“On land a tiger, in the water a crocodile” (dangay bagh, jale kumir), a much livelier version of our “Between a rock and a hard place” or even “Scylla and Charybdis,” is an old Bengali saying about the dangers of the Sundarbans (“beautiful forests” or “mangrove forests”). This is an area of swamps and wild, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/of-crocodiles-and-kings-needle-at-the-bottom-of-the-sea/
“It was like the wind sometimes, moving fast…. It hovered,…oscillated back and forth with sounds that would strike the earth to its center, or soar until the penetration of the sound would clear the sky of clouds.” “Wide, irregular ribbons, fragmented, prismatic, wind-blown, undetermined, and filled with fury.” “Crying, soaring…, very earthy and sexy if […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/escaping-from-notes-to-sounds-spirits-rejoice-albert-ayler/
In a 1987 essay in these pages, V.S. Naipaul admitted that an “artificial, self-conscious” feeling seized him every time he began to write, until “some true impulse” finally made itself known to him. “And that is mysterious still,” he continued, “that out of artifice one should touch and stir up what is deepest in one’s […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/les-enfants-terribles-sphinx-anne-garreta/
Turn off the lights in every room / sit in the inner hallway of the house / away from the windows / stay away from the stove / stop thinking about making black tea / have a bottle of water nearby / big enough to cool down / children’s fear / get a child’s kindergarten […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/11/what-a-gazan-should-do-during-an-israeli-air-strike-mosab-abu-toha/
In September 2022 Bret Easton Ellis, who in the 1980s had been, alongside Jay McInerney and Donna Tartt, one of the leading lights of an informal group of writers known as the literary Brat Pack, published The Shards, his first novel in thirteen years. Decades removed from his precocious fame, “perhaps the trauma that is […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/04/22/infiltrating-literature-christine-smallwood/
I love McGuire/Grant and decided to listen to the October Daye series on audio. It was an excellent decision. An Artificial Night is the third book and Toby races against time to save children from Blind Michael before her fetch carries her away.
An Artificial Night
by Seanan McGuire
Series: October Daye #3
Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal
Length: 12 hours and 28 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
Changeling knight in the court of the Duke of Shadowed Hills, October “Toby” Daye has survived numerous challenges that would destroy fae and mortal alike. Now Toby must take on a nightmarish new assignment.
Someone is stealing both fae and mortal children—and all signs point to Blind Michael. When the young son of Toby’s closest friends is snatched from their Northern California home, Toby has no choice but to track the villains down, even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael’s realm—home of the legendary Wild Hunt—and no road may be taken more than once. If she cannot escape with all the children before the candle that guides and protects her burns away, Toby herself will fall prey to Blind Michael’s inescapable power.
And it doesn’t bode well for the success of her mission that her own personal Fetch, May Daye—the harbinger of Toby’s own death—has suddenly turned up on her doorstep…
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What an exciting high-stakes and fast-paced story! The audiobook grabbed me from the go. A Barghest infestation and a fetch who shows up on Toby’s doorstep are just the beginning. Before we can catch our breath missing human and fae children. I love stories surrounding the Wild Hunt and McGuire puts a nice spin on it. Going on the mission to help them won’t be simple, and Toby requires assistance from others. There are only three roads that lead you to Blind Michaels realm and danger lurks in every shadow.
The more time I spend with Toby, the more I enjoy her. While she claims she needs to save “her children” those from her circle of friends, I know she would blindly go to save any child. She’ll even make deals that could get her killed. I couldn’t ask for better world-building and the time spent in Micheal’s realm was creeptastic. I love the rhymes, bargains and fae politics.
May Daye is Toby’s fetch. She foreshadows Toby’s death. May has a personality all of her own, and of course Toby has no intention of dying until the children are safe.
Mary Robinette Kowal narrates and does a wonderful job of bringing Toby and these characters to life from Firstborns to creatures. The story lends itself wonderfully to the audio format, and I loved curling up by the fire and listening.
Each audiobook is better than its predecessor and for me, this was the best of the bunch to date. The book has all the components I adore in urban fantasy, from the draw to the suspense.
Amazon | Audible
Seanan McGuire is a native Californian, which has resulted in her being exceedingly laid-back about venomous wildlife, and terrified of weather. When not writing urban fantasy (as herself) and science fiction thrillers (as Mira Grant), she likes to watch way too many horror movies, wander around in swamps, record albums of original music, and harass her cats. Seanan is the author of the October Daye, InCryptid, and Indexing series of urban fantasies; the Newsflesh trilogy; the Parasitology duology; and the “Velveteen vs.” superhero shorts. Her cats, Lilly, Alice, and Thomas, are plotting world domination even as we speak, but are easily distracted by feathers on sticks, so mankind is probably safe. For now.
Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of The Spare Man,The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, and the Lady Astronaut Universe. She is part of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the Nebula and Locus awards. Her stories appear in Asimov’s, Uncanny, and several Year’s Best anthologies. Mary Robinette, a professional puppeteer, also performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and John Scalzi. She lives in Nashville with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/04/an-artificial-night-by-seanan-mcguire.html
William J. Borak’s Stranger on the Shore is an engrossing novel that boasts a plethora of twists and turns, leaving readers yearning for more. The main protagonist, Chris, is a character with complex relationship issues and a troubled past. Still reeling from the loss of his fiancé, Theresa, Chris encounters the captivating Arielle on the beach, and the two make plans to rendezvous at a party hosted by Garvey on the Jersey shore. Unfortunately, Arielle fails to show up, and Chris is equally let down by the women he meets at the party. Despite this setback, Chris has a stroke of luck when he meets Marisa Flores, a charming waitress at the party who captures his attention. Although he reconnects with Arielle in the coming days, Chris finds himself irresistibly drawn to Marissa due to her striking resemblance to Theresa. However, Marissa has a secret: she is actually Ana Moreno from Colombia, who was hiding from the Baka cartel that killed her family and left her unconscious on the beach. With a plan for revenge against the cartel, Ana reveals herself to be a strong and resilient survivor, possessing an amazing personality that captivates Chris and readers alike.
The book’s suspenseful flashbacks featuring Chris keep readers engaged in a back-and-forth of unfolding events, making this riveting thriller an absolute page-turner. The well-written prose artfully blends mystery, thriller, and fiction, making it a must-read for fans of those genres. Chris’s emotional journey, from losing his beloved wife to meeting two women who are eerily similar, is compellingly portrayed through the author’s skilled narration. When Marissa reveals her true identity to Chris, it’s a shocking twist that readers won’t see coming but will find entirely plausible. The author seamlessly parallels two storylines with Chris and Ana and in Columbia, where a man named Baka is on the hunt for Ana, adding to the book’s intrigue.
Stranger on the Shore is an excellent thriller that offers more than just romance. Its intriguing characters and numerous twists and turns will leave you enthralled and eager for more. If you’re a fan of mystery, thriller, and romance, this novel is a must-read, offering a compelling and well-crafted storyline that captivates readers from start to finish.
Pages: 164 | ASIN: B0C1T3ZHVS
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/22/stranger-on-the-shore/
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur follows a six-year-old girl who loves horses and travels as she prepares to visit her grandma in Paris. What was the inspiration for your story?
I wrote The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur during the pandemic, which was such a dark time in history, especially for children. Children could no longer attend school and interact with their friends, and their world became very isolated. I created precocious 6-year-old Ella Rose La Fleur as a beacon of light for young people and their parents. Viewing the world through Ella Rose’s eyes allows us to rediscover the magic and wonder in everyday life.
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur inspired a series of animated videos on my YouTube channel, The Adventures of Ella Rose La Fleur. These videos help raise awareness and money for The Pinky Swear Foundation, a wonderful charity that helps children battling cancer. My favorite video is Ella Rose La Fleur, You Are Enough! This video sheds light on childhood depression and the importance of love, acceptance, and inclusivity for all children.
Is there anything about Ella Rose that came from yourself or your life experiences?
My husband and I have two grown children, a 26-year-old daughter, and a 21-year-old son. Some of Ella Rose’s interests were inspired by events in our own lives, such as rescuing an adorable calico cat named Jesse and traveling, especially to the beach and France. My husband’s family is French Catholic, and I am of Eastern European Jewish descent. We have always blended our family holidays and traditions, which has resulted in a rich cultural experience for our children.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
My goal in writing the book was to encourage children to talk about their feelings and to learn the importance of forming healthy relationships with their family, friends, teachers, and pets. One of my favorite poems in the book is You Can’t Be Sad On Your Bike!, which explores grief and the importance of comforting and supporting your friends during difficult times. Please Remember You Are Enough! explores feelings of sorrow and inadequacy and explains to children that we all have these days, and sometimes we just need a hug to realize everything will be okay.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
The second book in The Adventures of Ella Rose La Fleur series will be Landon La Fleur, I Love You So! This book will tell the story of Ella Rose’s little brother, Landon, and will show the world through the eyes of a young boy. Landon La Fleur, I Love You So! will be available in approximately one year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/22/rediscover-the-magic-and-wonder/
Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous: 33 Keys to Creating Your New Life by Leaving Your Old Stories Behind is a self-help guide for those that want to improve their mental health and quality of life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The two key issues that prompted us to write “Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous” are:
one – we were both professional actors – earning good money and easily cast over and over – earlier in our lives and we both walked away for “no good reason” except we both came from families where we were outdoing anything our fathers had ever done (our mothers didn’t work) – and when we met on a blind date we spent at least an hour discussing this “fear of being fabulous” as it showed up in our own lives
As PhD psychologists and now Executive Coaches for major tech companies for nearly 2 decades – we continually see how leaders at even VP, Sr VP, and C-suite levels can’t live up to the success they have achieved and instead play themselves down, even having difficulty receiving and owning praise and compliments.
