Meghan Carver | Author Chat

I've got my coffee-scented candle burning and it's time to sit down for a chat with author Meghan Carver! Her book, Deadly Disclosure, comes out August 8th! Pre-order it today!

By sixth grade, Meghan Carver knew she wanted to write. After earning a degree in English from Millikin University, she detoured to law school, earning a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University. She then worked in immigration law and taught Comp 101 at the local college. Now, she homeschools her six children with her college professor husband. When she isn’t writing, homeschooling, or planning the family’s next travel adventure, she is active in her church, sews for her kidlets, and reads.

Let's get real...

Tell us a little bit about how you started writing:
I first discovered my interest in writing in sixth grade during a school-wide writing challenge. I loved the scratch of the pencil on the paper and the way the edges of the paper curled up as I used every single line. I don’t remember now what I wrote, but I remember scribbling along, thinking, I can do this. My love of writing and reading eventually led me to an English major in college. My writing was put on hold for law school and then six babies, but eventually, I couldn’t repress it any more. Now, I write because I have stories in my mind that need to emerge, because my family enjoys reading what I write and encourages me to keep it up, and because it’s a great stay-at-home-mom job.

Tell us a little bit about your book:

I got the idea for Deadly Disclosure when I was gathering my family’s birth certificates to apply for passports. When I have anything written in my hands, I read it word for word. You can blame my love of reading as well as a legal education for that. J That day, I thoroughly read each birth certificate, and I quickly noticed that there was a huge discrepancy between my date of birth and the date of issue of the birth certificate. I have always known I was adopted, so this didn't surprise me like it surprises my heroine. That difference in the dates is the time it took for my adoption to be finalized and a new birth certificate with the names of my adoptive parents to be issued. As I examined my birth certificate, an idea began to form. What if someone discovered as an adult that she was adopted? What if there was danger in her birth family that found her even before she discovered she was adopted? From there, my imagination took off.

My verse for the book is one that I meditate on quite a bit as an adopted person. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” What a blessed assurance!

I researched quite a few interesting things while writing Deadly Disclosure. I confirmed that it truly isn’t as easy for an adopted person to find birth parents as many people think. I discovered that many wealthy people still have butlers and those butlers dress rather formally. I found a neat wristwatch for lawyers that may make it to my wish list. But I think the most interesting bit of research was watching videos of people shooting fire extinguishers. Better stand back!

Let’s talk about your writing life:
I wrote five books over the course of four years before I received that most wonderful of phone calls from an editor who wanted to buy that fifth book. That drive to complete a full-length novel was enough to keep me going in between (and sometimes during) nursing sessions with a newborn; diaper changes; dish washing; and phonics and math lessons with my older, homeschooled children. My husband is a huge encouragement and help, and he would often play with and manage the children while the baby was sleeping so I could get in an hour of writing. Now, my oldest girls are teenagers and love to brainstorm with me and proofread along the way. They are also available to run interference with the younger children if I need a bit of writing time.

I am a total plotter and don’t start the actual writing of a book until I have a detailed outline that can be fifty pages long. The very beginning of the process starts, of course, with an idea. It could be something in my life, like reading my birth certificate as I prepare passport applications, or it could come from a news article or something I see as I’m out and about. Questions begin to form, and I’ll scribble down everything that comes to my mind. Organizing those ideas can come later. The important thing in the beginning is to capture every single notion that occurs to me. Eventually, characters begin to form, and the first item I need to begin to visual someone is a name. Once I get the basics of the hero and heroine and the basics of a plot (inciting incident, three suspense turning points, and final showdown), both begin to grow exponentially. Through all this process, I brainstorm with my teen daughters and husband. Of course, everything is subject to change if a better idea comes along. The detailed outline is my favorite part because by that point I have a good handle on the story. Ideas are pinging about dialogue, beats, and plot details, and I give myself the freedom to get it all down without worrying about complete sentences and everything that’s necessary for a proper draft. After the detailed outline, I’ll usually go through three drafts before I feel like it’s done.

