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

I ended up getting the new signature paperwhite kindle. It was a bundle deal with wireless charger and cover during prime days. While I will miss my small Oasis, the updates and fast page turn are outstanding features. Not sure why Amazon thinks bigger is better. I’ve been reading all week and haven’t needed to charge it. Rumor is the new Oasis will have an even larger screen. Ugh.

Fraterfest is in full swing. It’s not too late to join in the fun! I have two reviews to write and plan to knock them out this afternoon. I have no intention of falling behind again. Stay Caffeinated.

Last Week on the Blog

• Dead Man’s Hand By James J. Butcher (audio review)
• The Akseli By Dianne Duvall (audio review, giveaway, spotlight)
• The Fossil Hunter By Tea Cooper (book review, guest post)
• Voice Of Fear By Heather Graham (book review)
• Spooky Cover Challenge #2022FraterfestRAT (challenge, event)
• Fraterfest Readathon Kickoff (event)

This Week on the Blog

• Guardian Of Chaos By Michelle Manus (audio review)
• The Whisper Man By Alex North (audio review)
• Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club By Roselle Lim (book review, guest post)
• Travel By Bullet By John Scalzi (audio review)
• Where The Drowned Girls Go By Seanan McGuire (audio review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

Learn more:

• Home for the Holiday by Courtney Cole
• The Minuscule Mansion by Myra Malone
• Moonlight and Magic by Darynda Jones
• Honor ‘N’ Duty by Tee O’Fallon
• Investigation, Mediation, Vindication by Chris Tullbane
• Gray Witch by Hailey Edwards

Special thanks to HarperAudio & Berkeley Romance, Tantor Audio

Around The Blogosphere

• Hallowtween Readathon October 1-31st. Middle Grade hosted by Storm Reads
• COYER Sign up for Fall!!! Time to Sign up, Fall COYER Starts October 1st @Reading Is More Fun
• Fraterfest 2022 Readathon October 14th-24th
• Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop November 21-28th
• #HoHoHoRAT2022 Readathon Sign Up! November 18-30th

Caffeinated PR

I’ve got two events coming up and have ARCs and ALCs available.

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/sunday-post-546-readathon.html

Lord Have Mercy follows a young woman who is sent to boarding school after the disappearance of her parents; there, she discovers the secrets of her past and must choose what side she will follow, good or evil. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

There were a few inspirations for this story. The first being the character Mercy and her physical draw to the sensations of stone. I used my own personal experiences of living with a sensory disorder that causes me to have heightened senses; one of which is a sensitivity to what I touch. Growing up falling in love with stone walls and statues has been quite the experience. One that I have had trouble expressing. How Mercy feels when she touches Talus for the first time is very similar to what I go through.

The second inspiration has been my own struggle with the light and dark side of my personality. It has been a war that has raged a life time and I have never known which side was going to win. Learning to accept both sides has never been that easy. All the characters from Lord Have Mercy and the books to follow have allowed me the freedom to explore hidden parts of myself and just bring together a story that I hope is entertaining to read and resonates with the reader on some level.

Mercy thought she was a normal person till the truth is revealed and she is forced into a war she never knew existed or wanted to be a part of. What were some driving ideas behind your character’s development?

I guess one of the ideas I wanted to get across was that a persons strength comes in many forms. That Mercy doesn’t have to be some kick-arse superhero to be strong, that courage isn’t the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. Like being scared of the notorious bully but standing up for a friend, even though it put a target on her back.

I also wanted to get across that living through trauma in a crazy hostile world and still being able to open her heart to friendships and love is a commendable strength.

The war began with the warring within herself, but it soon progresses with a questioning of Mercy’s religious beliefs as Heaven and Hell and all that comes in between turns everything she’s ever known on it’s head. Being pulled apart by warring forces is something many can relate to and choosing between good and evil isn’t always so black and white.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I guess I’ve already mentioned a few, but another important theme I wanted to explore was how it would feel to write a character that is supposed to be the epitome of evil and find logical and emotional ways to make that character and others more than that, more than what everyone ese see’s.

I guess I also touch on sexuality, but in my eyes it wasn’t a conscious theme, but rather the way individual characters spoke to me.

