Every great city is a constant act of reinvention. Fashionable new structures rise over the wreckage of unfashionable older ones. Neighborhoods change character and function. Populations and industries ebb and flow. Hidden from sight, underground infrastructure spreads like a living thing, fiber-optic cables unspooling where pneumatic tubes once ran. New modes of transportation come on […]
Several decades ago, when I first moved to New York City, I answered an ad to be a personal assistant to a writer. I imagined myself as amanuensis, translating inspired pronouncements into poems. Instead, I ordered and returned sweaters, scheduled haircuts, and made three-course-meal seating plans for members of the literati whom I never got […]
Fascination with actors shows no sign of abating. The public still, it seems, longs to know, as a journalist put it to Alec Guinness on his first visit to America, what makes them tick. (“I wasn’t aware that I was ticking,” Guinness replied.) What do actors wear, what do they eat, how often and in […]
We leave town on and offand off and on. The plantsseem hardier for it, as if they tooneeded space. The compulsoriness ofour uninterrupted company sucksthe air out of the room, pollutestheir habitat. As if they too sensedthe pulsations of our reluctance.Five more days pass. In that cornerof the sky, Orion is the constellationwhose pinholes I […]
When European commentators in the 1830s admired the brilliantly colored, life-size prints in John James Audubon’s The Birds of America, they found the backgrounds almost as enthralling as the birds: forest clearings, swamps and canebrakes and waving prairie grasses—an unknown country. The land, not the sea, was Audubon’s element. Whereas “the Land Bird flits from […]
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Our weather has been quite nice, and we got some much needed rain on Monday. I wrote up two weeks’ worth of reviews during the week. Go me! Usually I spend my weekend writing the ones for the current week. I still have eight (maybe 9) left that I am hoping to write next week. Sophia is finally feeling better and we are all healthy. Eep. This week I have reviews for some of my most anticipated books of 2022. Stay Caffeinated.
Last Week on the Blog
Dark Seas By Kari Lee Harmon (audio review)
In The Pines By Kendra Elliot (book review)
Devil’s Ride West By David Nix (book review, guest post)
Aura Of Night By Heather Graham(book review)
This Week on the Blog
Ruby Fever By Ilona Andrews (book review)
Soul Taken By Patricia Briggs (book review)
Give Up the Ghost By Angie Fox (book review, guest post)
Heartbreaker By Sarah MacLean (book review)
New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe
Learn more:
A Turn of the Tide by Kelley Armstrong
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
Special thanks to KLA Fricke Inc, St. Martin Press
Around The Blogosphere
Save the Date: Fraterfest 2022 Readathon October 14th-24th
Save the Date: 2022 #HoHoHoRAT Readathon November 18-30th
Save the Date: Thankful for Books Week Hop November 21-28th
Can You Read A Series in A Month Challenge from Because Reading Is Fun
Caffeinated PR
Open Events
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Eve of Awakening follows a woman who is successful in her life but has a near-death experience and rediscovers her faith in God causing her to question everything she has believed. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I was about 23 years old and super busy earning my master’s degree and working full time. I was exercising at the gym, so I could hurry home and do homework when I asked to myself, “Does everyone try to live so many lives in one?” That is when the thought, “Life Plethoricity,” came to mind: Trying to live the productiveness of multiple lives in a single life. The only way to do this is to get rid of valuable things that many hold dear — relationships, faith, rest and enjoyment. The interesting fact about this book is that I wrote it in 2005 — before social media, smart phones, online shopping/shipping and working remotely. I had to create these ideas in my book, which is why they have different names. However, now so much of what I speculated has come to fruition.
Eve is a perfect citizen in her world, until she embraces her lost faith, causing her life to spiral in a new direction. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
So many people think that Christians are “brainwashed” and that faith is a sign of a lack of intelligence or a sign of weakness. However, in my mind, I would want to know what happens after my body dies. My spirit and soul aren’t aging, so where will they go when my heart stops beating? This to me isn’t a sign of ignorance; rather, it is a rational awareness for anyone who thinks beyond this world and current moment. Eve has a near death experiences, and realizes that death steals all her hard earned productivity, and she gets angry. Why should she produce so much when she can’t take any of it with her when her heart stops? To me, she is the one who is highly intelligent in thinking beyond this life as she gains an awareness of how fleeting it is. That is why she won’t rest until she finds the answer to immortality, which she finds in Christ.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the most important themes that I wanted to explore was how imperfect people have a relationship with a perfect God. How does that look? What does the process of maturing in Christ feel like? How does the Holy Spirit relate to us once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior? My characters are far from perfect. And they are each on different walks of faith, wearing a unique anointing for their specific design. One of my utmost desires in life, besides being loved, is to have meaning and purpose. My goal in writing Eve of Awakening and in writing all five books of the Onoma Series is to show how each character has a purpose that is invaluable to God’s greater plan and how they accomplish that purpose even when they make mistakes and many times fall short.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
So far, there are four published books in the series each named after a major character: Eve of Awakening, Bear into Redemption, Mark within Salvation and Hunt for Understanding. The final book, Straight unto Forever, is a prequel novella that occurs about 15 years before Eve of Awakening. I am currently finishing up this book, and it should be published Fall of this year.