Have you ever attended a writer’s conference? If so, which one(s) and what were most helpful about it?
My first conference was the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference hosted by Wesleyan Publishing House. It was a wonderfully thorough but relatively small conference, and I had a couple of friends who worked there, so it was an easy start for an introvert into the world of conferencing. In the three years I was able to attend before WPH decided not to host it any longer, I had the privilege of meeting Angela Hunt, Jerry Jenkins, Michelle Medlock Adams, and Dennis Hensley, as well as agents and editors. There, I learned of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), and now I attend those conferences as time permits.

Apparently August 15th is National Lemon Meringue Pie Day (who knew). What is your favorite dessert?
Chocolate cheesecake (with a cup of coffee).

What are you currently reading?
Deep Work by Cal Newport
The Sword of the Wormling (Book II in The Wormling Series) by Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabry

Connect with Meghan:
Website: www.MeghanCarver.com
Blog: www.meghancarver.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14161541.Meghan_Carver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghan.carver.5
Twitter: @MeghanCCarver
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MeghanCCarver/
Purchase: Deadly Disclosure

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Unmasking the Masquerade with Rod Robinson and Adrian Van Vacto | The Story Behind

As I talked about in this post, I attended the CBA's UNITE 2017 convention in Cincinnati, OH. I'd never been to a convention like this before and, at first, I felt a little out of place. To be honest, I asked myself what I was doing there when I stepped into the vast convention center and felt dwarfed by the mass of people and products.

But then my focus for the convention came back to me with full force: The passion behind the product. 

When I put it in that perspective, I felt my confidence surge back. I was excited to meet with the authors and vendors I did for the simple fact that I get the chance to share their passion with you. And that's what my blog and my Instagram account is all about. Sharing passions! Whether that's for books or products.

Today's interview is the first of many that I took verbally while I was at the convention. It's a new format for me, and a little bit longer than my normal blog posts. I hope you'll enjoy this more personal approach.

Interview with Rod Robinson & Adrian Van Vactor

In the midst of a busy convention center we found a relatively secluded couch to sit on and I waited to see what would happen next. This was the first time we'd met, but learning that Adrian was an illusionist and Rod was a mentalist, I felt like that little kid in The Incredibles that watches Mr. Incredible get out of his car. Bob (Mr. Incredible) says, "Well what are you waiting for?" and the kid responds, "I don't know, something amazing I guess". (see the clip here)

But this interview wasn't so much about the illusions that Rod and Adrian take part in. It also wasn't about the fact that being able to do illusions is amazing and can easily take center stage (no pun intended) when a more important reality is in danger of taking over. The fact that people are easily deceived.

It's not only the truth, but it's also the focus of their book, Unmasking the Masquerade: Three Illusionists Investigate Deception, Fear and the Supernatural.
And this is where the real interview begins, because Rod and Adrian had a lot to say about the passion behind writing this book and their hope for those it will reach!
(I've abbreviated some of their answers for the purpose of keeping the length readable)

 Emilie (E): Why did you guys decide to write this book? 

Rod (R): I started writing it 15 years ago. It just wasn't the right time for it though, so we (Dr Toby A Travis and I) put it on the shelf for about 10 years. Then, about a year and a half ago, I knew now was the time. I think part of this is because there has been a huge resurgence of interest in magic and illusion. Now, turn on the TV and you'll see lots of illusion shows or acts like on America's Got Talent or the Penn and Teller show etc.

Adrian (A): And people have become a lot more gullible toward psychic phenomena. There are popular YouTube videos claiming "demon magic" and other things like that.

R: So we actually started out writing the book to dispel some of those misconceptions about illusion as well as exposing the techniques of psychics and mediums. This is sort of what birthed the book, but as we picked it up again, it felt like there was something missing. To me it was like, What now? So you dispel all of these myths and the thought that Satan is all-powerful, but then what? Is there hope? What's real?

That's why we brought Adrian in on the project. He's an apologist and travels as an illusionist all over the world. He wrote the third part of the book which answers the question: Was Jesus a myth, a magician, or was He the messiah?

