Blog Archives

A Battle for Her Nation’s Freedom

Author Interview
Mary Rae Watry Mauch Author Interview

Wild Colts Make the Best Horses– The Intrepid Life of Abigail Adams is a biography on the former First Lady and her life before and after her husband’s role as President. Why was this an important book for you to write?

All my life, I have admired Abigail Adams’ accomplishments and have felt that the Adams family has been overlooked. Even in my college history courses, the only woman mentioned as a contributor to the American Revolution was the seamstress, Betsy Ross. My own life mirrors Abigail’s, therefore I easily identified with her and hoped to transfer this empathy to readers. She was one hundred years ahead of her time on many issues, such as the abolition of slavery and equal education for women. My hope is that students will become more interested in learning our history, that they encounter teachers who make it come alive, and that our history is presented fairly, including its strengths and weaknesses. At this divisive time in our nation, all citizens need to grasp and understand the initial ideals of this nation so that freedom will survive! Lastly, I wished to leave my five grandchildren a legacy that includes a love of history, their nation, and the written word.

When researching the life of Abigail Adams, what was one thing that surprised you from her life?

Abigail’s incredible loyalty and devotion to both John and the country she helped to birth. Abigail not only molded bullets in her kitchen, but she also produced saltpeter using urine and rainwater to be used as gunpowder. Despite being aware that both her femininity and fertility would be questioned, Abigail drove a modest horse and carriage to attend many sessions of Congress while serving as the Vice-President’s wife. Due to John’s ten-year absence serving as a delegate in Philadelphia and as a diplomat in France, Abigail independently managed their farm, supervised the homestead, created homespun clothing to support the boycott of English goods, and educated their four young children. Her knowledgeable and charismatic influence in the White House reinforced  John’s relationship with Congressmen and Justices. In an age when women’s opinions were neither elicited nor accepted, I was also surprised to learn about John’s pride in Abigail as his trusted advisor. 

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Abigail Adam’s story?

An appreciation for the imminent dangers the Founding Fathers and Mothers, particularly Abigail Adams, faced during our Revolution, a crucial turning point in history.  Abigail was John’s confidante and most trusted advisor, who despite the criticism she received as First Lady, she continued to staunchly battle for the advancement of America and the survival of her nation’s freedom.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

There are so many fascinating figures in history that deserve recognition. I am undecided about which of these I would passionately devote my time to researching and bringing to life.

Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon

Join an adventure walking in the shoes of Abigail Adams, wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams. Many stepping stones along this journey are first-hand accounts of Abigail’s correspondence before, during, and after the birth of her nation. Her forthright, knowledgeable insights reporting from the hotbed of Boston during the Revolution reveal the struggle of a young, loving family often separated as they balanced the needs of family vs. the needs of the emerging nation. You will encounter discourse from famous people and witness Abigail’s benevolence. She taught a young African-American boy to read, advocating for his inclusion in a traditional school. An early abolitionist, she also fought for women’s education and suffrage. Share her anguish as she buried four of her children. Realize Abigail’s political prowess as chief advisor to John. Abigail became the first of two valiant women to wear the labels of both wife and mother of an American president. This passionate portrayal of Abigail’s life highlights the hardships endured by the patriots to cement America’s values of liberty and justice for all.

Eternal Vigilance

Ralpjh L. Bayrer, in his book Eternal Vigilance: Guarding Against the Predatory State, writes about the status quo, government functions, the economic state of things, and the world as a global village. The reader is taken through various concepts and enlightened on how economics works. The author’s objective is to break down his topics so that the reader will fully understand. Every topic covered in the book is given an overview and then followed by an in-depth discussion.

Ralph L. Bayrer’s encyclopedic writing style is appealing and encourages the reader to dig deeper. For instance, on Cautionary examples of Representative Government, the author uses practical examples to discuss how our actions as humans have led to a financial mess. This chapter will help you as a reader compare the economic policies in your country versus other countries and learn how governments manage their finances. The mention of countries in the Global North versus others in South America and other developing nations gives one an idea of how finances affect every aspect of human life.

