The Book Knights by J.G Mckenney - Book Review and Author Q and A

Synopsis:
When her parents are condemned to death by Morgan Fay for the crime of reading, Arti Penderhagen becomes a fugitive. Hunted by Mordred, the sadistic police captain who recites poetry to enhance his physical strength, Arti escapes to the Isle of Avalon, a sanctuary for outlaws. There she meets an old librarian named Merl who tells her about the Grail Tome, an ancient book in Morgan Fay's possession that can alter the course of history. Can Arti steal the book in time to save her family?

THE BOOK KNIGHTS is an Arthurian YA fantasy adventure in which knights wield words as weapons, librarians are wizards, and books can change the future.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have read a lot of remakes of classic novels lately. I love this one! It has King Arthur's characters only with a twist. As Morgan Fey burns books, the magic tombs filled with the history. Once there is one page left, a scribe can write the future. Morgan has an evil plan for the future. Can Artie, Lance, Gwen, Gal, and Merle beat her to it?

I love the futuristic elements as well as the classic elements. Camelot is a used car lot called Camel Lot, Avalon is a river that runs through the town, Lance drives a white charger, Merl has an RV that has a roundtable, Excalibur is the magic pen that will allow Arti to write a better future if she can get to the tomb before Morgan. I love the depth of details in the setting, plot, and characters.


I really hope that the author either applies this unique POV to other classics or continues with these characters

Author Q and A:

Let me just start by saying "Wow!". What you did with the classic King Arthur tale was amazing and I have never read anything like that and I have been reading every chance I get since I was in the 3rd grade.
I’m glad you enjoyed The Book Knights, Felicia, and that you thought it was different than other books you’ve read. I tried to put an original spin on the Arthur legend, and it’s nice to know the effort’s been appreciated.

What inspired this particular story?
I wanted to write a story that, at its core, was about the power of words. We live in a time where pictures and video seem to dominate the social landscape, and I worry that the magic of written stories is gradually being lost. I got thinking that the written word is our Holy Grail, something we need to re-discover to protect ourselves from those who would take that power away from us. A light went off, and this retelling of the King Arthur legend was born.

How does your writing impact your teaching (or teaching impact your writing)?
Teaching has helped me understand young readers in a way that I wouldn’t have known without that experience. My job has changed in recent years, so I don’t get to talk about books with students as much as I used to. Having said that, I’ve learned a couple important things about writing for younger audiences through teaching: you can’t talk down to them, and they want to be challenged by what they read.

Are you planning on continuing the adventures of Arti Penderhagen and friends? If not, can we hope for your touch on any other classics?
I did outline a second book that continues the story of Arti and her friends, but I’m working on another book right now, an adult epic fantasy with a fun narrative twist that has me excited. But I’ll be honest, the book knights keep calling me back, and it’s hard to leave them.

Is there a specific place that writing comes easier or inspires you? Can you describe it?
I’m someone who must have total isolation when I write. I’m always thinking about my story, and I often jot down ideas no matter where I am, but to write I need to be in my study alone and with no distractions. My inspiration comes from all kind of places at all times of the day or night, but my writing time is very controlled.

What is something funny, interesting or unique about you that not many people know? (nothing embarrassing)
I love doing voices, impersonations, and sound effects. Most of my colleagues and friends would be shocked by my performances. My wife is the only one who gets to enjoy/suffer them, but they make her laugh.

Get your copy of The Book Knights available as paperback and e-book

Check out J.G. Mckenney's website and check out the awards he has been nominated for and won. Also see his other book as well as his bio! 

Author Q and A with S.A. Larson and Review of Marked Beauty

Author Q and A

1. What inspired this book?
The simplest answer to this question is my love of reading and writing. I'm a curious person by nature, and have always had questions in my mind about life energy, where it goes after death, and how it might be harnessed during life or the afterlife. So science has always fascinated me. (I was a horrible science student, though.) Exploring this theme, which I do through the idea of Rifters, was a big attraction for me. And, of course, with my favorite story of all time being Pride and Prejudice I had to throw in some romance.💖
 
2. Some websites I have searched this book on have led me to believe that this is part of a series. Can readers hope that there will be more of Ana and Viktor?
Absolutely! My publisher has asked me to write a second book to dig deeper into The Realm and Ana and Viktor's story; it's tentatively titled Sinful Beauty, but don't hold me to that. Think a cross between the file LUCY and the subject of The Seven Deadly Sins.

3. Which character was your favorite to create?
I feel like I should say either Ana or Viktor because they are the main characters. Or even The Realm - the hidden world within the human world; it in itself is a character all its own. And, as much as I enjoyed developing these three, I really (really) enjoyed creating Justice. He's a secondary character along with his sister Mercedes, and together they have quite the backstory that didn't make it into the book. I wish I could have included a lot more about them as well as The Realm. (A few readers have told me they wanted to know more about it.) But word count matters in publishing, so I might just have to give Justice and Mercedes their own series. :) Brief hint: Justice (& Roxi) and Mercedes (& Donovan) both have full character and world backstories that readers might enjoy exploring.