E: I love this last part especially because it reminds me of C.S. Lewis! But, it's also so important to have that "application" section. If we point out the problem, we need the solution as well. 

E: Let's get to the passion behind this book.

A: When you ask about passion, well, Rod was raised in a very different background. I was raised in the home of an atheist and my mom is from Mexico and is very superstitious. I was exposed to Quija boards, tarot cards, all this strange phenomena at a very young age and I was a skeptic from the start. I wanted to be honest and have a genuine approach--not to just be an atheist like my dad was, I wanted to have an honest approach to the subject of the supernatural.


First, it was skepticism, but then I met Rod and other Christian illusionists around my home town and they'd also talk to me about their faith. That's ultimately why Rod brought me into the project because in my story I talk about how there came a point when I began to wonder if there was more to life. I had a conversion experience and came to faith at 19 but then I thought, Wait a minute! I'm such a skeptic. How is it that I've come to faith and I haven't taken the time to examine--very thoroughly--what Jesus did? 

So I did. I looked at the miracles Jesus did and, to my surprise, I found that the evidence supported the fact that Jesus could not have been a magician in the first century.

(He explains more on this subject, but I think it would be best understood by reading their book.)

It's taken 2000 years for magicians to finally come to the place (technologically) to duplicate something as great as when Jesus walked on water. Not to mention the other miracles He performed.

My passion has always been evangelism and as I went on in my career I just wanted to be able to show people that Jesus is the genuine thing. There is so much deception and so much fear because of the "unknown" or "dark forces". We really want to bring hope and light to those caught up in this.

E: I really appreciate that background, Adrian. Rod, what drew you to become an illusionist?

R: I didn't really do magic until I was 35. It was like five years ago *insert wink here*. I was at an amusement park in Tennessee and I saw a guy actually do an illusion in my hands. I had to know how it was done. What's fascinated me about illusion wasn't so much the technique as much as the psychology behind it. That's why I tend to go toward mentalism, aka "the mind reading stuff", because it works with the psychology of your audience. Like directing them toward something by subliminally saying certain things. That's what fascinated me, the idea that it seems so real to the audience.

From there, it morphed into a realization that there are others who are using similar techniques to literally deceive people. I would be using it for entertainment and to teach people, but there are others who would be using it to draw people away from the truth.

As an example: I did an investigation of a "spiritualist medium" working out of a "camp" (more like a small town) with all kinds of psychics and mediums there. They hold "church services" there and people come from all over the world to attend. I thought, I want to see if there's any type of deception going on. Are they using magic tricks? Because, if so, I'm going to see it.

And, sure enough, I sat there in a little white, clapboard church, singing hymns that any church goer would recognize (you would have thought this was an evangelical church) then the "preacher" came up and she claimed to have once been an Episcopalian who lost her faith and then found spiritualism. Then she proceeded to do a trick. Ironically enough, I had seen a magician do the exact same trick the night before. He was using the same technique for entertainment, she was using it to deceive her audience. She was able to convince her audience that she was contacting their deceased loved ones. It had a profound effect on the audience.

She even used the technique on me. I had previously written something down, the name Candy. She "divined" (using a magicians technique) that Candy was my second cousin who was happy for me to be at the camp. I didn't say it at the time (though I should have stood up and told them all the truth) but Candy was my pet dog when I was a kid. Everything that she said was on my note, something she was able to see with a magicians apparatus, but she had no actual, spiritual link. She convinced these people that she was contacting the dead.

That was an ah-ha moment to me and I knew we needed to do something. To show that people are using the same techniques that we are, but they are using it to deceive, where as we are using it to entertain. And I also realized that the church needed to see this too. That we couldn't just automatically default to Satan, that it's possible to do what she did without a real spiritual connection.

E: I appreciate that perspective because, while I believe in the spiritual realm, I think it's too easy to "blame the devil" for everything we see. This can create fear! Yes, he's real and he's doing damage in our world, but there are some things he's not responsible for.

