change. There is a combination of facts, fiction, and mysticism in this book. It begins with the story of Anuk, the polar bear, and continues to explore the effects of climate change and further changes through his point of view and others.
The writing style of the book is engaging and fast-paced. The beginning with the struggle of survival keeps the readers hooked and curious throughout the story. The author has also explored the Inupiaq culture and how they are closer to nature in their understanding. The author has also tried to explore the human world and human actions through the eyes of a polar bear. This new point of view provides a very enthralling experience for the readers. I was amazed to read about the simplest of things being described in a new light. It somehow drew attention to the natural and the man-made in our lives. The number of changes brought about on earth due to human advancements is infinite. The impact is now visible even on the big picture. We need to be aware of the challenges, or we will lose everything we cherish.
Overall, this book is a peek into the current condition of the earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The polar bear’s point of view, the myths and stories connecting the Inua to them, the voice of the earth, the Inupiaq culture explored through layers in the story, and much more. This book takes us into the ways of people in polar regions and shows us the strength of nature. Humans need to read this to decenter themselves and look at the earth. This is also the story of the few passionate people who are hell-bent on saving these species even in the face of denial by others. I recommend this book to people who are aware of climate change and want to understand the drastic impact our activities have on other lives.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0BLQ596MH
