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.

It was a busy week. I went to the doctor and was treated for sinus and ear infection. I am improving but get tired a lot. We had an event at my husband’s work on Friday night. Hazel turned 2 this week. Can you believe it? We went to her birthday party on Saturday. I am almost done with Christmas shopping (thank you online shopping) and will finish up this week. Because I’ve been sick, I devoured season 2 of Firefly Lane and have started a FBI series on Paramount. I read a little, but kept falling asleep so early I am making slow progress on my audiobook. Ugh, and my house is a mess. Hopefully, I will continue to improve and can tackle that this week. Be sure to check out my book haul and look for the 2023 Audiobook Challenge sign up this week! Stay Caffeinated.

Last Week on the Blog

• The Christmas Spirit By Debbie Macomber (book review)
• A Hard Day For A Hangover By Darynda Jones (book review)
• The Sandcastle Hurricane By Carolyn Brown (book review, guest post)
• A Wish For Winter by Viola Shipman (book review)
• Gray Witch By Hailey Edwards (audio review)

This Week on the Blog

• How The Grump Saved Christmas By Claire Kingsley (book review)
• The Choice By Nora Roberts (audio review)
• The Boy With The Bookstore By Sarah Echavarre Smith (book review, guest post)
• 2023 Audiobook Challenge Sign Up (event)
• A Total Witch Show By Dakota Cassidy (audio review)
• A Christmas Deliverance By Anne Perry (book review, guest post)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

Learn more:

• The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid by Annette Marie
• Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Blackmoore
• Square³ by Mira Grant
• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

A special thanks to Tantor Audio & Berkley Publishing

Around The Blogosphere

• 2023 Upside Down COYER hosted by Because Reading Is More Fun
• Read-along Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne for 2023 hosted by Books of My Heart
• Romance Choice Awards 2022 hosted by Addicted to Romance

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/12/sunday-post-553-hazel-turned-two.html

American Gaslighting: How America is Being Systematically Taught to Hate Itself by Daniel A. Shyti is an eye-opening book that focuses on the current state of America, how to view the political developments from a different perspective, and a side of the country that not many people have knowledge about, or understand. The author references how modern changes have brought progress, unexpected challenges, and possible erosion in some areas of the country.

I found Daniel A. Shyti’s book illuminating and enjoyed how he brings a new lens to American politics while presenting some intriguing viewpoints on current events, including racism, socio-economic issues, equal rights, and many recent changes to laws that have impacted the lives of many Americans. The author also examines what he considers to be the hypocrisy of certain forms of media, which may appear to support the public while perpetuating a sense of self-loathing.

While some of the topics the author covers in this book are subject to controversy and criticism, he presents the information with a balanced and open mind that is commendable. The author remains relatively neutral throughout the book while tackling complex topics using personal views, facts, and research. The tone of the writing felt authentic as the author goes the extra mile to engage readers, even with unpopular viewpoints and options.

American Gaslighting: How America is Being Systematically Taught to Hate Itself is fascinating. The author does an impressive job of using real human stories and references to historical facts and research. Readers interested in politics and sociology in America will find this thought-provoking book to be as informative as it is illuminating. Readers will be drawn in by the straightforward ideas and message.

Pages 274 | ASIN 0989708462

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/american-gaslighting/

Return to Hardscrabble Road picks up where Hardscrabble Road left off and delves deeper into Roger’s growth from a tormented boy to a determined young man at the crossroads of everything he loves and fears. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Hardscrabble Road was born from a 10-year oral history project, during which I interviewed my former father-in-law and his two older brothers about their violent, unsettling childhoods during the Great Depression and war years with a psychotic bootlegger for a father and a mother who had no interest in raising her kids. Theirs were childhoods that would’ve killed most of us, but they not only survived and escaped into the military but then thrived as adults. All three were remarkable men and were extraordinarily resourceful children as well, so I collected their stories and used them as the inspiration for what has become my bestselling novel, Hardscrabble Road, which outsells all my other books combined and probably will continue to do so for all time. Many readers over the years have requested a sequel, which I resisted at first–preferring to write mysteries, thrillers, and other genres–but eventually I found myself missing the rambunctious MacLeod family and decided to pick up right where Hardscrabble Road left off. I used a couple stories from the oral history project that I couldn’t fit into the first book as my stepping-off point and then embarked on the “what if” game all writers play to decide on the rest of the plot.