Adrian and Rod

A: The important distinction is that, when it comes to the phenomena, we shouldn't give credit to the devil or dark forces. But, when it comes to the content, our world view, how it changes us emotionally, and our way of thinking, we are heavily influenced by the spiritual realm. People can give Satan so much more credit for things that he can't do, but rather we should be concerned about our ideas and our mind. That's where the battle really lies.

R: In John chapter 8 Jesus talks about Satan. He doesn't say Satan is a miracle worker. In fact, elsewhere in scripture it says only God can do miracles. What He does say about Satan is that he's a liar and when he speaks lies he is speaking his native tongue. So the power is in the deception, not in the so-called miracles.

A: Or the effect. His power is in the lie, not in the effect.

E: It makes me think back to Moses time when the magicians would copy something the Lord had done (like with the plagues) but it would always get to a point when they would reach their limit and they couldn't match Him. It shows the power of God. Only God can do these miraculous things.

A: Exactly. It demonstrated the limitations of the magicians.

R: If you go back to Nebuchadnezzar, he came to his magicians and said he had a troubling dream and wanted them to tell him what it meant. But what did they say? They said for him to tell them his dream and then they would interpret. He was on to them--he said for them to tell him the dream then he would know they were real. Anyone can interpret dreams. Psychics call it a "cold reading". But what did the magicians say? "No man can do that." If Satan could have revealed his dream through the magicians, that would have been the prime opportunity, but yet they couldn't do it.

A: If Jesus could do all of the miraculous things that he did but so could the devil, then why would Jesus be unique? Unless the devil is nothing more than a counterfeiter--which means not the real thing--it doesn't mean he's less than God, it means he's not even on the same level.

E: We've talked about your faith and your passion for illusion and working to help people not become deceived. What are you doing to make that connection point with your audience? What drives this?

A: We both just want to see people's lives changed for Christ. Rod found the best way to connect was through his radio ministry. In our journeys, we find ourselves in the places where we think we'll make the biggest difference in the lives of people.

For me, that was overseas. I saw that only 6% of the worlds mission force was reaching the Muslim world. I thought, What do we do about this? We have found that using a platform of entertainment is the most effective way.

I was just in my 4th tour (of 54 total tours) in Turkey and openly sharing the gospel (which is completely legal to share your faith in public there). We would be out there doing shows and handing out Bibles and doing follow up. I remember we handed this guy a Bible and he just grabbed on to it like he had a pot of gold. We thought he was going to hide it, but instead, he just wrapped it in his arms and walked away like that.

Then the promoter of the tour (and many like it) said to us, "I've been in this country for 25 years and no one is doing anything like this." We need to be bold and find a way to share our faith in innovated ways.

E: Because I'm a writer, I'd love to know just a little bit about the mechanics of how you wrote the book.

R: I did the first draft and then did a little bit of work on the other sections by Toby and Adrian, and then hired and editor to go through it. Then we got in contact with Leslie (with Encourage Publishing) which was actually a funny story. One of the drummers for the band I was in back in the 70's was Leslie's husband! We hadn't seen each other in probably 30 years. But I put an excerpt of the book on Facebook, she saw it, and she contacted me and told me about her publishing company. Then my daughter designed the cover.


A: As far as the writing process, we've done a lot of performances and there's just something powerful about story telling. That's really what it's all about. Telling a story. It was easy to write it because I told my story. I had to do a lot of research on the apologetic side of things because this was research I'd done years ago and I wanted to bring it up to the latest trends and articles. So I had to spend months reading articles and books. That part was fun.

R: I also really enjoy research so my section on deception is a narrative about people who use deception or who were deceived and what was behind all of that. Why were they sucked into that deception? As a magician, we look at it and can see that it's false, but what is the psychology behind why people are drawn into deception?

E: Is there anything else you'd like to share with my readers? 

A: One of our big motivations is to get people to "use us". We want to partner with different ministries and local communities and churches. It doesn't matter where they are. We're a donor supported ministry and raise a lot of our own costs, we just want to get the message out there.

Another thing is: Don't be deceived. Be a critical thinker. Make sure that you have a well-rounded, informed world view. It's the backbone of the book. Don't be a skeptic for skeptic's sake, but be a critical thinker. Test all things. One thing that we as illusionists say is to test it all. Not just what you see, but what you hear when it comes to messages, content, and ideas.

