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It was a busy week with meetings, kids and this nagging funk I am in. It has been dark and cold, which doesn’t help. I’ve been binge watching shows. I am all caught up on SEALS, devoured the first season of Fire Country and started Scorpion. We’ve been watching season three of Scarlet and the Duke and I binge watched Lockwood & Co today since it was below thirteen degrees for most of the day. I’ve been blowing through audiobooks as well. I am on a bit of a mystery/crime binge and going with the flow. However, I also listened to a fantastic witchy/magical realism audiobook called Weyward. It releases in March and I highly recommend it. Stay Caffeinated.

Last Week on the Blog

• Square³ By Mira Grant (audio review)
• Ghost Of A Chance By Chris Tullbane (audio review)
• An Excellent Walker By Lyndsay Constable (book review, guest post)
• Marcus By Lori Foster (book review)
• Hungry Ghosts By Stephen Blackmoore (audio review)

This Week on the Blog

• Almost Home By Pam Jenoff (audio review)
• Silence For The Dead By Simone St. James (book review)
• Highland Dragon By Genevieve Jack (audio review)
• Abandon: A Novel By Blake Crouch (audio review)
• Junkyard War By Faith Hunter (audio review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

Learn more:

• The Founders by Stacy M. Jones
• Miami Ripper by Stacy M. Jones
• Dead Air by Erik Carter

A special thanks to Tantor Audio & Gary Bennett, narrator

Around The Blogosphere

• It’s not too late to join the Iron Druid Chronicles Read-a-long hosted by Books of My Heart

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/sunday-post-560-winter-persists.html

The Songs of My Family follows a woman who is a wife and mother who blames herself for a car accident that orphans three children. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I think that we often carry the weight of blame, even in instances when it is just an internal struggle, but particularly when we know that others are projecting blame upon us.  Myra’s relationship with her own guilt over the car accident was born of the understanding that we’ve all felt this level of remorse and responsibility at one point or another, deserved or not.  Myra’s self-judgement is both directly related to the external judgement she is facing and also completely independent of it.  Through her struggle with her own culpability, she is forced into recognition that the only way to achieve true forgiveness is to find it within herself.  She has to remember that she alone has the power to change her circumstances, regardless of how others perceive them. The goal of the story is to inspire that understanding in the reader, and to create a direct experience that showcases how influential we are and how freeing an act of grace can be.

Myra must come to terms with her guilt and open herself up to healing and helping those that need her the most. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I really wanted to humanize the experience of guilt.  I believe it’s one of the most dominant forces that holds us back from our own greatness, and that bringing that awareness to light is the first step towards undoing the faulty belief that our mistakes define us.  Kindness dismantles guilt and brings us face-to-face with our true nature, that of love.  When we act from love, we remember what is possible and the hope which is ignited through that remembrance carries a powerful punch. 

Through Myra’s reluctant acceptance of Emilia’s proposal, she rises above the external perceptions of who she is and creates an internal shift that allows her to step into her own power.  All of the other characters who are privy to this gradual transformation are changed by it, too.  Her act of kindness, regardless of where it was sourced from, extends outward and helps them all to find those same seeds of possibility within them.  I wanted her character to illustrate that, even staring into the face of adversity, the choice to act from love always exists and doing so holds the ability to dramatically alter the trajectory of both our lives and those we interact with.     

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

Although I’ve spoken to it already, most certainly the power of forgiveness was a huge theme throughout.  I also really wanted to explore the concept of accountability as an act of self-love and to tackle our tendency towards judgement, oftentimes without ever digging deep enough to understand the bigger picture. 

Another theme that felt important to integrate was that of cross-cultural relationships and how our differences can be a source of connection, as opposed to division.  Though Myra’s family and Emilia’s family come from extremely different backgrounds and cultures, their shared trauma ultimately leads them to common ground and the understanding that all hearts are created equally.  Throughout the story, they each experience highs and lows, extreme ranges of emotion, and the deep desire to feel understood and validated.  At our core, we are sharing a human experience, and that recognition creates a lot more peace in the world.      