Roger “Bud” Macleod and his two brothers are intriguing and well-developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

When I began my first draft of Hardscrabble Road, the three boys were based very closely on the actual men who inspired the book, but as I continued to write about them, their fictional guises took shape more concretely, until the only similarities between Roger, Chet, and Jay and the three men I interviewed were purely coincidental. The longer an author writes about a given character’s thoughts, dialog, and actions, the more they come to life in the author’s mind and on the page. For Return to Hardscrabble Road, I reread the first book to remind myself about their styles of speaking, favorite expressions, and attitudes, and then I built on them. It was like revisiting old friends and discovering new facets of them as they were now coming into their own as young men.

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

I wanted to explore how the scars my characters developed in their youth–due to the trauma they experienced–would be revealed in their behaviors as young men who now have agency and can act on their impulses and desires. For example, Roger struggles with giving in to violent reactions when faced with bullies and threats to his family. I also wanted to explore forgiveness, family loyalties, and the urge to “fix” others’ problems. All of these issues drive the plot in different ways and lead to Roger’s growth and maturation.

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

I’ve started a sequel that brings back the heroine of my amateur-sleuth murder mystery Aftermath and the heroine of my kidnap thriller Watch What You Say, putting them together (against their will, at first) and sending them on a new adventure. I’m hoping to pull in characters–and descendants of characters–from my other novels. If Marvel can do that, so can I! I’m a ponderously slow, perfectionistic writer, so the as-yet-untitled sequel won’t come out for a couple years. Meanwhile, though, fans of the Hardscrabble Road books have lots of other novels of mine to explore. Rest assured, characters from all of them will get a mention or perhaps a cameo in the new book.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/the-what-if-game-all-writers-play/

Stolen identities, a cult, a kidnapping, an attempted murder, and a budding romance . . .

Join Private Investigator Liz Adams, and her lie-detecting Labrador, Duke, in the scenic town of Carmel By-the-Sea, as the pair investigate the mystery of stolen identities. Complications arise when Liz becomes romantically entangled with her hot new client, Brad.

Enter Apollo, a charismatic cult leader, whose mission to save the homeless has a dark twist. Why does he continue to trespass on Liz’s property? She’s compelled to uncover the answer.
Tensions mount, as the stakes become a matter of life and death. Will Liz and Duke solve both mysteries before the damage is irreparable?

Travel with Liz from Charleston, SC to Carmel, CA, and back to discover the astounding truth.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/carmel-conundrum-book-trailer/

Everyone with a cavernous, cluttered old attic dreams of finding treasure there. And that’s exactly what happened to Joshua Gerstein on a visit to his parents house. The WWII letters referred to in the subtitle of Love and Kisses, Charlie are copies of the real-life correspondence sent by Gerstein’s grandfather, Charlie Fletcher, to his family during his time serving in the Second World War, and found stashed away in an attic.

The letters are set out in strict chronological order, from the time of Charlie’s enlistment in the fall of 1943 right up to his discharge and return home in March 1946. The account is enriched with photos, images and commentary from Gerstein to explain Yiddish and military expressions and to add historical context. Through his own voice, we get to know an honorable and likeable young man who is devoted not only to his country and fellow soldiers, but also to his family and his Jewish heritage.

Charlie carefully recounts his day-to-day life for his parents so that they won’t worry about him. He describes his living conditions, the food he is eating, the friends he is making and the dates he is going on. He even marks religious festivals so that they know he is still dedicated to his faith.

