Blog Archives
As the Daisies Bloom: A Novel
T. P Graf’s As The Daisies Bloom is as enchanting as it is charming. The story is intimately and poetically told. Like a well-written symphony, it has a rhythm and magnetism that is undeniable. It is especially hard not to fall in love with the main character, August.
While it is a work of fiction, this novel gives a heartfelt account of August’s life that is so touching, so authentic, and for lack of a better word so human. It is clear that this character was so thoroughly thought out, his experiences so beautifully brought to life.
Although the book starts with a chance encounter between August and a young family just freshly arrived in town, it ends in an interweaving of lives that we never see coming. The author also does well explaining the details of August’s life before this chance meeting and how the past has spilled into the present in interesting ways.
The fact that this book is written in August’s own voice, even with the accent and all, gives it an authenticity reminiscent of a memoir. What is more captivating though is that the author has managed to use this man’s seemingly simple life to draw attention to serious societal issues.
By easing us into topics like racism, sexism, faith, patriotism, and homophobia, he has personalized them, given them faces, invoking empathy and deep introspection. With neither insults nor judgment, he has made me think deeply about what it means to be human, to love, and to be loved.
Apart from the use of descriptive and almost poetic language, I also love that the author took his time to fully develop the characters in this book. Even though they are described as seen through August’s eyes, I could clearly picture each character. And not just physically, but who they are as a person.
It was clear what each one stood for and what was most important to them; something difficult to fit into 184 pages. Unexpectedly I found myself laughing with the characters and mourning with them, their struggles seeming so real to me somehow.
Pages: 193 | ASIN: B08CMPHL28
Worldshaper
![Worldshaper (Worldshapers Book 1) by [Edward Willett]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51KmwbxhX0L.jpg)
Worldshaper by Edward Willett is an exciting supernatural adventure story that builds on a unique premise to deliver a mesmerizing story. Set in a small town, the book delves into the life of Shawna, a seemingly normal woman whose perfect life takes a suddenly deadly turn. Her best friend is killed. But after experiencing this horrific event it’s erased from existence, including her friend. Shawna then encounters a mysterious stranger that helps her understand what is happening to her, her world, and comes to find out that all of it is threatened by an evil entity.
Worldshaper has one of the most unique setups to a story that I’ve read this year. Shawna has a supernatural ability to shape worlds to her liking, although she doesn’t know it. This sets up the story to be a learning experience where we as the reader learn along with Shawna as she’s learning about it. Delivered in the first person we get to see Shawnas wit and charm first hand. She becomes endearing and fun to follow. Shawna starts out as somewhat of a reluctant and naive hero, a bit cliched for the fantasy genre, but what makes this novel stand out from the rest is the extraordinary journey that she goes on, exotic worlds that she visits, and the dramatic twist at the end. To say I didn’t see the twist coming at the end would be an understatement. I don’t think anyone will see it coming. You should read this novel for the fantastic ending, if for nothing else.
What I liked the most about Worldshaper was the world building, but it was also something that slowed the story’s pace a bit. Edward Willet has obviously put a lot of thought into building not just one world, but a universe of shaped worlds. It’s all presented to the reader up front, which can be a lot to take in, but readers who enjoy deep world building and unique design will enjoy the meticulous development of the backstory. Sprinkle in some offbeat characters and dramatic turn of events and you have an exceptional supernatural story that is highly engrossing.
This is book one in Edward Willett’s Worldshapers series. This sets the bar high for the series. With most of the Worldshaper mythology established here, other novels are surely primed to deliver non-stop fun and entertainment. Worldshaper is thoroughly entertaining, rarely dull, and always fun.
