Blog Archives
To grow, we have to release.
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls follows a woman torn between her past self and who she is now while being overwhelmed with the responsibilities that are placed on her. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
What a terrific question! Thank you. The series reflects my desire ( read: obsession) with the journey we take as women to “become” who we are, which to me, is self-possessed and in love with the life we have lived, are living, and will live. To grow, we have to release. As always, I take most of my inspiration from nature. Like the seed, we break through the casings protecting us, then we have to get through the earth, rocks and all, in order to slowing unravel, grow stronger and stronger in our stems/cores, expand with our leaves and blooms, rest when the sun goes down and continue the next day until the winter returns and we die/transform and begin again, a wee different the following spring. Change means part dies for new growth to emerge. I wanted to express that aspect of growth in this series.
Truitt goes through a lot of emotions in this novel as she adapts. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Another awesome question! Thank you. The Cave of Souls falls in the middle of Truitt’s journey. And like all of us in the middle of our story, she knows the only forward is to let go of the past and she DOES NOT WANT TO/fears the unknown. I wanted it to be explosive. I wanted massive resistance, and pain. In fiction, we can overindulge to give the reader an experience. They can potentially have this hyper-experience so that their growth feels do-able. Or at least that is my dream for the reader… “if Truitt can, I can,” kind of love logic. Truitt is fighting the change she must make to become more, like we all do. We see the dream we want to live, and yet, we sabotage ourselves for fear we don’t deserve it. She is meant to be a role model for all of us to let ourselves express, and be, and live and die, and become more. Always more.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I love a theme! The main theme I explored in Cave (my short name for the book), was “you have to feel your way there.” To me how we feel dictates who we are and what we do. It is the vibration beneath the action. So, of course, to take Truitt and the reader on the experience, I had to make Truiit attempt to avoid her feelings… which never works, but we forget that because we “think” that are thoughts will save us. My truth is that feelings come first, then thoughts. Mastering, by which I mean loving, our emotions, includes/requires expressing, celebrating and owning our feelings . This is the path to living the life of our dreams. Another theme of T2 was, “nothing we do is wrong. It is clarity in motion.” We are all so hard on ourselves for our mistakes and failures… it drives me insane that we are so terrible to ourselves.. I wanted to show that when we fail, we earn clarity and clarity is a superpower. It’s a classic theme that we can never hear too much!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am in the process of editing the final book of the Becoming Truitt Skye series: The Equation for Imagination. It will release later this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website
I Saw What I Saw
Sheila is inquisitive, thorough and curious. So when an unfortunate event happens right under her nose in the peaceful town of Harmony, you bet she’s going to get to the bottom of it. With her crime reporting history, a group of handy friends and her sharp instincts, Sheila is on the case. But when the case begins to turn into a complex maze, uncertainty sets in and the crime is turning into a situation where the more you look, the less you see. Sheila realizes she needs all her tricks, and that of her team, to stay on top of their leads and find answers.
I saw what I saw by Tony Garritano is a riveting mystery story following an enthusiastic former crime reporter, Sheila, who witnesses a murder. This novel can be categorized as a cozy mystery I suppose, but only because the protagonist is so likable and the atmosphere is not as severe as you would expect from a gritty crime drama. The mystery is still relentlessly intriguing and the story is suspenseful because of it.
With the protagonists history in the field of uncovering truths, she is burdened with the sense of duty to uncover the truth behind the murder. This dogged determination is endearing and makes for very engaging reading as the pieces come together. But for a case that has been swept under the carpet, Sheila has to take the case on herself – not without the help of her trusted deli patrons, cul de sac neighbours, her best friend and mother. This motley collection of characters, once again, serves to lighten the story and provides some interesting people to get to know.
Author Tony Garritano made what could have been a gruesome and triggering story into a light-hearted, brief and jovial one. Never have I been so chipper while reading about a murder. His simple way of describing the day to day activities, scenes, characters, and experiences lures you into a story that seems simple up front, but as the mystery continues to grow the easy storytelling ensures readers are never more than a step behind.
I saw what I saw is a thrilling murder mystery that thrives on the back of its captivating protagonist and the fascinating riddle at the center of the story. Fans of young adult crime fiction stories will find this story interesting to follow as every step and every turn connects to the next unfolding event.
Pages: 206 | ASIN: B09LMN3PKZ
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward: How To Plan, Achieve, and Enjoy The Journey does not read like any average inspirational book. Author Zander Sprague uses relatable experiences to convey his message. This informative book will enable you to accomplish all your goals in the timeframe you want. The author shares moments in his life that gave him life-changing lessons. Sprague will make you rethink some of the decisions you have made over the years and get you to turn over a new leaf.
