The literary critic Michael Gorra has been writing for the Review, mostly on English-language novels, for just shy of a decade. His subjects have ranged from Charles Dickens and Edith Wharton to the living writers Christine Smallwood and Claire Messud. In our Holiday Issue, he reviews Cormac McCarthy’s new novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris—“in […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/12/10/late-style-michael-gorra/
License to Loot: How Racial Injustice, Able-Bodied Americans, Illegal Immigrants, and the Opioid Epidemic Split America by Pascale Batieufaye discusses issues that impact the United States from a different perspective or lens. The author covers a wide range of contemporary problems, including the mismanagement of resources, the government’s role in protecting Americans, and other societal issues that impact all areas of life, including education, health, drugs, crime, and controversial subjects.
Pascale Batieufaye is straightforward about the topics discussed in this book and does not shy away from speaking his mind. He covers subjects that are often not openly discussed without backlash, and he offers long-term solutions to addressing problems in America, which may or may not be successful. Realistically, many of the issues facing Americans today do seem to have an easy solution, especially where there are multiple problems impacting numerous communities.
The author begins the book with an in-depth discussion of the opioid epidemic and how this crisis impacts Americans directly and indirectly. Batieufaye dives into how this epidemic extends to involve the pharmaceutical industry, economics, and individuals who suffer from addiction. There is further discussion on homelessness, debt, tax evasion by corporations, and many other factors that shape the world Americans live in.
My favorite part of the book is the second part, which tackles one of the most important questions every reader will ask: How do we improve America? The author covers a wide range of political points, including the various administrations, their faults, and how many governments do not face the consequences of their actions when they fail, and he readily applauds their successes.
License to Loot: How Racial Injustice, Able-Bodied Americans, Illegal Immigrants, and the Opioid Epidemic Split America is a rich and layered read that provides a lot of content to digest. It’s an important learning experience, from a socio-economical point of view.
Pages 194 | ASIN 1954647026
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/10/license-to-loot/
They Stole the Packers! Film at Six! follows a rookie reporter who is plunged into the fast-paced world of old-fashioned news reporting when the Green Bay Packers are sold. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Dismay at the constant splatter of dis- and mis- information. Back 30 to 50 years ago the media (mainstream, not the National Enquirer), worked hard to get the facts right. They had their failures, but most of the time the quality of info was good. Today, you no longer need a transmitter tower, a bank of printing presses or a news team to disseminate information. Any joker with a keyboard can do it.
So, the job of quality control has shifted from the senders of information, to the receivers. Thankfully, high schools are beginning to teach “news literacy,” sussing out doctored photos and conspiracy theories.
I imagine my readers visualizing a backdrop while paging through the book – a blurry panoramic of today’s social media and cable news. Against this backdrop pops out the good practices of reporters and editors in the 1970s, who did the quality control on information for us. This book gently suggests quality control on today’s fizz of information – is now the work we have to do on our own.
Terry Lawton is an interesting character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Work hard, work smart. Dig, then dig some more. Have the discipline to always tell both sides of the story. Try to tell stories that help people.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Never take things at face value. Always challenge your assumptions about an event, and look at it from different angles. If there are misunderstandings, work to set the record straight.
Even if you spent a lot of time creating a news story, and burned a lot of film . . . throw it in the trash bin if it ends up untrue or hurtful. Resist the temptation to broadcast something entertaining, like name-calling, even if it would help ratings. Throw it in the bin.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
A theological science fiction, due in late 2023, after which I will be placed on a rocket sled to hell.
Author Links: Amazon | Website
In this lively historical fiction, Terry Lawton produces TV news using 1970s methodology – before cell phones, before the Internet and before “trolling.”
The young reporter investigates the worst nightmare of Green Bay – the sale of the Green Bay Packers and the team’s move out of the city. In this novel, he meets the colorful characters of northern Wisconsin, weeding out the weirdness, trying to get his stories right. A nostalgic and playful look at the more careful information process of the early 1970s – an era before the “fast food” offerings of conspiracy and disinformation on social media.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/10/dig-then-dig-some-more/
Shadowmaker by T.J. Champitto is a suspenseful fantasy novel and the first book in the Shadowmaker series. It’s an action-packed and exciting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. The story centers around Henry, a successful criminal who appears to be moving up in the world with a new job and a plan that will make him and his partner millions. Henry’s world quickly descends into chaos when a sudden incident occurs, resulting in death.
