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
Today is my husband’s company day at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. We will spend the day with the Royals and their parents. It’s a fun day without the crowds (closed to the public still) and the weather promises to be lovely. After the reaction I had to new meds last weekend, I am looking forward to some fun. I am making progress with the backlog of reviews, but keeping adding more. Stay Caffeinated.
Last 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)
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais (book review)
This Week on the Blog
A Broken Blade By Melissa Blair (audio review)
Love On The Brain By Ali Hazelwood (audio review)
The Graveside Bar And Grill By Darynda Jones (audio review)
Black Wings, Gray Skies By Hailey Edwards (audio review)
Fraterfest 2022 Readathon Sign-Up (event)
New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe
Learn more:
Before the Storm by Eric Carter
Wayward by Chuck Wendig
The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis
Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong
Special thanks to Gary Bennett, Random House, Avon Romance Books
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
Caffeinated PR
Open Events
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A Man For All Seasons follows a man who has dedicated his life to helping conserve and save nature and the animals of the world. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I was looking for a completely different way to present the conservation message. Instead of badgering people, I sought to create a story with warmth and humour – an intensely personal story with a main character readers would identify with. And of course, a very likeable character – Vidor’s flawed and has his share of problems, just as we all do, but he never gives up.
Vidor is a complex character that wants to be compassionate for those in need and also assassinate those that cause harm. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
As Vidor reminds Alban, “Compassion is the only fashion.” Although technically, Vidor is a monster in that he is a created being, he is not the true monster in the story. He is innocent although his creator may not have been. Vidor’s not sure. But he knows there comes a point when people become the REAL monsters. Vidor realises he must stop the monster in this story. Even so, he deals humanely.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Self-realisation as opposed to self-interest. Ignorance of the natural world and its consequence. The value of love, friendship, and redemption.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
An exploration of animal consciousness in fictional format. Should be ready for Christmas!
Living on in his master’s castle, an ageing Vidor finds it falling down around him, but continues his nightly assignations and experiments. Added to this is an ever-increasing stream of animal refugees. With no idea how to feed them all, he decides to go into business to make ends meet. Helped by his wise-talking raven Alban, Vidor must thwart a greedy development company from destroying the animals’ home. But is he already out of time? Part tender romance, part cheeky comedy, A Man For All Seasons brings feel-good in spades, shines a light on life and death with dignity, and pays heart-lifting tribute to all eco warriors, wherever they may stand.
When Life is Like A Dream is one of six plays that you have written on the difficult topic of apartheid in South Africa. Why was this an important book for you to write?
One of the things that struck me about the racial tensions in South Africa was the extent to which this is phenomenon is not simply a contemporary event, but has its long and ignominious genesis from past historical prejudices that have been passed from one generation to the next in our country. Even as the country has entered a new post-apartheid era, those negative forces have been left almost intact and are responsible for the current state of the country’s political tensions.
What were some key ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
To this day, South Africa remains as a deeply divided society along a lot of social lines like race, class, gender, ethnicity etc. The idea of my series of plays is to demonstrate how this trend managed to live through the past decades since 1910 under different white political leadership in the country. As time wore on, black people through their painful experiences under white minority, started to challenge the political status quo openly and this descended into a titanic, bloody conflict that left both sides of the racial divide badly scarred. This even led to further divisions within the same racial groups based on ideological outlooks. Aladam sees all this in his dream covering play 1 – 5 and in Play 6 he wakes up to go home as a free man with his fist punching the air.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in your work?
Racial prejudice and how it is reinforced by different outlooks of social groups in a country that lives apart from itself; being thrust in a social environment where forces promoting alienation reign supreme; innocence and betrayal as well repression of thoughts considered to be out of kilter with received ideas of group identity in society.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
When Life Is Like A Dream, historically speaking, starts from 1910 – 1924 when the country came under a single central government of white minority rule under what was considered to be a liberal leadership. The second play picks up the story from 1924 – 1948 when it gets subjected to the government of white conservative forces.
The title of the next book is: Things Are Not What They Seem. The idea is have the remaining five plays all published at the same time to complete the series. The subsequent titles are: When The Dream Is Broken; It Never Dies But Grows Swollen; When You Are Made A Walk To Take; It Shall A Walk Not Easy To Make.
I am working towards sending them off to publishers to test the waters by the end of the year. I am still editing them. The only snag is that I am doing this whilst holding down a full-time job and this is why it’s taking so long.
Let me know if you have any queries regarding my responses to your questions above.