What I love most about this helpful book is that the author took the effort to explain how each solution he provides works. As a reader, you feel the presence of the author as he guides you on the right path. He provides many examples, obtained through research and personal experience, to explain why the steps are laid out the way they are.
Zander Sprague’s language is simple and easy to follow. Each chapter is broken down in a way that readers will be able to easily comprehend the information and can reflect on the topic. The author uses humor in parts to convey his message. The author shares his wisdom to help you remove the barriers that are stopping you from enjoying life.
The chapters on planning and achieving your dream were among the best for me. In these chapters, the author provides readers with a step-by-step guide detailing how they can achieve what they previously presumed to be impossible. He makes everything appear doable and straightforward, if one has a strategy. The overarching feeling of this inspirational book is positivity. I also enjoyed reading about ‘epic choices’ and capitalizing on one’s strengths.
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward: How To Plan, Achieve, and Enjoy The Journey is a comprehensive manual for hacking the most challenging things in life. This thought-provoking book will guide readers on their personal transformation journey.
Pages: 129 | ASIN : B09KZNJFBD
Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life
Author Dr. June Rousso’s thought-provoking book, Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life is an interactive guide for teenagers looking to find meaning in their life experiences. This self-help book is intended to be gone through like a workbook. You read a section and sometimes there are exercises included for the reader to do to grasp the concept better. Not all sections have exercises but it is still meant to be an area for reflection. The overall concept is based on the teaching of Dr. Viktor Frankl and the Values In Action (VIA) Institute on Character, this book aims to equip teenagers with practical tips that they can apply to their lives.
Dr. June Rousso goes into the teaching of Dr. Frankl, particularly around how to find meaning and happiness even in the face of adversity. One of the key points in Dr. Fankl’s philosophy is that there are three things we all go through in life – guilt, suffering, and death. More importantly, it teaches teenagers how to cope with them, even as they struggle with the ups and downs that come with puberty. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of accepting your feelings, even the negative ones like envy.
The section that I like most, is the part that talks about virtues. The author explains how you can help yourself in the pursuit of finding meaning in your life and understanding how to identify happiness. Each section includes questions about the topic for reflection. I also liked that the author included quotes from a variety of sources that are scattered through the pages. At the end are worksheets with different scenarios that allow for reflection and putting the skills talked about to use.
Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life is written in a simple and direct style that is non-judgemental. This setup is ideal for teenagers looking for a self-help book, or something to help make sense of things at this point in their life.
Pages: 83 | ASIN : B09N321H64
Myracles In The Void
Myracles in the Void is a fantasy/adventure novel by author Wes Dyson. This coming-of-age story follows two siblings who attempt to unravel the mystery that surrounds their family. After the heartbreaking disappearance of their father and uncle, Gai and Lynd find themselves experiencing some mysterious symptoms. This starts when Lynd’s chaotic emotions begin to manifest themselves physically. Next, their hometown of Hop starts to turn against the family, even acting hostile towards their poor mother. Finally, the siblings decide it is time to find answers to the questions that have been looming over them for years.
Wes Dyson has written a teen and young adult novel that will captivate readers of all ages. The protagonists, Gai and Lynd, have that angsty, restless nature that makes for a great adventure read. Themes of good vs. evil and is someone’s nature predestined are examined in this creative book.
From the very start, it’s apparent that Dyson is a skilled writer and an excellent world builder. Developing a world with memorable characters can be a challenge with so many novels in the fantasy and adventure genre. However, Myracles in the Void has found a way to set itself apart from others in the genre and give readers an exciting and fresh new world to discover.
The magic system and language used to describe fantasy elements are familiar yet unique in their terminology. Magic, sometimes called mana in fantasy, is referred to as “Myra” in this story. It has two sides; the Elix and Ruin aspects of Myra, which seem to represent the duality of life and death in nature. While one may seem more important than the other, both are necessary to keep balance and order in the universe. This duality is also reflected in our main protagonists, Gai and Lynd. Through their personalities, we can see a reflection of this two-sided magic, with Gai being much more level-headed and Lynd unpredictable.
Myracles in the Void is a riveting new coming-of-age young adult novel that combines familiar fantasy and science fiction elements while adding a fresh perspective to the genres. Readers will be drawn to the themes of good vs. evil while magic takes the characters on an unforgettable adventure.
Pages: 380 | ASIN : B09SVV6NW7
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls by Adrea L. Peters continues the tale of the beloved Truvie Tucker like you would never imagine. We follow Truitt as she adjusts back to her life in The City on The Sea and copes with the death of her human self. Her acquaintances in The City on The Sea struggle to help our beloved Truitt perform the tasks she was called to do. It’s a classic spirit versus human realm tale that features real-life themes of depression and grief. Adrea L. Peters weaves us a mystical tale with wise messages strewn throughout.