Eve Pallue’s façade of purpose falters when a near death experience exposes the frailty of her existence, and she must come to grips with a reality that death ultimately wins. A hidden memory of a forgotten mother surfaces, and Eve’s bodyguard, Randall, takes advantage of her weakened state, trying to capture her devotion and lace her into his ambitious agenda. A dying therapist and her unlikely caretaker lead Eve on a journey of Truth; and a catastrophic fire catapults Eve into a life she has always feared, destroying the only one she has ever known. Eve awakens to severe burns and a pair of doting, elderly sisters who nurture Eve’s newfound faith and guide her on the path to eternal purpose.
The Legend of Paisley Pete follows a house cat that is abandoned by his family, and a feral colony takes him in till they can all be rescued. What was the inspiration for your story?
This story is based on real-life events when my townhome community became overrun with stray and feral cats, like overnight. My cat whisperer neighbor and I singlehandedly trapped, neutered, delivered to the Humane Society, rehomed with trusted folks and took in for ourselves some 30 cats over the course of two summers. It was fascinating yet disappointing to watch a blue-eyed feral kitten hiss and spazz-ball if you tried to pet it. I realized after we handled so many and varied personalities of cats that it’s humankind’s fault that animals bred for domesticity should ever find cause to be wary of us. When our mission was complete, I knew I never wanted to lose the memory of it all. Well, it did fade. I couldn’t remember all the silly names we came up with or what cat ended up where or with whom. So the only thing to do was finally sit down earlier this year and capture the essence of the experience and tell it from the cats’ perspective.
What is one thing about feral cats that you think is misrepresented in the media?
That feral cats are unlovable is the notion fostered in the media or other sources of misinformation. I’ve assessed that there are 3 types of feral cats: Too old and therefore wild to socialize, possibly able to be socialized as a pet later in their life, very likely to become socialized within first 3 months of life.
Yet, there was something about my partner, the real Miss Judy from the story, who coaxed 6 too-far-gone feral cats into her home, where they never beg to go out, simply because of the sweetness of the energy surrounding her. They love to be petted. But they will likely never be cuddle buns or lap cats even for Miss Judy. Once too old, there are still boundaries they’re unable to cross, and that appears to be long periods of close bodily contact. Still, that’s them giving to us their very best.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Please foster and adopt stray and feral cats. At the very least, TNR (trap/neuter/release) any you find and do it kindly. Remember, you can still love too-far-gone ferals from afar by feeding them and constructing shelters for them. At the very most, endeavor to “Miss Judy” them and bring them home to bask in your love.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
A Halloween story is in the works – actually on Kindle Vella right now – that I’ll create into a picture book, I hope in time for October 2022. On the creation horizon I see other animal stories forming in my imagination, fairies ‘n’ fireflies, unicorn quest and oodles more ideas for children, my favorite kind of people.
Awarded the August 2022 Literary Titan Gold Book Award
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
A trusting cat, Flynn, finds himself dumped in the woods by his owner. A friendly feral/stray cat colony takes him in and cares for him. This would not be typical cat colony behavior – Flynn in the ordinary abandonment situation would have to fight and prove himself to a colony or go his own solitary way. What, then, makes this colony willing to take him in, no questions asked? The answer is an extraordinary practice of love. Does that mean a return to faith in human beings, by the way? And what does paisley have to do with anything? Find the answer in this charming children’s picture book about the global problem of feral and stray cats.
Inside Your Heaven: Inspiring Stories of the Afterlife shares your experiences in life with the psychic world and your growth into a Psychic Medium helping others to heal. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I felt compelled to write this book to share how many of us were born with intuitive, psychic mediumship and extra sensory gifts. Also, like myself and in most cases, people try to hide them or suppress them over the years and end up developing anxiety and depression. We live in a society that doesn’t honor the intuitive mind, and it can get quite lonely, so by writing this book I am creating an outlet for those who are struggling like me with their spiritual awakenings. Remember, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. (Teilhard de Chardin) I also wrote this book to offer answers to those questions about what the inside of Heaven is like. I wished to show many others grieving how to navigate this world without those we love once they transition to the other side, by sharing my own honest and true personal experiences.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about the afterlife?
After every loss within your Soul Group, you will no doubt have a Spiritual awakening, and your loved ones are going to send you frequent signs from the other side, that they are indeed okay and that they walk alongside you every single day just in a different form. Don’t ever think that you’re going crazy. Be open. Talk about it. In some cultures, death is celebrated the same way a person’s birthday is celebrated, as if a graduation from this life school here on earth: a rebirth to the next life. Heaven is truly right here just in another realm and what most people think or in my catholic upbringing that St. Peter locks up the gates of heaven upon arrival that is just not the case. Our loved ones choose us to be their Heaven because why wouldn’t they? They’re right here with us, joining us with love and comfort on our car rides to work in the morning, and on the couch at night watching our regular nighttime shows. Loving and guiding us from the other side through our time here as we continue with our spiritual journey and growth. What lives on is the love and light that emanates from them. I can tell they are off doing other things and serving in more than one place at a time, like the way the sun rays touch down on earth in every state and every continent they too are rays of light.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life that you think can help others with psychic mediumship abilities?