— So we knew that we needed to get our point of view out to the public in a simple, easily digestible manner!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
As you can see, we narrowed the issues down to the 33 Keys we use to illuminate the various ways people have trouble living up to their own excellence, their own self-respect! We wanted to make it practical so readers can implement what we suggest in their daily lives!
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
The research goes back to our early acting careers – before we ever met on a blind date in 1987!
And of course has continued throughout all of our coaching. It probably took about a year to put it all together and get it ready to publish.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous?
The ONE THING we hope readers take away from our book is BE ALL YOU CAN BE – and OWN IT!
Thanks for asking!!!
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Providing 33 practical everyday Keys to leaving old habits behind, this book promises that you can indeed create a fuller, more successful life! Whether it’s learning how to accept praise and compliments without embarrassment or discomfort, or seeing how you deprive yourself whenever you fail to ask for a promotion, being nice versus being honest; and even overcoming The Impostor Syndrome, these 33 Keys to Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous will put you on the road to a new, more expansive life!
And the authors, husband and wife Judith & Jim (Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD) share a lot about their process of overcoming their fears of living larger lives – so you will not feel alone. Quite the contrary. Judith & Jim’s stories will keep you company and provide deep insights into the process you are about to embark on when you get this book!
Order your copy of Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous right now as an e-book, paperback, or hardback, and soon as an audiobook. Whether you struggle with the Imposter Syndrome, negative head talk, stress and anxiety, or any other self-defeating emotions, beliefs, and/or behaviors that deprive you of a fuller. livelier, more fabulous life, this book will help you turn your life around!
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/22/be-all-you-can-be-and-own-it/
High Risk follows a self-absorbed businessman who becomes trapped in his building for four days with no internet, phone, water, or a way out. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story was originally written in 1999 as a screenplay. The idea came about when I was sitting in my office late at night working, and the cleaning crew came around. I wondered what would happen if they accidentally locked me in the building. My office wasn’t 50 stories high like Jim, but this idea of being locked in intrigued me. The basic premise for Jim came together quickly in my head, and I emailed my writing partner about it (who happened to be working late), and he got excited about it, too. The full story and details of the screenplay came together very quickly after that. It was probably the fastest and easiest thing we’ve written. It was one of those rare moments where the story just flowed. There is one key difference between the original screenplay and the final version—the ending. It originally had a darker ending, something neither of us liked. In subsequent revisions, we settled on something very close to the version in the book.
The screenplay seemed like it might get made in the early mid-2000’s. After it stalled out, it sat on the shelf for many years until the pandemic hit, and I decided to turn it into a book. Anyone who read the screenplay really liked it, and a common note we got from readers was that it was a fast and thrilling read. My writing partner and I were very proud of it and thought people would enjoy it, so it bothered me when it became this dead story. During the pandemic, I re-wrote it as a book and enjoyed the process so much that I wrote three more books and plan to continue.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
Most of the twists and turns happened as we plotted out the story. I’ve never had a story reveal itself as easily as this one. The only thing we struggled with was the ending. The original ending felt like it worked, but I didn’t like it. My writing partner and I kept kicking around versions and eventually settled on the final ending.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
We were both much younger in our careers when we first wrote this, and we saw executives who were older than us who had let their work consume their lives. Despite their success, they didn’t seem happy. Some people seemed to prefer being in the office rather than being at home. The book is by no means an anti-work story, but it does offer a picture of what can happen if you define yourself by your career and money.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a sequel to Nina Winter and the Age of Darkness which will be released at the end of the year. I also write short stories that I post on my website, and a new one should be released in May.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Twitter
An ambitious business executive, Jim Sloane, is imprisoned in his high-rise office over the long holiday without food, water, or power. Cut off from the world, Jim must figure out who locked him in and why. As he unravels the mystery, Jim discovers that his list of enemies is long and his time to escape is short.
Can he find a way out, or will he die trying?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/22/it-originally-had-a-darker-ending/