Other than the website, I don’t the links for Twitter and Facebook or Goodreads. However, I am yet to make the time to work on it by putting details. With regard to Twitter and Facebook, I think I can immediately find help to get them set up and will forward to you once done. The challenging one is Goodreads as I do not have the guidelines and how to do their link. It would help if you could come to my rescue.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
On his last night in prison, Aladam, incarcerated for many years for his opposition to white domination in South Africa, dreams about the political struggles that have shaped the course of the country. The contours of his dream take us through the bewildered state of black people’s lives after the Act of Union in 1910. We come across an ambitious white President, Nieman, who has been recalled from retirement to protect the country from falling into black hands; the fierce political conflict between the English and the Afrikaners; the sudden onset of the Spanish Influenza ; and the outbreak of a violent white miners’ strike.
My Mom has Superpowers follows a young girl who believes her mom has superpowers; once she realizes her power is prayer, she too wants to become a superhero. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for writing this book was so many kids look for superstars (football players, rappers, singers, etc., etc.) as superhero’s and they have superhero’s in their homes. I wanted children to just look to their mom or dad or even older relatives and they will see that they can be inspired from people in their own personal lives.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Ishika Sharma?
My illustrator is very talented and she worked with me to bring my story to life with her awesome work. I have recommended her to other authors since our collaboration.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters?
I saw myself in the main characters because I always looked up to my own Mother because she was so awesome! And she had much faith and belief.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book that I am currently working on is a Children’s Christmas book. This will be my first Christmas book. I have a great message to share in that book. I am working for its release in a couple of months. More to follow…
In many ways, my mom is the queen of our house, smart, beautiful, and loving. But could she be hiding a secret from me? What could the secret be? And how does my mom know how to fix everything? Follow along with Lillian and you will find out just how awesome Moms really are, especially Lillian’s Mom!
Think Unique introduces parents and educators to the idea of teaching creative thinking as a necessary life skill to help prepare them for the future world. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I am a Design Thinker who studied Computer Science and worked at the forefront of technology for many years. My work experience in the Hi-Tech industry is diverse. I worked for large companies such as IBM research lab, creating algorithms for future technology; I also worked for different start-ups that developed technology that disrupted the market. This knowledge and experience helped me see that with the rapid advancement in technology and the development of machine learning, artificial intelligence and automation, the type of jobs we humans perform are changing. Computers now do many tasks that we used to do in the past, and new jobs are popping up daily. Who could have imagined, ten years back, that an e-sport couch would be a profession, an uber-driver, or a social media influencer?
Looking at where our world is heading, two things were obvious to me –
We don’t know what job types will be there in 10-15 years. Therefore, many children in primary school today would work in jobs that haven’t been invented yet.
As we work alongside computers more, we must develop our superhuman skills. The skills that are unique to us and computers can’t replace. These skills, to name a few, are creative thinking, problem-solving, and an innovative mindset.
Consequently, to succeed in the 21st century (in whatever path you choose and whatever career children will decide to pursue), children today must develop their creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
As a mother of three children, I felt the need to do everything I could to set up mine and other children, from around the globe, for success.
One of the ways for me to do so is to empower teachers and parents to help their students and children develop their thinking capabilities and become excellent problem solvers.
Therefore, I wrote the book“Think Unique”to guide educators on how they can create an environment that develops these crucial skills in their classrooms.
How much research did you undertake for this book and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I wrote “Think Unique” after many years of following my passion. I have spent many years exploring, researching and learning Design Thinking, creative thinking, and problem-solving.
As part of my desire to help others develop these skills, I have worked with many adults, educators and children, teaching them Design Thinking to develop their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
I have spent many years in classrooms, working alongside teachers and teaching children Design Thinking. For many years, I have been training teachers on Design Thinking as a framework for teaching and learning.
These years of going on my journey and mentoring and teaching others how to develop their thinking capabilities have helped me develop a deep understanding and knowledge of this topic.
This journey led to the birth of “Think Unique”.
What is one thing about education that you think is misrepresented in the media?
There are many conversations about the need to change our education system. These types of discussions have been going on for years now. Many people talk about our outdated education system and the need for politicians and bureaucrats to re-design our education system to suit the needs of the 21st century.
While today, many agree that the current system is not serving our children, we can’t afford to wait for governments to change this system.
And there is no need to wait for policymakers to slowly change existing policies and drive a top-down transformation of this massive education system. In fact, there is no time to waste: our children need a different kind of education now.
What is misrepresented in the media is the idea that this transformation needs to happen from the top down. The idea that governments and bureaucrats are the ones who need to lead the required changes to provide our children with the learning environment they need to thrive.
In reality, re-designing and enhancing our education system can and needs to start with the teachers. Teachers have the power to bring their classrooms to the forefront of education and provide their students with the learning experience they need.
They can deliver their curriculum differently. Educators can choose to use a framework for teaching and learning that provides our children with the learning environment they need.
Teachers have this power. They have more autonomy than they think. They have more choices than they might believe. Even within the many constraints of our education system, educators have the power to teach differently.
And this is what I do. I empower teachers to amplify their impact and create an innovative classroom learning environment.
I show them how they can deliver the curriculum they need to adhere to in a meaningful and authentic way.