The economy is among the top topics vastly covered in the book. Ralph L. Bayrer extensively writes about the generation of economic advancements and how government policies impact the growth of wealth in societies. Reading about economic freedom was enlightening as the reader gets exposed to economies that often lead to healthy debates.

Ralph L. Bayrer writes in a convincing tone, encouraging the reader to see past flaws and dents and getting them to think more seriously about the government’s financial systems, the economy, and the significance of free markets. History lessons are part of this in-depth book. The author has mastered using historical references to make his point while comparing and contrasting various situations and drawing examples before writing the conclusion of a particular topic.

Eternal Vigilance: Guarding Against the Predatory State is an excellent reference book if you want to learn about economic freedom, the role of government, and human cooperation.

Pages: 344 | ASIN : B087TQGG22

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They’re Certainly Different

Author Interview
Charles Pinwill Author Inteview

Different Essays: (They’re Certainly Different) covers a vast array of controversial and politically charged topics in one collection. What was the inspiration for this collection of topics?

I realised initially that public perceptions about money creation needed correction, so wrote a couple of essays to say so. New revelations occasioned new essays.

How did you decide on the title of this novel?

The commonality of my essays with those of other essayists is difficult to discover; hence they’re different.

What essay in this collection was the most interesting for you to write?

Many were fun, but “Proletariats or Proprietors” is at the guts of the decisions that society must make for itself in deciding its future.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am working on Different Essays II (They’re Certainly Different Too) with 26 unpublished essays and could push the go button pretty much any time.

Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads

These are easily the most challenging essays on the planet. Pinwill is an original conceptual thinker with a dry sense of humor and turn of phrase. Whether its politics, national economics, history, theology or money his writing all comes from somewhere different. You?ll need to buy his essays to discover whether you love or hate them. He has even thrown in the first Profit and Loss Account ever done for the United States, and the first Comprehensive Balance Sheet ever done for Australia, to show us that he is not just a pretty face and a comedian. His ?Mongrel Dog? articles are all at the expense of politicians. His pieces on money leave all bankers? ears burning. He proves with very scholarly accounts that modern nations are profitable, and suggests that the profit might be distributed as a National Dividend rather than a National Debt. Yes, he certainly comes from another place and is going to a different one as well. Walk with him for a mile and you will feel the seductive attraction of his destination.

Trust and Confidence

Book Review Icon

Trust and ConfidenceThe 1998 Battle Between the Secret Service and Ken Starr is a historical look into the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. This in-depth analysis of the event started with author Jim Lichtman interviewing Lewis Merletti, the former Director of the United States Secret Service. This astute book gives readers an enthralling look into the political drama that unfolds when two factions of the Justice Department: Starr’s Office of Independent Counsel (OIC) and the upper echelon of the Department of Justice (DOJ) are pitted against each other. Lichtman opens this book with the thought-provoking epigraph:

If you have integrity, nothing else matters.”

“If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” – Senator Alan Simpson

This sets the tone for the rest of the book and introduces the reader to the theme. It is a book about trust and confidence, the basic tenets of the United States Secret Service. 

Merletti was an important figure in Starr’s investigation against the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal, which was part of the much bigger Whitewater Scandal. This intriguing book is based entirely on personal interviews, documents from the personal files of the former Secret Service Director Lewis Merletti, and several other documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

The story is not just limited to Merletti’s encounters regarding the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal. It also covers how Merletti defended the report of his internal investigations on the raid by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) on a religious sect led by the spiritual zealot, David Koresh. Additionally, Lichtman discusses how Merletti fulfilled his role in the presidential detail and ultimately got appointed as the Director of the US Secret Service. This gives the reader a deeper insight into Merletti as an individual, what he stands for, and thus better explains the concept of trust and confidence around which the entire book revolves. 

Trust and Confidence is an intellectually invigorating read. This phenomenal book is recommended for anyone interested in political drama and wishes to dive deeper into the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal and look at its nuances as the book deliberately prevents the scandalous details of the extramarital affair from overshadowing the theme.  

