When Hilary Mantel died suddenly of a stroke on September 22, one of the most distinctive voices in fiction fell silent. Here is Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall (2009), peering at the baby who will grow up to be Elizabeth I: Ginger bristles poke from beneath her cap, and her eyes are vigilant; he has […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/hilary-mantel-1952-2022-jenny-uglow/
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
What a week. On Tuesday, I was enjoying a cuppa and watching NCIS when I heard a noise out back. The underground cable boxes and utilities for our block are in the corner of our property. Men were out there putting in underground cables. Whelp, my internet went out, so I went out there and asked if they were with my provider. They were with Cox. I let them know my cable was out, and they denied it was their doing. Pfft. So I had no internet until Friday and low and behold, they severed my line and four of my neighbors. Thankfully, CenturyLink fixed it. They have to come back to do more work because Cox cut the lines and they’ll need to be completely replaced. So, I am behind on reviews, work, etc. On the upside, I did a lot of reading this week, and I am now one book ahead for my Goodreads goal and blasted past my Audiobook Challenge goal. Gotta look at the bright side. Go Phillies! Stay Caffeinated.
Ghost 19 By Simone St. James (audio review) Twenty Three By Murray McDonald (audio review) The Midnight Club By Christopher Pike (audio review) Rosemary And Rue By Seanan McGuire (audio review) Deadbeat Druid By David R. Slayton (audio review) Before The Storm By Erik Carter (audio review)
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Special thanks to Brilliant Audio & Tantor Audio
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/sunday-post-548-the-dark-ages.html
Margaret’s Story follows a woman living in a nursing home and her dysfunctional family’s actions both in the past and present. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for writing Margaret’s Story came from the time when nursing facilities were being reported in the media as places in which aged people were placed and abandoned by their families.
Margaret endured giving up a child, a husband with bipolar disorder, and children in toxic relationships. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Just like many novelists, my stories are based on true stories I have encountered interwoven with a fictional overarching narrative.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show the readers how mental illness can strike suddenly with resultant ramifications for the victim and his family and how surrendering a baby for adoption leaves an indelible mark on the birth mother.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next novel, Return to Portovenere was inspired by a visit I made to Portovenere in Cinque Terre, Italy. I and my son were so entranced by this magical place I knew there would be a novel ready to be written. The book is due for publication soon by Pharos Books.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
A baby surrendered for adoption, the trauma of mental illness, a dysfunctional family. Can happiness be achieved or what fate awaits this ordinary woman called Margaret?
From an early age, Annette was encouraged to write and was awarded several prizes for English. A native of Sydney, Australia, she published a short story at the age of twelve. She remained passionate to her writing, but the demands of raising a family left no time to pursue her interest. Now retired, Annette has reignited her passion and written six books with the seventh nearing completion. Annette lives with her partner, Stephen, at Neutral Bay, a suburb on Sydney Harbour. She has two sons, Mark and Brett, two grandsons, Jaime and Flynn and a sister, Maree.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/based-on-true-stories/
The Billionaire’s Conspiracy follows a White House operative who is trying to figure out who is targeting secret agents and kidnapped his wife; he must figure out the answer to both before it is too late. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The series is about a private intelligence organization named Unit 81. This entity exists to defend America against enemies both foreign and domestic. The agents of Unit 81, including the protagonist Janusz Soltani, are mostly former members of the US intelligence community.
Unit 81 was stood up because the former government officials were tired of how political correctness shackled the ability of federal agencies to fight the war on terror. Because Americans don’t want to offend anyone, there is a reluctance to discuss certain aspects of Middle Eastern culture, including the Islamic religion, truthfully. This was among the main reason that enabled the attacks against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon 21 years ago.
Furthermore, wars are a savage business that should not be fought in the first place. However, if a society decides to engage in war, it should not be sqeamish about using whatever tactics necessary (i.e. water borading or enhanced interrogations) to achieve its goals. That is no longer the case with the United States government, and thus the need for an organization such as Unit 81 that does what is necessary to win.