4. Are there any deleted scenes that didn't make it into the book?
Yes. A few. Actually, more than a few. See, this book started out as a tomb. Remember that word count I just mentioned. Well, yeah. When I first started writing I didn't know that was even a thing. BUT . . . some of them will prove useful in book II and possibly a book III. Nothing wasted.

5. What is something unique or funny about you?
Unique - maybe that my main creative focus used to be dance, which had steered me to NYC during my junior/senior year in high school. But I never ended up pursuing that career because my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and I chose to stay home to help out. Funny - my nose has been broken twice. Yup, two times. Not kidding. So any reader out there who's broken their nose, we are now connected. :)

About the book

Synopsis:

Uncovering hidden secrets can sometimes kill you . . . or worse, steal your soul.

Anastasia Tate has a secret. She can feel the emotions of others through their life energy auras. Not a welcome gift for a teenager. Especially when a sinister presence begins stalking her. 

Viktor Castle also has a secret. He’s tasked with protecting humanity yet cursed by an ancient evil to destroy it.

After Viktor saves Ana’s life, her abilities grow stronger. Drawn together, she senses Viktor has answers to lifelong questions. Only he shuns her at every turn, knowing he has saved her only to put her in more danger. As Ana struggles with her attraction to Viktor, he tries everything to bury his unexpected feelings for her. But they must find a middle ground. For only together can they combat the dark forces threatening both their lives . . . and their souls. 

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this book free for review from NetGalley

I loved the characters and the twists and turns. At first, I thought this was going to be another "teen girl gets sucked into a whole new world she never knew existed", while there is that element it is accomplished in a way that was totally unique and like nothing I have ever read before.

S.A Larson is an award-winning author and it is not hard to see why. I am really eager to read more of her books and I can't wait until the next books with these characters come out. 

Links

Visit S.A Larson's website here. Join her newsletter and get a cool gift. I received character profiles that I am going ot print and hang up in my book room. You get to choose!

Get your copy of Marked Beauty from Amazon.

Follow the Amazon Author's Page here to stay updated and find her other titles.

Author Q and A With Jane Rosenberg Laforge author of The Hawkman: A Fairy Tale of the Great War

This is one Q and A session that I was dying to do. When I was in the sixth grade, my teacher had us do a unit on fairy tales. We had to compare and contrast tales from different cultures and see what we found. Bearskin is one that is not very well known but for some reason, it stuck with me more than Beauty and the Beast and other fairy tales of that nature. When I was approved to read this book through NetGalley, I was so excited. I knew right away that I was going to read this book one way or another. 

So I read the advanced copy. I was not disappointed one bit. The way Jane Rosenberg Laforge worked this tale was absolutely beautiful. I could not find one critical thing to say about it. As most of you know, I don't buy books brand new. I live in a good-sized town not as big as Seattle but a good sized one. NOT ONE STORE HAD THIS BOOK. I was so upset, I told my husband I was actually contemplating throwing a temper tantrum right in the store.  We compromised and instead of throwing an all out hissy fit right there in the bookstore, he bought it for me off of Amazon. I have one shelf (four feet long) that is dedicated to books that I will read more than once. That shelf is almost empty, but this book got a spot on "the golden shelf" (from my 12-year old).

Anyway, I am rambling, when Jane agreed to do a Q and A, I literally squealed in delight. I had to know more about the inspiration behind this book and more about the author. I am very excited to share it with you. Don't forget to check out the links below to the Author's website, my original blog post, and the link so you can get your very own copy. If you love retellings beyond role reversals and the obvious changes, you will LOVE this book.

1. What inspired you to write this story?

A: I've always been curious about World War I. I had two grandfathers, one of whom I knew quite well; he fought in WW2. I wound up learning a lot about that war. But my other grandfather, who was much older and died when I was about six, fought for the Russians in WWI. I didn't know much about that war other than conditions in the trenches were terrible. Writing about that war was one way for me to learn about it. I also have been stuck on the Grimm's Fairy Tale of "The Bearskin" ever since I read it in German during graduate school. I was fascinated by the prospect of getting someone else to do your penance for you. But I really didn't have a way to tie my ideas together until I took a trip to Ireland. I learned there about some of the experiences of Irish soldiers who fought for the British in WWI. Ireland was in the midst of a revolution during the war, and the Irish who returned from the war were considered traitors. They were much like "The Hawkman" in that they had no place to go. Some of them had to leave Ireland permanently. Once I was able to find a homeless and hated soldier in history, I was able to create one on the page I could believe in, and put all of these elements into action.  