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

I have a few ideas buzzing around in my head for the next book, but haven’t fully

committed to one, as of yet.  I’ve had several requests for a follow-up to The Songs of My Family and it’s most certainly on the table.  I’ve toyed with the idea of rewriting the story from the vantage point of Greg, who is absolutely the most misunderstood character.  All that being said, the next book will happen, it’s just a matter of when.  Whenever it is, my commitment is to continue to develop deeply engaging characters with relatable story lines that speak to the love that is innate within us and the powerful transformations we are always capable of making.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/29/humanize-the-experience-of-guilt/

Manifesto for a Serial Killer follows a brilliant and likable young socialite woman who also happens to be a serial killer. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Manifesto for a Serial Killer was a complete diversion from my normal self-help books, photography books, and my cookbook.  While I had written a couple of other novellas, I hadn’t delved into the psychopathic mind of a serial killer, particularly a female one!

I got the idea for a murder app for a phone from different conversations I have had with friends and relatives.  Someone said how there seems to be an app for everything.  We talked about possibilities for apps that might make money, and I said “wouldn’t it be strange if there was one for confusing the police about motives, locations, and types of crime? If the crimes were completely random, could they determine a modus operandi?

That got me thinking about a possible book based on this premise.  How about  I made it into a female psychopath serial killer?  Lots of opportunities for an app to come up with random variations of the theme.

I chose Australia as the base of operations because I live here and it’s huge! The killer could travel for hundreds of kilometers and not double back on themselves ever.

When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?

There is a sequel to “Manifesto for a Serial Killer” and it will be entitled “Emergency Services.  Who do you want to kill today?” (Yes, I know it should be “Whom” but that’s my choice).  As you would surmise, Jessica Harper, our socialite psychopath has grown tired of killing average Joe Blows and wishes to move on to something a bit more exciting.  She plans to use the Manifesto app to murder first responders at accident scenes.  Accident scenes she causes, mind you!  

I’m not sure whether everyone will be happy with my choice of victims, but these types of attacks happen in real life too. Killers do set up traps for emergency services personnel, just like the enemy does in war situations.

Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/29/the-psychopathic-mind-o-a-serial-killer/

Have you ever had a lucid dream? Dream Knights: The Network by E. Barron is like that but even better! This book takes you on a dreamy adventure where Grant and Zahra can travel while they sleep. As both children learn how to exist in the real world and travel in their dreams, they begin to the realize that they have special powers and that the adults around them need their help. Grant and Zahra live on opposite sides of the country, but their connection within the dream world allows them to meet for the first time, where they begin a quest to save the adults in their lives and take down the Network.

This book was fun to read, and the author brings lucid dreaming to life in a spectacular, entertaining way. The storyline is exciting, and the children are brave, taking on a quest with potentially frightening consequences. I enjoyed their courage and how the story progressed, with well-described time frames and fantastic narration throughout the book. The first-person point of view gave me the sense of experiencing everything through the characters, which enhanced the thrilling nature of the book.

The characters were great. I got a sense of both Grant and Zahra. Grant was a cautious character, while Zahra was very bold. Ava, shy, reserved, and analytical, was a great supporting character, and their dog, Romeo, was a great addition. It’s an adventurous read that I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of the fantasy genre.

Dream Knights: The Network is a great book for young readers. It’s an inspiring, imaginative book that will keep you reading from beginning to end.

Pages 269 | ASIN: B09VNWGLSM

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/29/dream-knights/

The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp follows the family of a shoemaker who tries to make enough money to feed his family and save his sick son. What was the inspiration for your story?

I am very interested in history and like to tell children about it. It is essential to understand the past to know how to live today and plan for the future. Understanding of society increases when a more comprehensive perspective is available. Knowing different life situations and circumstances also creates empathy toward other people.

My relatives come from rural areas in Eastern and Northern Finland, where families were once large and poor. My grandfather was a shoemaker who died years before I was born. I have heard much about his family’s poor life from the decades before and after the wartime.

In particular, my father and grandmother told me about the old days, which in their case, admittedly were not always easy and happy. The experiences of my own relatives have given me a perspective on the development of society and improving people’s opportunities.

I can reveal that “The Shoemaker’s Lamp” is a true story regarding actual events and people. The only difference is that the fairy tale’s happy ending did not come true in the lives of the people in question.

Both the father, and Aron were interesting characters. What was your favorite character to write for and why?

I already mentioned my grandfather, who was a shoemaker. He is naturally my inspiration for the father of this fairy tale. He was a hard-working man who did his best to provide food for a large family with seven children. But he also longed for beauty as he was ready to buy a splendid oil lamp for his little house.