The idea for these stories comes from my own experiences in the US intelligence community and the politically correct induced paralysis I witnessed during the so called “war on terror.”
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
There is an interrogation scene in Chapter 39 of the book involving the creative use of ants and honey to force an enemy agent to cooperate. That scene involved lots of thought and imagination, but it is by far the funniest part of the book in my opinion.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
As mentioned earlier, my time in the US intelligence community has colored my view of the world in many ways. One of those is that the mainstream American media paints a far too benign picture of America’s opponents abroad and a far too simplistic picture of the reasons behind their animosity. Unfortunately, American media does not paint an accurate picture of the world. They choose instead to give little snippets with no historical context in order to paint adversaries in a way that will make it easier to push whatever narrative they choose for the American public.
What is the next story that you’re writing and when will it be published?
At the moment I have taken a break from writing to focus on advertising and getting the word out about my books. As a self-published author, I don’t have the resources of a traditional publishing house to introduce my novels to the public.
Having spent the better part of the past 8 years researching and writing the Janusz Soltani trilogy, I am learning about marketing and publicity, which is a huge and complex profession in and of itself. I am hoping to get back to writing once I’ve learned more about marketing and how my books are received by potential readers.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
“Author MJ Javani has created a compelling conspiracy thriller that becomes more engrossing with each chapter.” – BestThrillers.com
The time is the present. A group of anarchists is planning to attack the White House. They are supported by a rapacious billionaire with a secret agenda. Across the Potomac River, someone is systematically killing members of a private intelligence company. Known as Unit 81, this group is not subject to the debilitating political correctness that shackles the federal bureaucracy.
A trusted liaison points the finger at the Russians. But all is not as it seems. When the Unit’s top operative, Janusz Soltani, discovers the truth about their enemies, his wife is mysteriously kidnapped. Time is running out to rescue her from a horrible end.
Fans of Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, and Brad Thor will enjoy this action packed series
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/my-own-experiences-in-the-us-intelligence-community/
Adventures in Local Politics by Jeff Perlman shares the inspirational and enlightening journey the author embarked upon as he became mayor of Delray Beach, Florida. The author provides readers with an up close look as to what it takes to be Mayor of a city, detailing the good and the bad.
I enjoyed the moments where we got to learn about the authors personal life. It was like I was having a conversation over lunch and catching up with an old friend. This helps endear you to the author and makes the story much more engaging and personal. While this is ultimately an inspiring story, the author does share his traumatic experience battling COVID and how surviving it changed his perspective on life.
The author covers twenty topics on various subjects throughout the book such as the kind of leadership that it takes to be a mayor, having a clear vision, the ability to execute a plan, and partnering with the community. I also appreciated how deep we dive into each topic. The author shares his experiences and the outcome of his actions. This helps to show readers how to implement the ideas that are presented in the book.
This is the perfect book for readers who want to make a positive change in their community or want to learn what it takes to be in local politics. The author shares valuable information with readers, and I appreciate that he doesn’t sugar coat his bad experiences. Perlman has made big changes in Delray Beach and it shows as the city is now know for its tourism. The author comes off as personable and the tone throughout the book is that of a mentor. I think this book would be beneficial to read in a political studies class as there is a wealth of information shared by the author and lots of topics to discuss. Adventures in Local Politics is a fascinating story that is infused with practical and actionable advice that makes this illuminating book both entertaining and educational.
Pages: 182 | ASIN: 1457538938
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/adventures-in-local-politics/
The Harding Sisters Revisited by Carol E. Plimpton is a fascinating book that narrates the real story of the Harding sisters and their families with slightly fictionalized elements woven in. Lyman and Nora Harding, who lived on Sterling City Road, Connecticut, had eleven children: ten girls and one boy. Beginning with the story of the youngest sister, Grace, the book takes readers through the life experiences of the different sisters using a bit of creative storytelling to tell their story.