R: If you're involved in a church and want to bring us in, our show is called Unmasking the Masquerade Live. The themes of the book are demonstrated on stage. It's a funny show and a lot of fun! It's a great way to outreach into the community.

E: Thank you both so much for this incredible interview! 

We grabbed a few photos after this, but I walked away with a newly formed, unique perspective about illusion, what takes to be deceived, and the reality that I sometimes give the devil too much power.

I really enjoyed my time with Adrian and Rod. Their stories were incredible, but I think it was their heart for what they do--the passion behind their show and their book--that truly captured my appreciation.   

You can check out their website here: http://www.unmaskingthemasquerade.com
You can schedule them for a visit here: http://www.unmaskingthemasquerade.com/schedule-now/
Make sure you purchase a copy of their book: Unmasking the Masquerade

Feel free to share this interview with anyone who you think may like this book or who might want them to visit their church!  

Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett | New Novel News

Ending Fear
by Deanna Fugett

Published: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing
Purchased: Ending Fear

Fourteen-year-old Fear learns she was a parachute baby, dumped over the edge of the Gliding Lands as an infant. Running from her abusive Downer family, Fear discovers a new family. One who knows how to love. But then her new little sister is kidnapped and sold to a harem. Fear must go against her namesake and journey to the dreaded Gliding Lands before the little girl’s innocence is ripped from her forever. Can she save Happy in time?



Get to know Deanna...

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
Kiernan Shipka would play my main character, Fear. I would love a younger version of Will Jay (from IM5) to play Courage, and I still haven’t found my perfect Manly yet. Maybe a taller, buffer version of Mason Dye.

What actor/actress would play you if your life was a movie?
Drew Barrymore

What are the names of your pets?
We own a parakeet named Flapper, a dog named Westley, a cat named Buttercup, two rats, DC and Snowflake, three bunnies, Snow White, Little Foot and Sugar, and fourteen chickens, Butterfly, Oreo, Starlight, Brownie, Chubby and well...you get the point. I’m not about to name all fourteen.

Lauren H. Brandenburg | Author Chat

It's coffee and chat time here on the blog today! I'm so excited for today's chat with Lauren! She is the sweetest and I'm so glad to introduce her to you all!

Lauren H. Brandenburg is a speaker and advocate for home education, as well as author of the middle-grade series The Books of the Gardener and creative writing curriculum, The Engaged Writer. Her novels are recognized as a “Top Safe Read” and “Top Read Aloud” for young readers in the homeschool community. As a former English teacher and now homeschooling mom, Lauren combines her love of “the what if” with her spirit of adventure and faith to delight and encourage readers young and old. She currently teaches creative writing in her homeschool community and to young writers nationwide.

Although Lauren and her husband, Jamie, live in Nashville, Tennessee with their children Kensington and Jackson, she will always consider Kentucky her home.

Let's get real...

How many words do you write a day?
I can usually write about 2000 words a day. I try to write Monday to Friday (sometimes Saturday), and almost never on Sunday.

What is your favorite mode of transportation: plane, train, or car?
I love to travel by train—it feels so old fashioned.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like for you?
On a normal day I wake up around eight, make breakfast, homeschool with my kiddos while jumping back and forth to work on any book marketing and tossing in a load of laundry between subjects, fix lunch while doing dishes, more laundry, write for two to three hours, then off to mixed martial arts—I take classes with my oldest, I have to be there anyway, so why not get some exercise! On non-marital arts nights we play games or watch a few of the shows we follow on Netflix. After tucking in the kiddos, the hubby and I snuggle up for a night of reading or television. Go to bed, wake up, repeat J

What actor/actress would play you if your life were a movie?
This is a fun question! I always imagine what it would be like to have the dating college days of my husband and I turned into a musical—like Grease meets Legally Blonde (except I’m not blonde or a lawyer). Jack Black would be the obvious choice for my husband. It would have to be someone super short for me . . . like Isla Fisher with dark short hair! I’m open to suggestions on this one.