As you might expect from true letters, much of the content is personal and provides a deep look into one persons life and thoughts. Charlie held administrative posts, so he was able to avoid the front line. But there are moments when the reality of war creeps in, such as when he meets Polish Jews who survived the death camps. Unlike other WWII books this one keeps things focused on Charlie. This provides a thoughtful look at a mans life, in a moment in time, which happens to be a momentous moment in history.

Love and Kisses, Charlie is a sensitive and personal account of one soldiers life and shows how, even though we are far from home, we still carry our family and faith with us. I highly recommend this interesting book to anyone interested in history, or readers looking for a memoir that is stirring and thought-provoking.

Pages: 634 | ASIN: B0BHL2XLFZ

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/love-and-kisses-charlie/

Arc of the Poet tells your story from adolescence into adulthood documenting the moments that impacted your creative journey. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Words have always been magical for me. In this book, I’ve written about how my mom challenged me to use my knack for wordplay to make my mark on the world. I have been aiming to make words count ever since.

Building on my achievements in business and as an author, I have been very fortunate to be able to help a lot of rising entrepreneurs and luminaries set themselves apart and succeed. Still, along the way, I have not done much to honor the poet within me who has been hard at it for decades. Arriving at a place where life had gotten especially sweet, I finally figured out how I could tell my story and highlight my poetry in a way that might make it interesting for others to read.

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

While I have experienced some challenges in life, they pale compared to what many others face every day. That said, together with my family, we all experienced a real-life nightmare back in 1991 when my larger-than-life big brother Scott experienced a spinal cord injury. This is obviously something very heavy, and over the years, I have seen how this subject tends to turn most people away. The day-to-day reality of paralysis is undoubtedly harrowing. Nonetheless, facing those difficulties has brought out the absolute best in my brother, my mom, my wife, and an army of others. Every day, my brother is an amazing inspiration to all who know him. In this book, it was essential for me to tell my version of his story. Our fates have been intertwined throughout my life, and they always will be.

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

As it relates to the experiences of writing and publishing this book, this and your other questions have me thinking about one of the amazing people we only met because of Scott’s injury. Named Gaye Henderson, she was a mother with an adult son who also was a quadriplegic. As I wrote in the book, she and my mother formed a very close friendship and had prolific intercontinental correspondence over many years. There is an experimental piece of mine entitled ‘Wordworth’ published in this book, which I submitted to literary publications far and wide, with zero luck. My mom shared it with Gaye at one point, and Gaye responded by writing me a wonderful letter (also shared in the book) making a very big deal over it, and encouraging me to persevere in sharing it with others. Going back to your first question, her encouragement gave my inner poet new life. Without it, this book probably would not exist.

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

To me, every person is an entire universe. When I was thinking about who might be willing to spend time with my manuscript before it was published and provide an endorsement, I dug deep and reached out to quite a few people who have brightened my life at key times over the years. Their words appearing in the books are among the most meaningful gifts I have ever received. With this in mind, I hope readers will be inspired to write, to share those efforts with others, and to experience similar gifts through these activities. Also, despite not being in close contact with my high school drama teacher Leslie “Jinx” Caulfield in recent times, his impact on my life has always felt very special. When I asked him to write the book’s foreword, he came through magnificently. He deftly called out a very important takeaway for me, and it’s my great honor to share his words here.

“There is even a wonderful exercise for budding and advanced poets and writers,” he writes. “Roger calls it Ramble. Kerouac talks about life on the road and leaving friends behind for new adventures. He describes this experience as looking in the rear view mirror as he pulls away and everyone getting smaller and smaller until they disappear and it’s time to look forward again. Ramble is a bit like that and Roger’s writings remind me that life is temporary as are all things – and details become more beautiful and profound when viewed through the eyes of a poet.”

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/honor-the-poet-within-me/