2. Do you see yourself transforming any other fairytales?

A: At the moment, I don't see myself transforming another fairy tale, because I'm trying to write something that takes place largely in the 1970's, and I'm not sure that really lends itself to a fairy tale. But I heard a fascinating discussion on the radio last week about "Frankenstein," and I'm thinking that story might lend some support to what I'm working on now. It might not work out, though. Fairy tales sometimes tend to be about transformation, and like "The Hawkman," the story I'm working on now deals with transformation. But it's more of a Frankenstein-esque transformation that I'm dealing with now; it's more of a kind of human-made abomination, nothing magical. There are certain things you need to work with fairy tales, certain contrivances, or plot points; a certain sense of romance and possibility. The story I'm envisioning now doesn't have any of that. 

3. What was the hardest part about writing this story?

A: I haven't written a lot of fiction so most of the book was difficult! Perhaps the easiest part was the research; I could just read and read and read. Getting it down was an entirely different story. I had to be very careful about rendering the experiences of the characters in the proper language; I didn't want to be using modern language, expressions or sayings or idioms that were just not true to the time period. I wanted to write more about the Boer War, and I read several books about it, but I just couldn't picture how certain things happened in that war--I don't want to say what, because that might give away some of the plot--so I had to leave all that out. 

4. Are there any deleted scenes you left out of the book?

A:  I may have answered this question in the above answer, but I didn't write anything that I had to delete. I just gave up on a lot of ideas that I wanted to include, but couldn't make work. I wanted to write about a lot more wars, like the Crimean War. I got a tiny bit in about the Boer War but nothing like the scenes I envisioned. I have an ever-so-slight reference to the Spanish-American War in there. But if I wrote as I originally planned, those other wars may have dragged the book down, detracting from the plot. 

5. What is something funny or unique about you that not everyone knows about? (nothing embarrassing) 

A: I wrote a memoir; it was published in 2014. So I don't think there's anything new or unknown, or even funny or unique that I can reveal here. Certainly, there are plenty of embarrassing things, though most of my friends know all about those. They continue to happen almost every day! So stay tuned!  

I don't know about you all but that little hint of something Frankenstein-esque has me pretty curious. 

Check out Jane Rosenberg LaForge's website to check out what's new and find out more about her other books. 

In case you missed it here is the link to my original Blog post about the book and my review of it.

And last but not least, grab your copy of The Hawkman: A Fairy Tale of the Great War. It is available as an e-book or paperback.

Let Me Tell You.....

I have read a ton of good books over the last week and couldn't decide which one to do a blog post about today. So, instead, I am doing a "Let Me Tell You" post.

Netgalley is amazing and evil at the same time

Through Netgalley, I get to read a ton of books for free before they are even released. The only thing I used is my kindle. I think that they do nook books as well. The downside to Netgalley is that once they are on your Kindle, you can't transfer the files. You can only read them on that one device.

The other downside is that you get to read these books 6 months before they are released. Which means that if you are a person that loves series, sagas, duologies, and trilogies, like me, this sucks. You get the first part of the story and have to wait around 18 months before you get to read the second part. With that being said, I am one of those people that wait until the last book is published before I buy a series, then I buy it all at once. I am not a patient person.

NetGalley also awards you badges for different milestones you get to. Below are the ones that I have earned.

I earned this one for submitting 100 reviews.

I earned this one because I got auto-approved by more than four publishers

This one is because I have submitted feedback for 80% of the titles on my list

You get this one when three or more of your reviews have been added to the details page by the book publisher.

I think that everyone gets this one. It just means that you are a reviewer.

Now let me tell about how I earned these amazing badges. 

I have an office job that allows me to listen to music or whatever while I work. With my Kindle text-to-speech feature, virtually every one of the 4,000 books into an audiobook without having to purchase an Audible subscription or by the audio CD's. Depending on the length of the book, I have read up to 3 a day this way.

Another thing I want to tell you about is Goodreads.

If you work a full-time job, have three kids, married, and have no bookish friends, you should totally sign up for a Goodreads account. Even if you don't have all those things, it is still a pretty cool site. You can join book clubs, play book-themed games, post book reviews, set reading goals, and my favorite enter giveaways. The more active you are on the site the higher the chances of winning a giveaway are. The other thing they like is when you are done reading a book you won, post a review. Even if it is something simple like "This book was awesome!"

While they don't have cool badges like NetGalley, they have a yearly reading challenge. You set the number of books you want to read in a year, read your books and it will automatically keep track of it for you. You just search for your title and change the status to "Currently Reading" and Voila!

The last thing I want to tell you is how much fun my blog is.

Through my blog, I have gotten to do things I never thought I would. I have gotten to do question and answer sessions with some amazing authors, I have gotten to be part of a virtual book tour, and most important, I have gotten to share my reading journey with you guys. I am always open to suggestions for questions that you want me to ask the author. I just ask that you think of questions that keep the author a person and not a product.