Name three places you’d like to travel to & why
England—because, sigh . . . I’m pretty sure my parents are British, moved me to the US to hide me from my true identity as somebody perfectly lovely and important, and left me with a burning desire to return to my homeland. Peru—to climb into the Andes mountains and spend a night in Machu Picchu, and because Paddington is from Darkest Peru, and I so adore Paddington. Lastly, France . . . not so much Paris, but the countryside to stop and breath in the fragrances of Provence.

What’s one of your favorite books?
Little Women – My dad brought me a beautifully bound hardback edition on a return trip from D.C. I have loved the book and the story ever since. Not too long ago me I realized that I am living my childhood dream, to be be a writer like Jo March.

Coffee or tea?
Tea for sure! Coffee is a deceiver . . . it doesn’t taste at all like it smells.

Purchase: Orlo The Created
Visit Lauren: http://laurenhbrandenburg.com/

The Weakness of Fantasy by Zachary D. Totah | Guest Post

Despite the many wonders it offers, fantasy suffers from a glaring problem.

And it’s about as obvious as Sauron’s Eye, perched loftily above the genre’s landscape and leaving no corner untouched with its gaze.

The problem? Clichés.

Wizards and Elves and The Chosen One, Oh My! (aka the Problem)

Tongue-in-cheek snark aside, this cliché addiction haunts the pages of fantasy novels hither and yon as dutifully as the Army of the Dead haunted the Paths of the Dead. (Thus the need for snark.)

Fantasy shouldn’t endure such a cruel fate as the abundance of clichés placed upon its noble shoulders. Of all the genres and subgenres in existence, fantasy should shine with the most compelling creativity and uniqueness. After all, isn’t that what makes it so incredible?

The diversity and variety possible means that authors are free to explore any matter, experiment with untold worldbuilding details, and virtually create as much of the world as they please.

Why then does fantasy continue to dwell in the land of the hackneyed, a land where Chosen One characters churn off the assembly line like Saruman’s Urak-hai and stereotypes rule with an iron fist?

That’s safe storytelling. Safe, perhaps, but missing the spark and energy that makes a fantasy tale truly leap to life in the reader’s mind and heart.

I’ve come from the perspective of a Tolkien (or insert any other famous fantasy author) wannabe. This desire to imitate the best makes sense. After all, if their stories featuring x, y, and z elements enjoyed such massive success, why not do the same with mine?

Except no. Sorry ignorant young writer (talking to myself here), that’s not how it works.

Wonder and Imagination and Creativity, Oh My! (aka the Solution)

How do authors combat this problem of repeating the same themes, worlds, characters, plots?

By daring to be different.

What gave Tolkien’s work an enduring legacy? Why is Brandon Sanderson among the top fantasy writers today?

They weren’t traveling a trail well-trodden. Rather, like the Fellowship of the Ring, they blazed new paths where others had not yet gone.

Therein lies the beauty of fantasy. By nature, it’s filled with endless potential, any number of paths that each writer can make their own instead of following in the footsteps of the greats. Doing that, you’ll end up boring people because they’ve been there, done that.

A better choice is to follow their example, not retrace their exact path.

As fantasy authors, we have such storytelling freedom it’s a shame to let those unmined gems lay buried in the dirt of disuse, while we scrape about for the equivalent of stones and pebbles.

The only limit is our own hesitance to let our imaginations loose.

Want to create a world where every adult walks around on the ground while children are resigned to walking on the walls? Go for it!

How about a character that can only remember things that happen on one day of the week?

Or a magic system that makes use exclusively of green leaves?

The point is, nothing is out of bounds. If you can imagine it, you can write it. This is a lesson I learned while writing an epic fantasy series, and continues to be one I absorb more and more.

To clarify, this doesn’t mean you completely ignore the expected tropes of fantasy. There’s a reason they become clichés—people like them. Am I contradicting myself? Yes…and no.

The tricky part is striking a balance between the tried and true—aka what readers love—and the new and imaginative. If you can do that, you’ve hit the sweet spot.