Pages: 368 | ASIN: B0782XSM22
Devil Days in Deadwood
![Devil Days in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Book 11) by [Ann Charles, C.S. Kunkle]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51d+mpx22KL.jpg)
Devil’s Days in Deadwood by Ann Charles is a fun supernatural thriller. The story delves into the life of Violet Lynn Parker a seemingly normal human being who works as a real estate agent but is involved in the supernatural as a ghost hunter. The protagonist is part of an agency that is tasked with defending Earth from the evils unseen by normal human beings. The compelling heroine of the story faces a formidable foe but she requires help from and engaging cast of characters in order to overcome the exact definition of evil incarnate. The story is set in the alluring town of Deadwood, a town plagued by mysterious happenings since time in memorial ranging from ghosts to haunted houses.
Ann Charles has invoked various stylistic devices that highlight her writing skill and made this novel stand out in the paranormal genre. Although this is book eleven in Ann Charles’s Deadwood Humorous Mystery series, I think new readers will be able to jump right in as I have. What I particularly liked about this novel, and Ann Charles’s view of the supernatural, is the satirical lens that it is all viewed through. It’s a stimulating blend of humor, mystery, and paranormal that all come together to make the reader alternate between gasps, laughter and furiously flipping pages. It reminded me of the writing style of Douglas Adams or A. Lee Martinez.
Violet is an exceptionally well defined character, someone we can relate to as a mother who works hard to provide for, and protect, her children. But in the same vein of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she’s a demon executioner who risks her life to defeat some truly vile, other worldly, beings. While I understood Violet’s motivations, and her emotions, I did want a little more backstory. The world created here is interesting and I wanted to explore it more, though I suppose I could by reading the other novels in the series.
I was excited about this novel from the very beginning, based on the short synopsis of the book. I was thoroughly entertained and may have found a new series to while away the time in quarantine. Fans of supernatural thrillers will find an exceptional piece of literature that offers a unique voice to this genre.
Pages: 393 | ASIN: B0884DJ4MP
The Spark That Started Metal Bones
Metal Bones follows two story lines, one following brothers on the hunt for a cure to a ‘steel elbow’ disease and another following a man with a cannon for an arm who’s looking for his long lost father. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling science fiction story?
The spark that started Metal Bones was a song called ‘Alive’ by Phil Lober. When I listened to it I pictured a scene in my mind that I had to write a story around. I was also watching Star Wars a lot at the time and I think some of those themes crept their way in as I was writing.
Leo and Gaeth were intriguing and well developed characters. What were some ideals that guided their character development?
Thank you! The main thing that guided their character development was the dynamic between an older sibling and younger sibling. Leo wants to help Gaeth get better but Gaeth doesn’t want to be the one who has to be taken care of all the time. I used that to guide their decision making throughout the story.
I enjoyed the unique world you’ve created for your story. What were some themes that were important for you to incorporate in your galaxy?
I’m glad! A big one was family. Obviously Leo and Gaeth are a huge part of that, but I wanted to explore it with Tank as well. Even though his family isn’t blood related, I believe it doesn’t have to be and can even be stronger than biological family at times.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Metal Bones! I don’t have a specific release date yet but it’ll be 2021.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook |Website
Leo Spearman cares about one thing: getting a cure for Gaeth’s “Steel Elbow”. Yet, when they decide to leave Earth to cure him, they realize they may have to break galactic law to get it. Leo believes everything is going according to plan but when their new ally Sonja comes along, Leo becomes more and more dedicated to Onyx, a group set on stopping the Sol Empire from taking over the galaxy. As Leo and Sonja’s connection starts to grow, Gaeth begins questioning his brothers’ dedication to finding his cure.
Across the galaxy, an alien named Tank is determined to win the Ceremony, hoping to find out what happened to his father, who won before him. Only when he finds the answer, he is forced to escape his home, losing his hand in the process. After being saved by Enzu, she equips him with an arm cannon, the only expense being to work for her and protect a small boy named Myca at all costs. Tank is grateful for Enzu saving him, but the more time he spends at Bisekt, it makes him question everything and who to trust.
However when an outside threat forces Tank and Leo to work together, they’ll discover if they’ll be able to save the ones they love or if it’s already too late.