Pages: 212

Wild Colts Make the Best Horses

Wild Colts Make the Best Horses- The Intrepid Life of Abigail Adams by Mary Rae Watry is an epic biography of an accomplished woman of American history named Abigail Adams. The former First Lady lived in an era when women were considered second-class citizens. But she armored herself with so much grit and passion and defeated all odds with flying colors. First, as a counsel to her husband, President John Adams, and later as a guru to her son John Quincy Adams, Abigail established herself as a leading lady in American politics.

Author Watry puts together beautifully every little detail of Abigail’s life; every major event is presented in such a way that the reader never has a dull moment connecting the dots. Watry has done a thorough job of detailing Adams’s family history by providing actual conversations, letters, and photographs. As a reader, it is effortless to navigate through the writer’s words and get a sense of the early years of American independence. Watry does a great job compiling, writing, and presenting facts in a straightforward manner.

Wild Colts Make the Best Horses- The Intrepid Life of Abigail Adams is filled with extraordinary details of Abigail Adam’s life. The writer has done her justice by presenting the information in a way that feels honest and relatable. The author’s hard work is visible as you read and think about such a great historical figure. Readers will appreciate that this awe-inspiring biography keeps the chapters manageable. The chapters are short, making it more appealing to tackle in piecemeal reading sessions; as in a classroom setting. Don’t get fooled by the number of pages; you will be amazed at how fast they finish.

For readers who want to know more about the personality, character, and compassionate life of Abigail Adams in the era when women had no say to anything outside the kitchen and their family, this book will provide details often left out of the history books. Like they say, there is a woman behind every successful man, which is so true in Abigail Adams’s life.

Wild Colts Make the Best Horses- The Intrepid Life of Abigail Adams With will appeal to readers of women’s history, political history, and women’s biographies.

Pages: 698 | ASIN : B0932JXZNG

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Animal Lab

On day one, the humans are gone.

A testing lab full of animals is left to fend for themselves when their humans suddenly vanish. The animals develop a new self-awareness; they start to think and act for themselves, and together they form a society in the absence of human oppression.

Rizzo, Cagney and Billie, three rats, bring together the animals of the lab to form a new nation, a constitutional democratic republic. Representatives are elected, and the government starts to form laws upon which to build their nation. Progress is forming and animals take on a new, wholesome way of life. Though peace cannot last forever, politics clash, murders run rampant, and crime is a new concept our characters are forced to face.

In Animal Lab author Bob Zeidman creates a world dominated by animals that represent the struggles we see in society today. This novel will engage readers in a philosophical discussion about American politics and how society can be viewed as a whole. Readers will find this book to be riveting and educational. The gradual development of the characters’ personalities as they form their nation and become more independent and free-thinking is captivating.

Billie and Cagney, two of the main characters in the story, are great examples. The two rats have been in an on-and-off-again relationship, but as they develop their rational thinking, through reading philosophical books, they quickly become inseparable. One of Zeidman’s characters remarks that they have practically become one person/animal. Though, as we get to the end of the book, we see Billie is no longer the shy little rat she once was; she turns into a domineering leader who controls and manipulates not only her partner but also the nation of animals in the lab. Cagney’s personality is mellow compared to Billie’s. But we can see how committed he is to Billie and would do anything for her, which leads him down an uncomfortable, immoral road.

Animal Lab is a quick read that packs an amazing amount of action and drama into the pages. Fans of political fiction and satirical fiction will enjoy this poignant novel. There are a few sensitive topics like the animals’ murders that could be upsetting to sensitive readers, but the overall theme of societal downfall and rebuilding will keep readers engaged. It has an uncanny resemblance to George Orwell’s Animal Farm so readers that enjoyed that novel will find this one a worthy read as well.