It is essential to note that the author, Carol E. Plimpton is the granddaughter of Maria, one of the Harding sisters. The story follows three generations of Hardings: from the birth of the Harding sisters in the 1880’s to Betty Plimpton’s death in 1994, who was the author’s mother and Maria Harding’s daughter. Carol uses the third-person perspective to narrate her family’s history in an engaging manner which keeps the reader quickly flipping pages. The reader watches each sister grow up and find their own place in society while navigating family dynamics and drama.
The story of the Harding sisters propagates traditional family structures that were prevalent at the time, with marriage being the most important part of the children’s lives, especially women’s. Ruth is the only sister who never married or had any children, being an independent woman and a successful teacher. The book ends with the author, Carol E. Plimpton, visiting the graves of her mother and great aunts in the epilogue. In this way the story comes full circle, starting with the birth of the sisters to their deaths, and it left me feeling satisfied even if a bit misty-eyed.
The Harding Sisters Revisited imparts upon the reader a variety of life lessons. This book also helped me understand how big of a role death plays in the progression of other’s lives and made me reflect upon the temporary nature of life. I heartily recommend this book to readers looking for a heartfelt family saga. I am sure that different readers will come away with different lessons, but all readers will certainly walk away with a deeper appreciation for the Harding sisters.
Pages: 177 | ASIN: B09MXLN2Y3
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/the-harding-sisters/
Christmas Begins with Christ is a beautiful picture book explaining the meaning of Christmas and the role that Christ plays in the season. What was the inspiration for your story?
It’s a wild backstory. I wrote this book last year when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I was determined to write an adult fantasy trilogy that I’d plotted, but life got in the way. I was moving out of state, juggling a toddler, pregnant, and knew I had many sleepless nights ahead of me. I had to shelve the series in my head that I desperately wanted to put on a bookshelf. It crushed my soul a little bit.
So one night I said a prayer to Jesus asking for help with my writing aspirations. Apparently He heard me, because out of nowhere an idea for a picture book fell into my head upon waking up from a pregnant-woman nap. The story was about Him.
I asked, and He definitely answered. I didn’t have time to write an adult novel, but I could write a poem for kids.
I never set out to become a children’s book author, so this has been a mind-blowing journey for me. I’m incredibly grateful that my prayer was answered in the most unexpected way.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
There were three key points I wanted to teach kids. The first is that even though you can’t see Jesus, He’s always with us. I’ve seen a lot of children’s books insert Jesus physically alongside kids into a modern-day scene. I wanted to have a more realistic depiction. I emphasized that Jesus is invisible, but we can still feel Him, talk to Him, and see His guidance.
The second educational aspect was to teach that Jesus’s love lives in us. When we share our love through acts of kindness, it creates a ripple effect of joy.
That segues into my third teaching point, which was incorporating counting to ten. Using numbers was a simple way to demonstrate how love grows.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Marissa Napolitano?
We talked in-depth on the phone about my vision for the book before she started illustrating. It was important for me to represent Jesus’s presence through the usage of light. It’s one of the main reasons why I chose her to be my illustrator. I thought she was incredibly gifted at drawing light that looked divine and otherworldly.
I sent her a document in the beginning of the project with art notes for each page to communicate what I envisioned. If I didn’t have a specific idea, I gave her a generalized concept and let her run with it. Often I would draw detailed, ugly sketches of what I wanted and emailed them to her. She always turned it into something magical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing another rhyming book about Jesus for children that I’m extremely excited about. It’s not a holiday book, so you can read it any time of the year. Without giving too much away, the theme is to “let go, let God” and trust in His plan. What excites me the most is that it hasn’t been done before and has the potential to impact both children and adults.
I can’t wait to get it illustrated! Hopefully I’ll publish it in the fall of 2023 or early 2024. I also plan to write my adult fantasy series. It’s alive and breathing in my head, so I have to write it. That will definitely take me longer, but I’m determined to do it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Website
Both children and adults are reminded through lyrical prose to pause and connect with Jesus. Christmas Begins With Christ is the perfect gift for the holiday season that’s sure to inspire families for years to come.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/this-has-been-a-mind-blowing-journey/