Fans of Mass Effect will love the first installment in the Metal Bones series!
Becoming God
Daniel Maunz Author Interview
Questions of Perspective follows an unenthusiastic lawyer whos only friend disappears, sending him on an existential journey. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thought-provoking novel?
I knew from the outset that I wanted to write a story about a person becoming God, and specifically, what a person should do if granted infinite power and knowledge. I also started writing this novel after leaving a profession as a litigator that was unfulfilling and left me without the time or energy to do much creative writing. I wanted to capture some of that personal struggle in the novel as well. I saw an opportunity to merge those two inspirations by having a mortal’s brief exposure to omniscience serve as a catalyst for that individual to reexamine their own life with fresh eyes, and take stock of what is important (and what is not).
Dave is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving themes you wanted to capture in his characters journey?
I, like a lot of people, spent a lot of years on autopilot, devoting my entire existence towards a career for no apparent purpose. That is also where Dave starts off at the beginning of Questions of Perspective. I knew fairly early on that Dave’s brief exposure to Godhood would be the triggering event that drove his journey, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how Dave would be changed as a result of that experience. I felt it would give Dave a greater perspective of his place in the universe (hence, the title), and a greater appreciation of just how valuable the gift of life can be (and how easy it is to take for granted). I also envisioned a reawakening of Dave’s ability to empathize with others, which, again, was the result of him being briefly connected to all of existence.
Dave’s odyssey of self-discovery is wrought with questions that are difficult to tackle. What were some ideas that were important for you to explore in this book?
This novel tackles a number of difficult, age-old questions that have no clear answer: What is the meaning of life? Why does God let bad things happen to good people? Why does anything we do matter when we will all ultimately die anyway? Rather than try to provide a definitive answer to these questions, I thought it was interesting just to establish a framework, through fiction, that allows these questions to be addressed in a fresh light. I think the answers to these questions are unique to every individual, but I’m hopeful that Dave’s journey may help some readers come up with their own satisfactory answers to these questions.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently revising a screenplay that I co-wrote, which is a mystery-comedy. We had hoped for it to film this summer, but now I’m not sure when that will take place in light of current events. The next novel I’m working on focuses on the notion of family, which is something that wasn’t fully explored in Questions of Perspective with its largely isolated protagonist. As in Questions of Perspective, my goal in the new book is to tackle some large, universal themes through a quirky narrative. It will also have a female protagonist, which is a writing challenge I’m enjoying so far (and I will be heavily relying on my wife on that front). I’m probably too early in the process to even guess at when it may be available.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website | GoodReads
No one knew it at the time, but April 19, 2011, was the most important day in the history of the world.
After his only friend and colleague, John Manta, disappears without a word, Dave Randall further entrenches himself in the humdrum life of an unenthusiastic lawyer. But once he begins to understand what happened, he embarks on a journey to uncover the deeper meanings and implications of John’s fate.
Accompanied by Peaches the cat, Dave uproots his life and reinvents himself in the midst of his search. Along the way, he is haunted by his piecemeal understanding of John’s fate and what it means for his existence. Little does Dave know, his journey of self-discovery will have ramifications that extend far beyond the borders of his own little life.
Remember, No Matter What; Chin UP, Tits Out
![Chick lit: Remember, no matter what; Chin UP, Tits Out: A chick lit romantic comedy (Chin UP, Tits Out: A chick lit comedy series) by [Oh, Miranda]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517pzCLinnL.jpg)
Remember, No Matter What; Chin UP, Tits Out by Miranda Oh centers around an 18 year-old girl named Hadley Hope McLeary. The story begins with Hadley working at a fair in Winnipeg, Canada. She meets a handsome boy named Riaan who is from Africa. They fall in love but when the fair comes to an end, he has to continue traveling to other fairs until going back to his country. Devastated from being apart, they do their best to have a long distance relationship. They plan to find Riaan a working visa to enter Canada again, but it is a long and difficult task. They do everything they can to be together, but will they manage to get the visa? Can their love withstand the long months apart?