I want people to understand that being a psychic medium isn’t supernatural, it’s SUPERNATURAL. We all have these gifts, and they are the navigation system of our soul. I think Einstein said it best…. “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” I can’t keep giving into what our society molded us to think, to the point it’s creating depression and anxiety within myself. I need to honor my intuition because it belongs to my soul and nobody else can take that from me or anyone else for that matter. I feel so much better being led by my intuition than the thoughts and opinions of others in this backwards society. Since I’ve been honoring my soul, it’s been such a great journey and I’ve helped, guided, and healed so many in return. Being psychic is just a soul-to-soul connection and being a medium is just connecting with your loved one’s spirit and energy on the other side. I’ve been gifted with both all my life and once I started to hone in on these gifts the less anxious I felt trying to deny my soul’s birthright.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Not only do I want you to feel safe, peaceful and guided by my messages from my book but I’d love for you all to gain the courage to listen to that still small voice within and when you’re grief stricken always trust that your loved ones would do everything possible to send you signs or come to you in dreams to allow love to continue on from their soul to yours from the other side, and that in the end you will all be reunited once again.
This book affirms our loved ones are always here with us. If you suffer the deep grief of losing loved ones, or suspect connecting with spirits is possible, or remain fascinated by otherworldly premonitions, dreams, or signs, you will be inspired by this book! Follow along as April comes to terms with her own childhood trauma and grows into her vocation, first as a nurse, then as a Psychic Medium. In this book she shares stories about; Gianna and Vanessa overcome the painful loss of their mothers. Elena receives guidance and comfort from her Uncle and Grandmother. Ella’s Babcia (grandmother) helps her feel more beautiful, more loved, no longer abandoned. Sammy’s loving parents help affirm her self-worth. Leah Rae and Jenny receive closure and peace from the spirits of their deceased children… Other incredible stories await that will inspire you. You’ll also discover your own gifts and how to embrace your gifts. It will make you less fearful about death and more able to heal. So that you can live a more loving and purposeful life!
Icarus Flies Home follows a Jazz bassist as he tries to publish his great-great uncle’s lost music, only to discover someone else has claimed the rights to it. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
We took a tour of one of the biggest former plantations in the South. As we toured the home and went into the parlor, the guide told talked about the famous people who had likely spent time there, including literary and film stars, people like George and Ira Gershwin. Maybe they had even passed through at some point. As a musician, I wondered what could have inspired them and what if, I wondered, they had heard something that influenced their own musical compositions?
Beauregard (“Bo”) Sonski-Abbott wants to honor a lost relative but has to overcome unbelievable odds to do so. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
He’s torn because he wants to think the best of people. He also doesn’t know how to wrap his mind around something so profound, that his relative lived his life enslaved and all he must have endured. He was a musician and Bo was trying to understand how one could still find joy amid the horrors and tragedy in a life like that.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Legacy, family relationships, love, marriage, and who really owns a song; the idea of intellectual property when a person had been stripped of all rights.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
By this fall/2022! A murder mystery about a sax player. There’s a pretty obscure event in jazz history that this book explores. It takes place in Brooklyn, NY and St. Petersburg (Russia).
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
A stolen song, a stolen kiss and a stunning family legacy Jazz bassist Beauregard (“Bo”) Sonski-Abbott finds himself reeling after learning an aging Broadway producer may have stolen a song written by his distant relative: a great-great uncle who was enslaved on one of the biggest plantations in Georgia. Bo’s journey to unravel the truth takes him from the music scene of New York to Washington, DC, only to be sidetracked by a much younger woman who threatens to tear apart his marriage and his career.
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Every great city is a constant act of reinvention. Fashionable new structures rise over the wreckage of unfashionable older ones. Neighborhoods change character and function. Populations and industries ebb and flow. Hidden from sight, underground infrastructure spreads like a living thing, fiber-optic cables unspooling where pneumatic tubes once ran. New modes of transportation come on […]
Several decades ago, when I first moved to New York City, I answered an ad to be a personal assistant to a writer. I imagined myself as amanuensis, translating inspired pronouncements into poems. Instead, I ordered and returned sweaters, scheduled haircuts, and made three-course-meal seating plans for members of the literati whom I never got […]
Fascination with actors shows no sign of abating. The public still, it seems, longs to know, as a journalist put it to Alec Guinness on his first visit to America, what makes them tick. (“I wasn’t aware that I was ticking,” Guinness replied.) What do actors wear, what do they eat, how often and in […]
When European commentators in the 1830s admired the brilliantly colored, life-size prints in John James Audubon’s The Birds of America, they found the backgrounds almost as enthralling as the birds: forest clearings, swamps and canebrakes and waving prairie grasses—an unknown country. The land, not the sea, was Audubon’s element. Whereas “the Land Bird flits from […]
Dark Seas By Kari Lee Harmon (audio review)
