On a scorching summer morning ten years ago, I attended a rally in a mining settlement north of Johannesburg headlined by Julius Malema, the pudgy, firebrand former leader of the African National Congress’s Youth League. At the time, Malema was engaged in a battle for control of the ANC with South African president Jacob Zuma, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/09/22/promise-and-disillusion-in-south-africa-joshua-hammer/
Second-wave feminism was a movement with many fronts: antidiscrimination and legal equality; subsidized child care; health care and reproductive rights; the prevention and prosecution of domestic and sexual violence; the redefinition of gender roles. Radical feminists came out of the student left of the 1960s, thought of themselves as (nonviolent) revolutionaries rather than reformers, and, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/09/22/questioning-desire-the-right-to-sex-srinivasan/
1. Half a century ago, second-wave feminism swelled into a social tsunami that wrought profound changes in American life. Among them was a concerted effort to correct the underrepresentation of women in occupations that had systematically excluded them, including architecture. As the history of women in the building art began to be charted for the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/09/22/xanadus-architect-julia-morgan-filler/
The Lockheed Martin Hellfire 114 R9X, nicknamed the “ninja bomb” or the “flying Ginsu,” is an air-to-surface, drone-launched missile, approximately five feet long and seven inches in diameter, weighing roughly one hundred pounds, with a top speed of 995 miles per hour. Most members of the Hellfire family are designed to carry different types of […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/09/22/haunting-of-hajji-hotak-jamil-jan-kochai/
Andrew Kuo, whose painting Stay Up, 2014 shimmers on the cover of our Summer Issue—the first issue after we redesigned the print magazine—is an artist and author who contributes regularly to T: The New York Times Style Magazine and cohosts, with Ben Detrick, a podcast about basketball and culture called Cookies Hoops. In 2021 Kuo […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2022/09/03/the-painter-in-the-paint-andrew-kuo/
Bobby Truax is a mystery to many – His neighbors believe him to be a violent and strange man, holding him culpable for the unfortunate death of his son, soon after which his wife divorced him. But there is more to Bobby than meets the eye. Far from ideal, Bobby succumbs to isolation in a small abode in Colorado, where he indulges in heavy drinking and smoking pot to mitigate his pain. As a man without fear, reverence, or hope, Bobby is boiling with vexation when an IRS agent trespasses his property – a site where even angels fear to tread. Bobby then decides to take charge, believing he has had enough of them. Soon after, Bobby’s assertive demeanor leads him to more trouble than he had bargained for.
Author Denise Cassino paints the veteran’s life with alluring melancholy; her engaging storytelling explores all the intricacies of the characters, making one dwell on the sentiments as they gradually grasp the plot. A vivid depiction of details that make one clench their jaw highlights the deep sense of moral responsibility with the duplicity of choices that manipulate the circumstances. This thought-provoking book is powerful with excellent character building while quintessentially reflecting the raw sentiments of a former veteran to highlight his endurance against shortcomings.
The reader will find themselves grieving with the protagonist’s dampened hope while contemplating his fate as an individual who has been inconvenienced. This fast-paced thriller emphasizes realism rather than conventional ideologies, so it is an excellent read for those engrossed in perceiving the character’s moral sense. I would recommend this story as it is intriguing, heartbreaking, and prompts the reader to turn the next page for its riveting momentum.
Pages: 189 | ASIN : B09XRFL9ZQ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/03/bobby-truax/
Ascension follows the leaders of the different races of Midstad, who are fighting to free their homeland from the evil that is taking over. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I tried writing a short story from a villain’s point of view a few years before I started writing Ascension and I liked it so much that I just kept expanding the story and the world until I had this massive playground to pick where I wanted to play. Ascension was where I chose the story to start.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
Some of the story was planned, I’d say the main plot lines at least. A couple things changed and a lot was added but I would say the tone and direction were fairly planned out before I started writing.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A big theme that I tend to go to with all my stories is mental health and the realistic effects it has on a character. I also really enjoyed showing how a villain thinks, and how different villains can be villainous for different reasons. Some may not even really be evil at heart, it’s just the cards they were dealt. Character development is a big theme with my writing as well, and I like to think that every character moves in a direction throughout the story. No character remains fully the same. That goes for the world too! I count my world as a character, making sure it changes along with the characters.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Well, right now I’m working on a collection of short stories as a small project before getting to work on the third and final book in this series! Vengeance, book two, is already available on Amazon. The goal for book 3 is fall of 2023!
Author Links: Twitter | | Website
Many years ago, every race in Midstad came together to imprison a dangerous foe; however not everyone supported this decision and some swore in secret to set Him free one day.
Now, nearly two hundred years later the world is prospering during its longest age of peace. Elves are hidden away in their forests, dwarves live deep within their mountains, and humans have come together in a way which has never been done before. Life for every race is peaceful, until a mythical cult, The Black Light, makes their name heard in every corner of Midstad.