I guide them on how they can facilitate learning that empowers children to become excellent problem solvers and change makers.
What is one thing that you hope reader take away from Think Unique?
I wrote “Think Unique” to empower readers to become innovative problem solvers. Therefore, I hope that “Think Unique” readers will learn from my book that creative thinking is a skill anyone can develop and will follow the path I provided them to develop their innovative thinking.
Through their “Think Unique” journey, I hope they will become excellent problem solvers and help others develop their unique thinking.
As per research performed by Dr George Land and Dr Beth Jarman, we are all born creative geniuses, but most of us lose this skill as we grow up and go through our education system. However, the good news is that we can develop this skill and become creative geniuses again.
I wrote “Think Unique” in a way that empowers readers to become creative geniuses again.
Do you wish you could do something unique with your curriculum? Do you want to inspire your students and help them experiment and think without boundaries, but aren’t sure where to start? If you want to create a unique and fantastic environment for your students, Think Unique is for you.
Creativity and innovative thinking are too often seen as not essential or icing on the cake. That’s simply not true! Creativity is a way of thinking and processing information. It is a way to expand your student’s thinking capabilities and develop their love of learning. Moreover, turning your classroom into an innovative environment means creating an exciting and fun learning space. And we all know that children learn best when they are having fun. Creating the right learning environment for your students is important. With Think Unique, you can take your classroom to the next level and turn it into the most creative and inspiring learning community ever! Think Unique combines the creative thinking and innovation process that drive start-ups and organisations’ success with the principles of Project-Based Learning. By adopting this approach, you bring the methodologies used by the best innovators and thought leaders of our time to your classroom. With this book, you will: Develop your students’ 21st-century skills Provide them with a voice Build up their confidence as excellent problem solvers Open their world to infinite possibilities! Think Unique provides you with an innovative framework you can use for any subject, including STEM, Math & Literacy. It is your step-by-step guide to making learning more engaging, more relevant, and more creative. You will find strategies that you can put into practice right away. You’ll learn how to inspire your students, plan engaging lessons, develop your students’ 21st-century skills, and create your most unique curriculum ever. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started, Think Unique will help you develop a creative curriculum for your students and put it into action.
What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write Making Your Mark | Leaving a Legacy | And then… A Grand Exit That’ll Have Their Tongues Waggin’?
Several years ago, a friend, who was a “parrothead” – a big Jimmy Buffett fan – passed away. His Celebration of Life was held at an open air bar along the lake, and the minister started the service by saying, “I never thought I’d say this at a funeral, but let’s all go to Margaritaville!” Then, someone pushed the button on a sound system and Jimmy Buffett’s song, ‘Margaritaville,’ blasted over the sound system. On cue, someone drove a small tractor from behind a building pulling the deceased guy’s boat. The place went wild and the “Celebration” was on. We sang, we told stories, we ate, drank, and danced. What a party!
At that moment I thought to myself, “This is the way to make your exit from this world so no one will forget you for a long, long time. From there, I set out to write a book about making a mark on family, friends, and society throughout one’s life and leaving a legacy for future generations. A big part of the book would be how to create a Grand Exit from this world with class, style, and pizzazz, just like my friend’s Celebration of Life by the lake. The result is this book, MAKING YOUR MARK, LEAVING A LEGACY, AND THEN . . . A GRAND EXIT THAT’LL HAVE THEIR TONGUES WAGGIN’.
Did you find anything in your research of this book that surprised you?
One thing that surprised me in writing this book was that most of the information in the book was from my own personal experiences or from observations of other people. However, in researching unique ways to donate a deceased person’s body for medical purposes, I was amazed at some of the possibilities, such as donating a body to use as a crash test “dummy.” And, there are other uses that are just as unique.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
When I was younger, I just assumed that everyone I knew and loved would always be in my life forever but, of course, that is not true. Impressing on me that life is uncertain and that treasuring every moment spent with a friend or loved one is precious would have been good advice.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope that his book inspires people to live in a way that makes a positive mark on their family, friends, and society and that leaves a legacy for future generations. Then, when it is time to leave this world, I hope that they are inspired to make a Grand Exit that will awe, amuse, and entertain their family and friends so no one forgets them for a long long time.
If you want your life to amount to more than just anonymously passing through this world unnoticed, this book is for you. It describes how you can make your mark on your family, friends, and society and how you can create a legacy that will benefit future generations. When the time comes for you to leave this world, you can go out with class, style, and pizzazz, just like you lived your life, There are many options, possibilities, and decisions involved in planning a final farewell as we will see as we watch the Grand Exit of Timothy A.B. Smythe. Timothy’s Grand Exit will have people’s tongues waggin’ for a long time and it can serve as an inspiration for your final farewell, when the time comes. Much of the information in the book is presented in true stories, scenarios, and examples that are upbeat, often humorous, and fun to read.
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A Broken Blade By Melissa Blair (audio review)