*insert a semi-rave about how well Brandon Sanderson does this in all his fantasy books* Okay, I’ll stop now, otherwise I’d be praising his brilliance all day.

Let’s make fantasy as breathtaking and awe-inspiring as it deserves. A place where familiarity and originality meet in a stunning display of storytelling. To paraphrase Sam Gamgee, “Those will be the tales worth remembering.”

As a writer (and reader), what do you think is the balance between being original while including familiar elements fans enjoy?

_____
I wear many creative hats, one of which is to write speculative fiction stories. This allows me to roam through my imagination, where I have illegal amounts of fun creating worlds and characters to populate them. When I’m not busy with a thousand and one responsibilities,  I enjoy spending time with family and friends, digging into a good book, and watching movies.

I live in Colorado and don’t drink coffee. The two aren’t related.

I love connecting with other readers and writers, so don’t be shy. I keep my superpowers in check. Promise.

Website
Facebook
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Courtney Walsh, Bethany Kaczmarek, Sandra Merville Hart | New Novel News

Just Look Up 
by Courtney Walsh 

Published: July 4, 2017
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Purchase: Just Look Up

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home—a quaint tourist town full of memories she’d just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work—something her eclectic family doesn’t understand.

Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren’t ideal.

Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can’t find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he’s found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along—if only she’d just look up.

Get to know Courtney...

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
Jaime Alexander (with long hair)

And whoever this guy is: (only a TINY bit less pretty). 😀

Who is your favorite secondary character?

Probably Ursula from Paper Hearts and Change of Heart. That old lady was so much fun to write. I really love people who say whatever pops into their head. Maybe because I am SO not that way!

What are the names of your pets? If you don't have any, what would you name your pets?
I want to get a dog so badly. I would name her Luna. My husband (rightfully) is concerned that bringing any more living things into our household might put me over the edge. Our three kids keep me running ragged!

Favorite place you’ve traveled to?
New York City! While I don’t think I’m cut out to live there, it is one of my very favorite places in the world, AND it’s where I got the idea for Just Look Up. I also loved Alaska for completely different reasons.

I answered four. I love these kinds of questions. LOL

Strains of Silence 
by Bethany Kaczmarek

Published: July 21, 2017
Publisher: Harbourlight, a Pelican Imprint
Purchase eBook: Strains of Silence 
Pre-Order paperback: Strains of Silence


He can’t save her from her past, but he can wait to be her future.

Music was her driving passion and the truest expression of her faith, but three months before her wedding, twenty-year-old Kasia Bernolak can’t even pick up her guitar. Feeling like a fraud who will ruin her dad’s pastoral reputation, she can barely meet his eyes. When Kasia finds the strength to break off her engagement, she still doesn’t realize the dangerous truth: Blake Hamilton isn’t ready to say goodbye. And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Alexander “Zan” Maddox has seen what a domineering man can do to an unsuspecting woman, and Zan is sick of injustice. He gave up a college baseball scholarship so he could protect his sister from her abusive husband. When he rescues Kasia from her ex-fiancé, he instinctively appoints himself her personal bodyguard. Now, all he has to do is keep from falling for her himself. Kasia and Zan become fast friends, but true healing and justice might cost more than either of them is willing to pay.

Get to know Bethany...

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
I adore this question, I do. The problem is, I dreamed up my cast a few years ago, when these guys were younger. So, we’ll have to get in the TARDIS or travel to the past some other way (though it’ll be hard to talk me out of the TARDIS).

Kasia Bernolak = Lindsey Stirling (with her hair just a leetle curlier)

Zan Maddox = This particular picture of young Henry Cavill

Favorite season?
Oooh. Good question. Always before, it’s been the fall. I love the rich colors, and I am a Leaf Stomper Extraordinaire. But it’s because I longed for the cold, and the fall was its beginning. Now, this year, we live in Wisconsin, and I’m anticipating the coldest winter since we lived in Lithuania. Reindeer weather. I might wish for a thaw by the time we’re six months in, but I think it’ll be winter this year.