The authors uniquely positive attitude towards life shines through in the tone and style of this fun romance novel. The writing style is absorbing and easy flowing, which for me, is starkly different from many romance novels in the genre. Miranda Oh uses colloquial vocabulary, not the typical punctuated dialogue, that adds depth to both the characters and the story. I felt like this would be a fabulous Rom-Com movie; a feel good roller-coaster of emotion.
The plot is positively campy and the emotion is genuine and deep, but I felt that the the pace was a little fast. Many events happen quickly without giving me a moment to contemplate what just happened or guess what might happen next; but this is a personal preference.
Hadley and Riaan are exceptional and well developed characters, but I felt that I knew a lot about Hadley and not so much about Riaan. Their families come up every now and again but I would have liked more background on their families; mostly because I wanted to see how Miranda Oh’s amusing perspective would have portrayed them.
All in all, this is a very enjoyable romance novel that was difficult to put down. This is a perfect read for the weekend. I look forward to reading the second book in this series. I highly recommend reading this beautiful romance story.
Pages: 77 | ASIN: B01BQ8RJ9Y
Dark Roots of American Politics
Michael McCord Author Interview
“End Times” is satirical look at a dystopian America that is eerily reminiscent of real life. What was the inspiration behind this thought-provoking novel?
I combined my own experiences as a journalist covering this political devolution in style and content to use satire to explain the collapsing political climate and set the stage for a Real America.
I’ve been asked numerous times in interviews and in speaking to groups how the Real America of my fevered imagination came about. I have said repeatedly anyone paying close attention to the dark roots of American politics since say 1980, or at least since 1994, would see something seriously amiss. In particular, in case you haven’t noticed, the Republican Party has gradually abandoned the idea of governing and embraced wholesale nihilism. They replaced it with a maniacal dedication to the snake oil of cutting taxes for the already filthy rich, filling the federal judiciary with as many unqualified and ideologically stupid judges imaginable, driving up federal deficits to science fiction levels, and generally mucking up the fragile nuts and bolts of democracy on a daily basis.
I chose a satirical fiction avenue because I wasn’t interested in writing a more conventional non-fiction book about what was happening.
Lawrence Bowie is an exceptionally developed character that I loved to hate. What were some themes you felt were important to capture in his character?
Good point: Bowie is either loved or hated with no middle ground. He was an amalgamation of five to six (real) Republican politicians known for their profound ignorance, incoherence and ability to lie without hesitation. In the first book (“The Execution Channel: A Political Fable”), one of the original concepts was the existence of a Congressional “Imbecile Caucus” and then I needed an incoherent and ignorant savant to lead them. This led to Congressman Lawrence C. “Demon Seed” Bowie of Texas who would go on to become the governor of the Real America Republic of Texas.
The totally immoral Bowie arrived to take advantage of a cynical climate ripe for a rabid minority to worship a truly corrupt leader. This pied piper would mock and degrade his followers while demanding their total loyalty and calling it love. He promised the best traits of a national crime syndicate and a death cult. He would keep them entertained with blatant racism, lies, fear mongering, conspiracy theories, and embracing ignorance. Bowie, a true pathological narcissist, would be the first to tell you, he made his mark before Trump in part because there was no shortage of marks in Real America for his political con. Bowie’s career path would eventually lead to a Real America secession and glory as Emperor Supreme for Life of Real America. Bowie keeps the public stupefied with cruel spectacle and the excitement of secession and a 21st Century Civil War.
Your book delivers a stark view of America’s political future. What things do you see in your book as only fiction and what things do you see as possible?