First and foremost, I want to commend the author for writing about depression and grief in such a creative manner. We need to see more novels on the shelves portraying real-life human emotions in an artistic light.
The plot for this engaging novel was interesting, and I would love to see what else Peters comes up with. Peters’ writing is detailed when it comes to descriptions, so I was able to clearly picture the characters in my mind along with the surroundings. The author details what the characters look like, giving readers a chance to really visualize them. I was given a clear idea about where each soul was in time. The dialogue was easy to follow, and the conversations felt authentic and intriguing as I found Truitt to be a charming character. Not only did the conversations between characters flow smoothly, but they felt natural. I was immediately taken on an adventure alongside Truitt, and I found this book hard to put down.
Becoming Truitt Skye: The Cave of Souls is a teen and young adult novel that tackles some complex topics that teens deal with positively. The exciting fantasy story will captivate readers with action and adventure while exploring the magical realm of The City on the Sea.
Pages: 376 | ISBN : 0645015571
Ghost Flower
Ghost Flower by Kathryn A. Broderick is a fantasy tale of romance and the fight for justice. It follows plucky young Sophia on her journey of self-actualization. At the outset, Sophia discovers her small but immensely effective power to intercept magical spells cast by the more powerful mages. One of these mages, her fiancé Aiden, is the catalyst for Sophia’s rampage of revenge against the magical elite when he mercilessly rejects her. Sophia inadvertently sparks a battle between the Tower, representing the mages and good, kind King Solen. With Sophia’s help as the anonymous Ghost Flower, the Crown fights it out for power and fairness. Throughout it all, Sophia must battle with her conflicted emotions for Casimir. He is the king’s right-hand man and pursues her relentlessly. Her past relationship and a deeper part of her that has been hidden since childhood weigh heavily on her mind.
Broderick’s richly descriptive language paints a vivid picture of the kingdom of Arcadia and all its fascinating characters. This enchanting story explores themes like the power of the people against oppression, manipulative relationships and their tragic consequences, and the importance of being your own hero.
This beautifully written book will inspire readers to find greatness within themselves rather than gravitating towards others’ greatness. With a slow burn style to draw the readers in, Broderick reveals vital story elements gradually so as not to overwhelm young adult readers with too much information all at once. Sophia is like most teenagers; she seems to do things haphazardly, giving readers a chance to speculate on her motivation at times. Ultimately Sophia is a complex character who will gain readers’ sympathy and support.
Readers will be surprised and delighted with this imaginative novel’s rich and magical world. The way the author describes being under someone’s spell, and the difficulty of breaking this, is something that many readers will relate to. Sophia’s discovery and mastery of her own shortcomings are superbly developed.
Ghost Flower is a spellbinding young adult novel that will capture the attention of teens and middle-grade students that have a love of fantasy and magic.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B09PJX5H6Z
EverGreen (EverGreen Trilogy Book 1)
Have you ever read a book and wished that you could escape into the pages and experience the adventures you are reading about? This is what Lily Rhodes wants to do, and the universe has a way of making things happen.
Lilly is an introverted smart, brainy girl that always has a book in her hand. She is also fearless, kind-hearted, and cares deeply for those that earn her trust and friendship. When Lily falls in love for the first time in her life her senior year, this love adventure takes her into the realm of magic. Although faced with adversities and dilemmas between friendship and love, Lily never losses her kindness towards the people she cares about the most.
EverGreen, by author Abby Farnsworth, is a well-paced young adult novel with enchanting world-building and a good combination of real-world and fantasy elements. The author expertly establishes characters that set good examples for young adult readers of genuine friendship and true love, especially from optimistically outgoing Giselle and Ginger. These two may be the most incredible friends you will ever meet. Readers will also learn to sympathize and develop a degree of understanding towards people like Delilah. Rowan’s character may be too ideal, but his role will make readers fall in love with his chivalry and mature personality.
The author creates a plot that moves the story along quickly, keeping readers engaged. The language is suitable for older elementary and middle school students and even young adults who are looking for a quick and light read. Readers will learn a lot from the characters as they navigate the challenges and obstacles the author puts forth.
EverGreen is a riveting novel filled with action and adventure, taking place in the real world and slowly drifting into the paranormal fantasy world. While discovering the world of the fae, friendships and romance are built that will extend into the next book in the series.
Pages: 138 | ASIN : B08TVWTW5F
LITERARY TITAN 