Well I hope you all will check out those two websites and let me know which badges you earn!

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray Mcbride by Joe Siple

Synopsis:

With all his family and friends gone, one-hundred-year-old Murray McBride is looking for a reason to live. He finds it in Jason Cashman, a ten-year-old boy with a terminal heart defect and a list of five things he wants to do before he dies. Together, they race against the limited time each has left, ticking off wishes one by one. Along the way, Murray remembers what it's like to be young, and Jason fights for the opportunity to grow old. But when tragedy strikes, their worlds are turned upside-down, and an unexpected gift is the only thing that can make Jason's final wish come true.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this book free from Net Galley. Make sure you have tissues ready when you read it.


Mr. Mcbride is a 100-year-old man that is tired of living, that is until he meets 10-year-old Jason. Moved by the fact that Jason has a terminal heart condition and a list of things he wants to do before he dies, Mr. Mcbride makes it his mission to grant them. The interactions between the two had me laughing out loud through a lot of the book. The ending had an unexpected twist that ripped out my heart but somehow put it back in again. This is definitely a book I would read over and over again.

Q and A with Nancy Springer Author of The Oddling Prince

I have to remind you all that this so far is one of my most favorite books of 2018, quite possibly of all time and that is saying a lot since I read all the time. I was super excited when Nancy agreed to do a Q and A with me.

1. This story reads like it could be out of a book of old fairy tales, what inspired this story?
Daydreams.  All of my life since I was fifteen, I have had the most vivid, obsessive daydreams, most of them about two heroes, one golden and great-hearted, the other dark, tormented, moody, musical, visionary.  At age 22 I started writing in an attempt to offload them and be rid of them.  It didn’t work, but that’s how I became a writer. I wrote about the two heroes until I succeeded in accepting my own “dark” side.  THE ODDLING  PRINCE is a throwback to my beginnings  as a writer, with one important change:  the musical, visionary prince may be shadowed but he is no longer “dark.”  Aric and Albaric are like the two sides of the same golden coin.

2. What was the hardest part about writing the story?
Stopping when it was finished.  I wanted to keep going, to write about Aric and Marissa’s wedding and how Albaric regained his strength and continued to heal people and all sorts of wonderfulness.   Actually, I had to cut a lot of surplus verbiage off the end.

3. Can we dare to hope for something in this same style in the future? 
I never say never, but not likely.  In writing THE ODDLING PRINCE I was returning to my roots.  I succeeded, and I feel no need to do it again.

4. You have quite a diverse collection of characters throughout your books, which character or series was your favorite to create and why?
Oh, heck, they are all my favorite when I am writing them, but – yes, I can answer this.  My current favorite character is Beverly Vernon, who is the protagonist of my down-home/mystery/paranormal fantasy novel GrandGhost, which will be released in the USA and Canada on the first of August, this year.  The reason she’s my favorite is that face it, she’s me, thinly disguised.  She’s dealing with my personal troubles – living alone, no grandkids, and fearful that she might end up as hopelessly senile as my mother did.  Which is her main problem when she encounters the ghost of a murdered child.  Is she going bonkers?  Is it crazy to try to help a phantom grandghost find love and peace while her own adult children think she’s going bonkers, and she half thinks so herself?

5. What is something unique or funny about yourself that not many people know? (nothing embarrassing)
I’m fascinated by radial symmetry and the symbolism of the sun/moon/circle, so after I crayoned my way through several mandala coloring books, I got out a compass and protractor and became obsessed with creating my own mandalas, “squaring the circle.”  Everything depended on which pencil lines I erased and which I left in place.  How cool. “What to leave in, what to leave out.”  A visual echo of writing.

I am happy to let all of you know that I was approved to read her new book GrandGhost on Net Galley and I can't wait to read it. In the meantime, check out the links below to see my original blog post about the book, Nancy's website where you can find more of her awesome books, and a link to get your own copy of The Oddling Prince.

Click here to see the synopsis and the review.
Purchase your own copy of The Oddling Prince here!
Check out Nancy Springer's website to see what is coming, connect with her, and see her books. There are links to follow her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Also, comment below any questions that you would like me to start asking authors. I have noticed that a lot of Q and A's focus on the author as a product, not a person. I am more interested to get to know them as a person so no questions about marking, writing strategies, money, or anything like that. 

Stay tuned for more updates, awesome book reviews, and hopefully more Q and A sessions with authors!

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black

Synopsis:

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.


Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the story of Valentine. A girl haunted by the fact that her mother killed the son of one of the most prominent families in town. When someone kills the Richter, questions get asked and the more answers she gets the more questions she has. Soon she finds out that the mind can play tricks and the past is not always how you remember it.


The characters in this book are well written and the plot is amazing. I love the story and how all the little twists and turns keep you guessing.