“End Times” is meant to entertain and enlighten with equal amounts of satirical humor, zaniness, and shock. The book is not for the political faint of heart or for those who believe America is on the right path. In a sense it’s not unlike the ghost of Christmas future in “The Christmas Carol”. I’m not saying this or that will happen. I am saying this alternative universe of Real America has the same seeds of decay and fraying of the chords of civility and decency that we see happening each and every day now. Though some may disagree, our American democracy is fragile and ripe for further destruction. Real America is one many dark versions that could replace our current political system – if the slippery slope of more economic and social chaos, less accountability, crueler and blatantly racist policies, and destruction of democratic norms continues.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Penelope will the third and final book in the Real America saga. Hopefully, by 2021-2022 readers will experience the final showdown between Penelope the Psychic and Emperor Supreme for Life Bowie.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![End Times: More Great Adventures in Real America by [McCord, Michael]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418%2BGCbWuLL.jpg)
Michael McCord’s provocative 2013 political satire The Execution Channel: A Political Fable was the first act of the Real America saga.
The saga continues with the fantastical and farcical End Times: More Great Adventures in Real America. Set in an alternative (yet eerily familiar) political universe, this tale of American dystopia answers the question: What happens when America goes politically bonkers?
The colorful cast is topped by the righteously amoral and thoroughly corrupt Lawrence C. ‘Demon Seed’ Bowie. After surviving an attempted coup in 2018, he has rebounded with his customary good karma. Bowie is Chairman, CEO, President, and toga-wearing Emperor Supreme for Life of Real America, Inc., the Confederate-admiring, whites-preferred, and corporate-run nation that seceded from Old USA in 2020.
As he nurtures a new country combining the best aspects of a national crime syndicate and a death cult, Bowie prepares for a 2021 Coronation Night extravaganza to celebrate his magnificence and dazzle the world. Though his apocalyptic destiny seems assured, a rising resistance and many foes conspire against him and threaten the Real American dream.
Increasingly Impractical Solutions
Tom McNulty Author Interview
W900 is a genre-crossing novel with elements of a satire, humor and fantasy as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
Whenever I put the very first written letter on the page, at the start of a new story, ‘The Beast,’ as I call him, slowly emerges from his hibernation, growling What began its existence as a concept, suddenly has structure. From that point, I am only the conveyer of the messages related by the personalities in the story. Their characters speak to me from the text, almost demanding to be heard.
I’m a firm believer in allowing my ‘players’ to evolve, bringing my stories to life. This part of the process, could indeed be described as organic. However, I wish that just occasionally, they would be willing to listen to me.
What was your inspiration for the setup of the story and how did that help you create the ending?
The ending of W900, was the direct result of an event that took place much earlier in my life, involving a girl who chose a better life in Canada, to staying here with me. “Smart kid,” I hear you say and I would be pushed to convince you, or anybody else, otherwise. The end of the book also exhibits certain traits of “What was and what could never be,” which sadly, is probably the case for most people. I’m just happy, that Hovis wrote such a joyous end, to a potentially bleak story and it must always be remembered, that hindsight is always a questionably wonderful thing.
I enjoyed the depth of Hovis’s character. What was your process to bring that character to life?
Hovis Monk, is a conglomerate being, made up from the mosaic of problems that assail many people as they grow older and the increasingly impractical solutions which become more conceivably possible, almost by the day. Think of it as a sort of ‘What would my inner child do,’ response. Yet, as everybody knows, time and the retelling, can often distort.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be published?
And finally, the next book. I’m about to begin work on the tentatively titled, “Your Luggage is in Leningrad,” (details withheld), in the hope that it will be published around, or before Christmas of 2020 but like all written works, there are no steadfast guarantee’s involved.
Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook
![W900 by [McNulty, Tom]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VW72BE2AL.jpg)
Hovis Monk had been decieved. Perhaps he always had been. His comfortable life in the Snowdonian bubble, provided by The Blue Yonder Mining Company, was ending.
As his world implodes Hovis spins into a realm of inner and outer realities, chance occurances, memories, music, luck and laughter.
This story describes the reunion of Hovis with his old Paisley Underground band, a little known group called The Festers, and his struggles with a very special Flame Red Time Trialing Onesey…
LITERARY TITAN 