It was nice to write about this shoemaker and imagine how he made his lamp dream come true. In real life, my grandfather’s family finally had to sell this lamp to buy something even more necessary.

However, it was even more pleasant for me to write “a happy end” for little Aron, who was struggling with his health. This boy in the book has a sad equivalent, my father’s brother, who died when he was about five years old. I have heard about his short life from my grandmother and father – one lost her son, the other his brother. But in this fairy tale, I could write what I wanted and give little Aron health and a new summer with its fishing trips.

That’s what I find so liberating about writing. It is possible to write happy endings and give hope to readers – maybe even to mend hurt feelings and right the wrongs readers have experienced in their own lives.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

Already at the beginning of the story, I remind readers that it takes place in “old times.” This way, they can position themselves correctly to understand the events better. It is essential to realize that the world has been different before and that people’s opportunities and needs have changed.

However, for example, the average standard of living nowadays does not extend to all people, unfortunately. Thinking about social issues and justice is one of the most important things in this story. I don’t want to accuse anyone; I just want to observe what kind of situations people in different circumstances get into – and how they can survive.

I also want to emphasize how important it is that other people’s empathy leads to practical actions to help those in need. In this story, the lamp oil brought by the neighbor is of great importance to the shoemaker’s family. But it’s vital for the sick boy, for whom the lamp’s light gives the courage to fight the illness and believe in the coming of one more summer.

On a practical level, this splendid lamp in the story is necessary for many reasons during the dark winter months. The light from the lamp and the beautiful flowers on its sides are a shared joy in that difficult time. But the essential thing in the story is the love between father and son. In their cooperation, there is a lot of gentleness and consideration for each other. The power of love encourages them to believe in the almost impossible – to heal the boy and go fishing together in the summer heat.

I believe children understand the symbolic value of a lamp and its light. They will surely realize that the most valuable light is in people’s loving hearts.

What is the next book in the History for Children series about?

This theme – History for children – has influenced many of the books I’ve written, even if they don’t form a compact and coherent series together. However, I have some ideas for the next books, where the point of view would be clearly “historical.”

My next book about the times of previous generations will probably be a story about a small and stubborn horse that falls into the hands of strangers during the war. It will be a true story as it describes how my grandfather came on leave during the war and witnessed the harsh and unfair treatment of his own horse by men in the home village. He couldn’t allow it and showed others a gentle example of how a weak animal is ready to try his best, even if the task is hard to fulfill. Gentle care and encouragement are essential, even for the crankiest horse.

What attracts me the most is that writing suitable little stories can show children that their ancestors were once similar to them. Only the physical setting of events was different. I can also teach children facts about specific periods of history, although I prioritize the core of the actual story – the one that unites people throughout the years.

Author Links: Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/29/it-is-possible-to-write-happy-endings/

The Spell by C.V. Shaw is an endearing tale set in 16th-century England, which takes place not long after King Maurice’s war against France. The king’s five-year-old daughter Isabella gets shot by an archer, who appears to be a mysterious figure. While the stubborn king searches the dark forest for this archer, his queen Lilac worries about the cursed arrow. The royal family of Fleurham becomes entangled in a web of magic, adventure, and deception. When the king returns home after years in captivity, his family struggles to regain the love and harmony that once bound them together. They must learn to see beyond the spell, incorporate their fragile roots, and become strong again.

The author’s writing will hold your attention from cover to cover, with an articulate style and vivid descriptions that will transport the reader to the lush countryside of Fleurham. The plot is intriguing and spellbinding. Throughout the story, you’ll learn of the unique backstories, from the witches who helped raise Isabella to the housekeeper’s family, the king’s horse, and other distinct events that create a fantastic page-turner.

Shaw’s book is not only enthralling in the sense of historical fantasy but also contains meaningful lessons. The family often blames their poor choices on a curse. However, it’s interesting to see how their lives unfold and to discover whether or not a curse, misfortunate, or other reasons are the root cause of their tragedy within the family and the kingdom.

The Spell by C.V. Shaw is an immensely detailed and thrilling story that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. I recommend this stellar book for its gripping storyline and unique emphasis on accountability and how one event, one decision, can result in a powerful outcome.

Pages 222 | ASIN: B0894W34VR

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/29/the-spell/