There are many instances of my own life that get mingled within my work, but I never set out to write that way. I suppose it is cathartic to write characters that live and die how I want them to.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am currently writing the 3rd Book in The Mercy Aymes Series. It will be released some time next year. I’m hoping for early in the year, but I don’t like to make promises. I’m also working on a revamp of Book 2 Mercy on Your Soul. Which will be rereleased soon. Then, it’s on to editing of two stand-alone novels I wrote before Mercy was even conceived.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/16/evil-isnt-always-so-black-and-white/

It’s not unusual for Jack to get a call from his on-and-off-again lover, Stella. After all, the two are peas in a pod. They share not only computer skills but also a strong desire to solve mysteries. This time, Stella needs more than just a favor. This time, Stella briefly mentions that his assistance is urgently required as she throws in a quick reference to three deaths. Assuming these are accidental deaths in Stella’s facility, Jack is more than surprised to find that the authorities are not quite so sure these deaths are accidents after all.

Scam at Five Mile Road is another riveting entry in author Mike MacKay’s crime thriller series centered around main character, Jack Rhodes. In this installment, Jack is given inside information about three mysterious deaths from Stella. Stella’s abilities as a hacker come in handy when she accesses footage to see for herself how these deaths occurred. Jack and Stella, again, make the perfect crime-fighting team. MacKay’s characters are well-drawn and have wonderful relatable elements that make them all memorable and easy to read.

MacKay has mastered the action-packed introduction, and that continues to be one of the things that draws me into his novels. Right out of the gate, MacKay hits hard with an intense fight scene on Jack’s flight–a scene that showcases both Jack’s intelligence and his physical strength. Action and drama permeate MacKay’s work and make for a fantastic read.

Another appealing aspect of MacKay’s writing in the Jack Rhodes series is the focus on highly technical language and computer skills. As the mother of two computer geeks, I find MacKay’s choice to give his main character this particular skillset a fantastic choice that will pull in a new generation of readers. Jack makes his career look and feel exciting from all angles and tech-savvy readers will love that.

I’ve read some mystery novels recently that had the potential to be great reads but fell short due to one thing–dialogue. MacKay has nothing to worry about in that department. There is an ideal mix of narrative and dialogue in Jack Rhodes’s stories. Readers are treated to revealing back-and-forths between Jack and Stella and quips here and there between Jack and secondary characters that make for a read that is not only engaging but fun.

Mystery buffs will appreciate the effort MacKay has put into developing both the storyline and his relatable cast of characters. Scam at Five Mile Road will appeal to readers across genres due to its action, suspense, romance, and mystery.

Pages: 354 | ASIN: B09L81MBN6

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/16/scam-at-five-mile-road/

What Do I Do Now? Building a Solid Christian Foundation is a guide for Christians who, once saved, are unsure of the next steps on their faith journey. Why was this an important book for you to write?

This book was birth when my friend (and now ministry partner) first gave her heart to the Lord and decided to become a Christian. She had many questions about what she should be doing now that she is a Christian. Many questions (if not all) I had myself in my early walk with the Lord. On my personal journey, many of these questions were not answered initially which caused my faith to falter at times, ultimately causing me to backslide. This was important for me to write because I realized that there are many new and mature Christians who have struggled to know what to do after they decided to walk with Jesus. Similarly, I have experienced Christians who have been saved for years lack the Biblical foundation and understanding of the expectations of God to sustain them through life’s ups and downs. In part, I feel like the church has seen a fallen away of people because they lacked or did not have that solid foundation. As a Christian who has been on both ends of this dilemma, I felt compelled to write this short book to help Christians from both sides to build their trust in God on a secure and lasting foundation.

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?

I found it particularly difficult to write about what my relationship with my father looked like after I re-dedicated my life back to God. The reason is because I was still healing from the wounds and could not identify what that dynamic was. Even when I was past the editing phases of the book, I remember telling my friend that I wanted to offer some sort of “resolution” or “conclusion” to that dynamic. I think I only added a short sentence or two to give readers insight as to what my relationship with my dad looked like compared to before. The important part was to be very honest with myself and readers….even if that meant that there would be no resolution to give. That part of the book where I shared my story was to highlight the power of my Heavenly Father’s love toward all His children. It was, is , and always will be enough for me and it’s His love that has helped me to love and appreciate my earthly father regardless of the past.

What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?

Someone shared a quote with me by Tony Robbin that said, “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.” That transformed my life completely at that moment. It was like a light clicked on for me. I realized that change will not necessarily happen overnight but I choose to either stay the same or change that which needs to be changed.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?