Coffee or tea?
Coffee if I’m feeling engaged in the present, tea whenever I get nostalgic. (Or when we’re out of coffee.) The best cup of tea I’ve ever had is my son’s signature blend—Prince of Wales tea, lemon, and a sprinkle of a 5-pepper blend. He calls it the Flame & Lizard.

A Rebel in My House
By Sandra Merville Hart

Published: July 15, 2017
Publisher: LPC Books
Purchase: A Rebel in My House

When the cannons roar beside Sarah Hubbard’s home outside of Gettysburg, she despairs of escaping the war that’s come to Pennsylvania. A wounded Confederate soldier on her doorstep leaves her with a heart-wrenching decision.

Separated from his unit and with a bullet in his back, Jesse Mitchell needs help. He seeks refuge at a house beside Willoughby Run. His future lies in the hands of a woman whose sympathies lay with the North.

Jesse has promised his sister-in-law he’d bring his brother home from the war. Sarah has promised her sister that she’d stay clear of the enemy. Can the two keep their promises amid a war bent on tearing their country apart?

Get to know Sandra...

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Would you rather go to the future or go to the past?
I would definitely visit the past. I’ve spent so much time researching the Civil War (the Battle of Gettysburg is the setting for my newest release, A Rebel in My House) that I’d choose Gettysburg. I’d go in June, 1863, before the battle and stay until the new Gettysburg National Cemetery was dedicated on November 19, 1863. I’d love to see and hear President Abraham Lincoln deliver his famous Gettysburg Address on such a solemn occasion.

Who is your favorite secondary character?
I love several secondary characters in A Rebel in My House. I’m going to single out three characters, but there are others who touched me. Gilly, a wounded Confederate soldier, is the kind of friend everyone wants. Lucinda acts with compassion and courage in fearful circumstances. Elsie is a proud, brave mother who does what she has to do to save her daughter.

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Most people might say they have to start their day with a cup of coffee. For me, it’s chocolate milk. Even when I’m traveling, I try to find a place that serves chocolate milk for breakfast. Most folks outgrow this phase—I never did.



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No Ordinary Star by M.C. Frank | Re:View

An icy tale of romance and the discovery of new ideas.

*** 

I was intrigued first and foremost by this books cover--it's stunning! But then I discovered it was a sci-fi and knew I had to read it. I also took note that it was inspired by Ray Bradbury's short stories and was even more intrigued.

It's been a while since I've read Bradbury, but I did get the hint of his stories with this novel, as well as M.C.'s classic style.

The story itself has a very simple cast of characters. The soldier, the girl, and the polar bear. I really enjoy the way that M.C. creates tension between her main characters. There are a lot of things that come into play to do this (no spoilers here) but I enjoy the way they change as the story progresses.  I also loved the polar bear because, let's be honest, who doesn't love polar bears?

The plot itself felt a little slow in some parts, as if I was waiting for something big to happen and it never fully did. Then again, this is a series broken up into three shorter books and I think that things progress more slowly due to that fact. I liked the world that was created and described. Harsh, futuristic in some senses (mostly ideals and new cultural norms), and foreign and familiar all at the same time. The clock element still perplexes me, and yet I have a feeling we'll discover more about it on subsequent books.

The last readerly thing to note would be the point of view. This is written in third person present tense and, while I enjoyed it, I also found it a little confusing at times. To me, it creates a bit of a distant feeling to the characters in my mind. I liked that we were able to see from both main characters perspectives and to gain a perspective of their differing personalities, but it may take a little getting used to for readers who are not accustomed to this type of writing.

If you enjoy a Ray Bradbury-type tale with hints of romantic tension and a mysterious element to the story, you will likely enjoy this book! It's got a mild sci-fi feel but isn't hugely technical. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

*A note for my clean readers: There are a few instances of language in the book.

My rating: 4*
Purchase: No Ordinary Star

Book Description
(from Amazon)

A soldier is summoned to the North Pole, days before the year changes, told to fix the great Clock for a celebration. He has no idea what to do. A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive. A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack. The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty. The year is 2524. Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace. Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time. Immerse yourself into the icy cold world of this scorching hot new novel.

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I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.