Champitto creates a thrilling world with compelling characters and an intriguing plot that unravels flawlessly, keeping readers eager to read one chapter after another. I especially enjoyed the danger Henry always seems to fall into and the plot twists that keep the reader guessing what will happen next. Henry’s character development is excellent. As you become familiar with him, a little more about his past and way of life unravels further, reeling you in as you dive into the mystery.
The author’s writing style shines well throughout the book, which is easy to read and holds my attention throughout the story. I enjoyed the shocking turns of events, and suspense, which only added to the storyline, setting, and action. There is always a sense of impending danger, both thrilling and frightening, in an entertaining way.
Shadowmaker is a stellar read that will keep you mesmerized by the characters and unexpected plot twists. I highly recommend T.J. Champitto’s book and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Pages 380 | ASIN 1957288973
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/10/the-shadowmaker/
White Sands Gold revolves around treasure, an ancient relic, and a mysterious group of guardians. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
Inspiration came from a conversation with a friend of mine, who said, “I’ve got the idea for your next book.” He then spun a tale of hidden gold—thousands and thousands of bars underneath a mountain north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He’d been exploring the area for years.
Me: “How’d this gold supposedly get there?”
Him: “No one knows for sure, but there are several different theories.”
Me: “When was this supposed to have happened?”
Him: “No one knows that, either, but legend says the gold’s been there a long time.”
Me: “How come no one’s found it?”
Him: “Folklore says someone did, and that fella brought some of the bars up in the 1930s. But he met an…untimely…death. No one’s seen anything since.”
Me: “Who shot him and why?”
Him: “Good question.”
So I went home and did an online search. When page after page about the fabled treasure popped up, I added a few twists, like a mysterious religious relic that’s also been there for centuries, conjured up a shadowy group of guardians, crafted some of my favorite characters, and had my next western mystery, White Sands Gold, set in New Mexico Territory, 1890. The novel has won three awards to date.
Why choose this place and time for the setting of the story?
The legend of gold bars revolves around Victorio Peak, north of Las Cruces. And I always set my western mysteries in late 19th Century America, a time in our history that fascinates me.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
That was some of the most fun. There are so many references to this legend online, and I enjoyed picking my way through them. I also visited the area to get an idea of what the land looked like. The land would not support ranching today, but 150 years ago it was fertile enough that it supported herds of cattle.
Looks like the legend may never be solved, either, as the Army has expanded White Sands Missile Range to include Victorio, so today’s would-be treasure hunters will have to try to dodge the Government.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My editor at The Wild Rose Press has my next story now. Fireflies at Dusk, my first non-western, is a coming-of-age tale about a young man’s struggles, set just prior to and during the Civil War. A budding romance and a pacifist thread add compelling twists.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
In a hidden cavern, a treasure trove of gold sits alongside an ancient relic.
To find her treasure-hunting brother, Lottie Durham enlists the help of an easygoing lawman. When a mysterious woman known only as Ma asks her to join the relic’s guardians, Lottie’s world spins. Should she take on this solemn obligation?
Twill, leader of the mysterious guardians, has sworn a vow to protect the centuries-old religious relic. Regrets bedevil him and his dedication to his oath is repeatedly tested. If he breaks his promise, he’ll fail Ma, the one person he’s never wanted to let down.
Will a looming raid by a band of determined killers be the end of the guardians, the gold, and the relic?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/10/he-then-spun-a-tale-of-hidden-gold/
Presence Driven by Paul Ellis is about finding your purpose in life. Specifically, the author focuses on the meaning of life and having a purpose connected to God’s presence. He uses Biblical stories, such as Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Jonah, Samson, Jacob, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, and many others, with particular attention to each story’s actions and their overall message. The book illustrates how specific actions impact the story’s outcome and the connection between the presence and purpose of each.
Ellis uses exciting excerpts from the Bible, from Samson’s loss of strength to Jonah running from God’s word, to illustrate how these stories relate to the author’s trials and tribulations, as well as other modern examples that the reader can relate to and identify with. The book is written in a conversational tone, which makes it easy to read and digest.
I found the book witty, easy to understand, and a quick read. The author does a great job of bringing Biblical stories and references to life in a way that’s not too formal, which makes it accessible and enjoyable. The author makes the importance of our purpose in life a central theme in each story and uses the modern counterparts as examples that help the reader better relate to them.
Presence Driven is a great read that takes Biblical themes and thought-provoking concepts into a more digestible book that’s entertaining and enjoyable. This is a thought-provoking book that’s refreshingly different and unique. It’s an easy book to read over a weekend or within a few days.
Pages 160 | ASIN 1958690554
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/10/presence-driven/