One violent day of assassinations sends elves, dwarves, and humans alike into a panic. The Black Light has shown themselves to be more real than many would have wished them to be, and they have named their leader; Iver, an heir to one of the human kingdoms.
Einar, son of the King of Hestferd, and his allies scramble to devise a proper response to this act of war. Their biggest worry? A name shouted by the assassins; Kemryr, the great foe who was imprisoned centuries ago. Many believe him to be nothing more than a myth nowadays, but myths seem to be becoming very real as of late. Einar’s father wishes to learn more, and so he turns to a secret friend for help. Together, Einar and his father seek out answers while Iver and his followers continue to carry out their plan in the hopes to reach their ultimate goal.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/03/a-villains-point-of-view/
Boone and Jacque: Cytrus Moonlight continues the saga of two friends who have grown up together and now, as adults, wind up investigating a murder together. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I wanted to create a new adventure that would add tension between families in a way that doesn’t lean heavily on magical realism. Have the magical realism only appear once the damage has been done. As in the magical realism is not what caused the chaos and questions the characters had about themselves.
The murder case was meant to be something that tugged at Jacque’s heart strings while feeding his need to solve a mystery. In addition, corner Boone and Shammy into participating but with their own reasons. Being to protect and keep their family together. They said they were done with adventures, but it’s not so easy to escape adventure.
As for what exactly was the inspiration, I wanted something a little more neutral. Something that would give me room to explore the psychological side of Boone, Jacque and Shammy. Though I did focus more on Boone, I will balance that out in the final book.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters life?
The biggest one I will share, which was incorporated in certain scenes and lessons about love, is the memory of me being involved in a romance scam. Last year, a so called woman Sonia Daniels, manipulated me into believing she was a real person. Even though I never met her, heard her voice, or seen her on video chat. There was something spellbinding about her personality and how she talked to me that kept me in her control. In fact, I was so in love with her, that I was completely distracted at my day job. So much so, that when this person gave me guilt trips, I genuinely felt guilty for hurting her. I can’t believe I was head over heels for someone I don’t know. Let alone feel bad when I hurt their feelings.
When I came to from the spell, I “broke up” with her then blocked her from all forms of communication. Even then, this person was able to make several fake profiles on social media, phone numbers and emails. Reaching out to me, pleading for my attention and love. It’s as if all the work they did being undone drove them mad. Being in this so called relationship drove me mad as well yet I ended up valuing true love and trust even more.
Because in order for love to be true, you need trust, time face to face, common interest, share everything, hide nothing, embrace each other, care and support one another, be there through the good and the bad, and lastly, understand that love is complicated.
I guess, through the process of writing this book, the fear of not having true love was a strong inspiration. I’ve never felt that before. Or at least I thought did at one time. But she didn’t feel the same way. That’s ok though. Because true love is mutual.
The other emotion was one that I used to have. One that came from a time where I was a sheltered kid who didn’t know if he’d ever have a purpose. Or if he had one, could he do something great with it. But through writing this series, I realized telling stories is my purpose. It’s the only thing that made sense to me. Whatever day job I have, is simply something to keep me fed. Not happy. Telling stories makes me happy.
What was one of the hardest parts in Boone and Jacque: Cytrus Moonlight for you to write?
One of the hardest parts for me to right was what happened to Gene towards the middle of the book. Which I won’t spoil for those reading this. All I can say is that I never experienced this myself, but I do know about trauma and that some suppress those memories.
Another part that was hard to write was the fight Boone and Shammy had. I never wrote that type of scene before because I hadn’t really thought about any fights I’ve had with a life partner. But when I thought about my first relationship, the times where I got mad, frustrated, scared by my partners actions or words, the scene just came to me. It even came into play for the little spats Jacque and Xantia had.
There is one more thing that was hard to write. More so at the beginning. When I was first writing this book, it was slow going. I felt disconnected from my characters. Probably because I was lost in my own life. Plus, I had just ended my so called relationship with Sonia Daniels. I just couldn’t figure out why the town, Cytrus, and the characters weren’t connecting. But once I started talking about my life with friends and family, asking for help with research on certain elements of the story, it all came together and I fell back in love with the characters.
What is the next book in the Boone and Jacque series that you are working on? Can you give readers an idea of what to expect?
I am working on the last book of the series. In which the subtitle is: Sahon. I was going to write a sixth book, but I know their arc will conclude in this storyline. Meaning they still have room to grow after this series, but more as secondary characters or passersby in other books.
As for what to expect, it will be more philosophical and psychological. Boone and Jacque will be somewhere terrifying yet mesmerizing. As for what will happen to them, or what will become of them, you’ll just have to wait and see. I will also have interlude chapters to wrap up loose ends in Cytrus and show what is happening with the other characters. This will be the hardest book I’ve written, yet the most rewarding.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/03/its-not-so-easy-to-escape-adventure/