Pages: 149 | ASIN : B09HHMW3BB

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Dear Barack

Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel by [Claudia Clark]

Human beings can always find common ground if they try hard enough. Being on two sides of disagreeing continents does not necessitate an enmity. Barack Obama and Angela Merkel understood this. It did not start with an obvious affinity for each other. Angela Merkel was adamant to warm up to the incumbent president of the U.S. Barack Obama was desperate to repair the strained relationship between America and Europe as well as get the country through the recession. He had his work cut out for him. It took a while but they finally developed a relationship based on mutual respect and genuine friendship as well as a harmonious effort to serve their people. Author Claudia Clark does a fantastic job of bringing this all together in her illuminating book, Dear Barack.

This is basically a buddy story. Only it is not fiction and the main characters are two of the most powerful people in the world. It is an eye-opening story about the human capacity to overcome the urge to become enemies in the pursuit of the interests that suit their cause. It may have been a difficult time in more ways than one but these two leaders were guiding lights not just for the people in their countries but for the world. It also renews hope that good leaders do exist, especially after the administration that succeeded Obama’s. The story is especially interesting that both of them were outliers – Barack, the first black president, and Angela, a female leader in the free world.

Claudia Clark has narrated history in a way that is engaging and uplifting. You do not need to be a history fanatic to enjoy this book. The author conveys history in a way that is compelling and captivating. She pulls in the reader and puts them in the meetings and private conversations between the two. This is a well-researched account of the inspiring relationship between these two highly admired leaders. Her regard for both of them shines through her words and her tone.

The author even adds a little bit of Obama’s wit and charm to the story. Her narration is nothing short of gripping. It is the kind of book you discuss with your friends and family because there is so much intellectually invigorating content.

You cannot help but shed a tear when Angela does as she watched her friend and fellow leader leave office. You will definitely chuckle when you read about Obama’s sign-off to his friend. Dear Barack is a beautifully written book about a wonderful partnership.

Pages: 336 | ASIN: B09HL8VQB1

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People Still Fall For It

B B Denson
B B Denson Author Interview

Beneficial Accomplishments of Joe Biden provides readers with satirical conservative commentary on President Biden’s lack of achievement in office. What inspired you to write this book?

I had been feeling helpless as I have been watching what has been happening to our country.  I didn’t want my grandkids to someday say, “Why didn’t you try to do anything?”.

What was the creative process like to bring this book together?

As your review stated, the concept of basically an empty book isn’t a new idea. One of my daughters had given me a book titled “Husbands I have known and liked”. That book kept catching my eye and making me laugh. I felt like so many of us are so upset about what is happening these days that we all needed something to make us laugh a little.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about U.S. politics?

Some people seem to think when they are watching the news, they are finding out what is happening in the world. The truth is, the news media presents not just the stories they want people to hear, but from the point of view they want them to have. If one point of view is all you hear, it is hard to think any other way.

It is hard for people to change, especially as they get older. Older people that have been liberals their whole lives, sometimes don’t realize how much liberal policy has changed over the years. People may have been liberal when they were young for example, because they wanted to make sure all people were being treated fairly. These days, liberal policy is the opposite of treating people fairly.

Young people that are liberal don’t seem to know anything else, since that is what the schools have been teaching them.

And when I hear talk about “Man-made, catastrophic climate change”, it reminds me of the ancient stories of rulers telling their people that they need to make sacrifices to them in order to make it rain. It is a tale as old as time, “Give me your money and I will give you good weather”. It is amazing to me that people still fall for it.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

No idea. But when I wrote each of my books, I didn’t plan on writing any of them until the day I got the idea, and then I couldn’t quit until I had it done, so I expect that if I write another, that is likely to be the way it happens.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website

Winner of the International Impact Book Award for Humor!
https: //internationalimpactbookawards.com/october-winners/

The emperor is wearing no clothes. Someone had to point it out.

There is a bit of satirical conservative commentary about the following:
1.) Reduced Healthcare Costs 2.) Advancement of Education 3.) Improved Race Relations 4.) Encouraged Free Speech 5.) Safer Cities 6.) Strengthened the US Military 7.) Protected US Intellectual Property from China 8.) Brought Manufacturing Jobs Back to the USA 9.) United the Country 10.) Made the USA a More Prosperous Country 11.) Ensured Free and Fair Elections 12.) Made Americans Proud of the USA Again
Buy one for each of your liberal friends!