Simply, I want readers to know that there are many people who can identify in their struggle with knowing their next steps in the faith are. I was saved for maybe 14 years at the time I wrote this book, and I often find myself today going back to these Biblical practices and principles always making sure that as I am building on this foundation, that this foundation is and stays deeply rooted in God’s Word. I want people to fall in love with Jesus through my testimony and avoid the sins and pitfalls in my life. Not to waste time but enjoy the bountiful blessing of knowing the love of God for themselves.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/16/the-power-of-my-heavenly-fathers-love/

Bugles in the Dust is the true story of the Chicago Fire Department from 1865 to 1913, including their ties to the Civil War and veterans. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

The Chicago Fire Department employment opportunities following the Civil War. 2. How many wounded veterans it hired. 3. How many able bodied veterans it employed. For example, in the great fire of 1871, the steamer Chicago, considered the elite fire company of the Department, carried four Civil War veterans out of the nine-man crew, showing that veterans began playing a dominant role on the Department only six years after Appomattox.

How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?

How much research covered every possible niche where I might a veteran.

State Civil War Records.
Records in Nation Archives
Records in Congress
Census records
Chicago Tribune Obits
Chicago Tribune News Articles
Chicago Street Directory Research
Chicago Fire Department records.

Time to put it all together.
Three years

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Bugles in the Dust?

A feeling of unity and solidarity, that the early Fire Department had a preferential hiring practice for disabled veterans 100 years before required by law, that it integrated a fire company 100 years before it became law, blacks and whites on Engine No. 24, led by a Civil War veteran.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/16/george-levy-author-interview/

Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion follows a woman and her son who return to Earth to find it taken over by an authoritarian regime, and they must work with their Martian alliance to save humanity. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

The inspiration is derived, of course, from the flow of the first two novels in the series, where the alien characters and their modus operandi were introduced. Beyond that, a prime plot source was the current day behaviour of our own species with a stretch to imagined post-conflict world orders.

Mix that with the presence of the Rbuzen aliens and the developed hybrid beings working with Laura on Mars, plus other aliens who bear ill will to Earth, and the inspiration for the plot directions became almost self-creative.

Another prime inspiration was the distinct possibility of other dimensions. To quote a Terran translation of an Rbuzen saying, before the aliens’ discovery of extradimensional space: Like the worm in the soil, or the spider in the web, we know nothing of creation, save that of our immediate surrounds, for that is all we need to know in order to survive.

What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?

Laura Sinclair is a wonderful person to work with. Her love for her son, Jason, is unbound, even if they drift apart somewhat after the events of Milijun. She endeavours to be a strong character, a scenario improved a little by nanobotic enhancements, but still possesses the mental and physical frailties that haunt us all.

In Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion two other characters spring to mind in terms of a writing challenge: Damien Dayananda, the autocratic leader of the Tellurians, and Belle Aubertin, a Tellurian operative. Of the two, Belle was probably the most challenging to write into the story. After all, there are plenty of despots in the world to use as models.

Belle, though, was different. For one thing, she is French, and for another, she has the ultimate in enquiring minds. In the novel, she is torn between two worlds, eventually becoming a lead character—but for which side is not always clear.

And then there are the hybrids…but that is another story.

What was your process in writing the characters’ interactions to develop the bond they have?

I give the characters a background, sometimes exotic, sometimes not, and then I put myself in their shoes. And then I let them talk. Nothing complex, just natural conversation, depending on the situation they are in—and what part of the universe they come from! That is, I let them react pursuant to their inner thoughts, and the influence of their surroundings and who happens to be with them.

The bonds between humans are sometimes fraught with uncertainty. The bonds between hybrids and humans, however, carry no such qualms. The entire history of humankind is given to the hybrids in their birth chamber. They know us even better than we know ourselves.
After all, their alien half-parents have been surveying Earth for a very long time!

Will there be book 4 in the Milijun series, and if so, when will it be available?

There is likely to be a sequel to the trilogy. However, I am toying with the idea of a collection of short stories based on the Milijun concept and the future of the characters within the books. There are a diverse series of events to be built upon, and an anthology would be a good way to tackle those events, and the destiny of several leading players.

As time is just a permanent spiral of events, it could be available tomorrow or two years from now—whenever now is.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/16/the-ultimate-in-enquiring-minds/